Robert M Chapple, Archaeologist

Regular readers of this blog will be familiar with my background as a field archaeologist. Many will also know of my attitude to archaeological theory: not so much 'ambivalent' as 'uncomfortable'. I started my university education a long time ago, when (at least in the west of Ireland) archaeological theory was not regularly considered and discussed, much less taught. In this, I am very much a product of my time and place. At one time (for a dare), I read Johnson's Archaeological Theory: An Introduction , but unfortunately found it quite impenetrable. I have, belatedly, attempted to get my head around the famous Transit Van excavation, by recreating my own version of it. The experience was equally intellectually exhilarating and challenging, as the process allowed me to break down some of my 'anti-theory' biases. This was coupled with a large number of thought-provoking comments on the blog, and in other social-media, which helped to confront my own ingr...

I'm delighted to welcome a new guest writer to the blog. Philippa de Barra is a Cork-trained archaeologist, and human bone specialist. She is currently working as an intern with The Discovery Project, and one of the team doing sterling work to organise and promote the upcoming The Late Iron Age and ‘Roman’ Ireland (LIARI) Project Conference in Dublin. I have asked her to tell us a little about the conference and some of the interesting research that the project is attempting to coordinate. If you have the opportunity to get to Dublin for what promises to be an amazing weekend, you really should go ... otherwise, read on for a taste of what you'll be missing ... Robert M Chapple [**    If you like this post, please make a donation to the IR&DD project using the button at the end.  If you think the post is useful, please re-share via Facebook, Google+, Twitter etc. **] This weekend , The Discovery Programme’s Late Iron Age and ‘Roman’ Ireland (LIARI)...