Standing at the edge of the abyss: The castle ruin at Cartatscha in Graubünden (Switzerland)

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Per Storemyr
At the edge of the abyss: the Cartatscha ruin by Trun in Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland

At the edge of the abyss: the Cartatscha ruin by Trun in Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland

Working as a conservation scientist I care for cultural heritage. My “problem” is that I’m also interested in the history of decay, including catastrophic events; just these phenomena that turn old masonry to rubble. But I’ve never seen it “live” (few have!) or just after it happened. Hence, on my visits to the medieval castle ruins in Surselva (Graubünden, Switzerland), deep down there is a secret wish that I may watch them falling down, crumbling to pieces or being taken by avalanches! Yet boldly rejecting to fulfil my desires is, for example, Cartatscha by Trun; at the very edge of the abyss the small tower should have fallen years ago. But this stout ruin with the region’s finest masonry has decided to live on. For how long? Continue reading →

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International conference on millstone in Bergen – and the Hyllestad quarry landscape

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Per Storemyr
Hyllestad millstones still in use

Hyllestad millstones still in use

Last week the Norwegian “millstone community” invited to an international conference in Bergen – “Seen through a millstone: Geology and archaeology of quarries and mills”. It included an excursion to the Hyllestad quarries where the participants got to know a local community that cares for the landscape and its millstone traditions in an impressive way. Key is the involvement of pupils. Continue reading →

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The Mauerzahn at Grünenfels castle ruin (CH) revisited after massive snowfall

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Per Storemyr
Top of the Mauerzahn (pinnacle) at Grünenfels castle ruin

Top of the Mauerzahn (pinnacle) at Grünenfels castle ruin

Ten days ago winter arrived in the Swiss Alps with massive snowfall. Subsequent temperature increase and intensive rainfall led to major floods, avalanches and destruction of infrastructure such as villages and roads. Such events sometimes also affect old buildings and ruins. How did the Mauerzahn (tall stone pinnacle) at Grünenfels castle ruin, which I have earlier written about, stand the test? Continue reading →

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De gamle jerngruvene i Neskilen ved Arendal

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Per Storemyr
(The old iron mines at Neskilen by Arendal / for Norwegian readers / English? Try Google Translator)
Den gamle

Den gamle “Stollgruva” i Neskilen

“Jeg ankom her til Næskilen […] og forbliver paa dette afskyelige Sted et par Dage. I Morgen bestiger jeg gamle Mørrefier-Gruben, som er 80 Lagter under Havets Overflade. Gud veed om jeg kommer nogensinde levende op igjen…”

Les videre om et av store gruvelandskapene i den gamle jernverkstiden fra 16- til 1800-tallet i Norge…

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Experimental archaeology: The traditional way of quarrying soapstone

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Per Storemyr
Eva Stavsøien extracting soapstone the traditional way with a pick axe

Eva Stavsøien extracting soapstone the traditional way

Experimental archaeology in old building stone quarries is a rare activity. But not so for Norwegian stone carver Eva Stavsøien. She asked herself how soapstone was extracted in the Middle Ages. Bringing handmade pickaxes, she went to an abandoned quarry to find out. The work? Not as hard as we often tend to think about traditional quarrying. Read and watch video!

Continue reading →

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Hunting with stone lines: The ancient game traps in Egypt and Nubia

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Per Storemyr
Ancient game trap at Gharb Aswan

Ancient game trap at Gharb Aswan. Photo by Per Storemyr.

See updates and a new paper on game drives in a new post (2022): https://per-storemyr.net/2022/03/19/new-paper-in-new-book-the-ancient-game-traps-across-lower-nubia/

There is still a lot of important archaeology to be found in Upper Egypt and Lower Nubia. One group of archaeological sites is hunting features, in particular the extremely widespread ancient game traps along no less than a 400 km stretch of the Nile, from el-Hosh in Upper Egypt south to the Sudan border. Since they are so poorly known, I have recently published a summary of our knowledge.

Read on and watch slideshow of game traps

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Impressions from summer fieldwork in Norway

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Per Storemyr
Steinvikholm castle

Steinvikholm castle ruin

Over the last few weeks I’ve been back in Norway for projects on conservation of medieval castle ruins, as well as on provenance of medieval and more modern building stone. Here are some impressions!*

Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Monument conservation, New projects, Norway, Old quarries, Rock art, Ruins | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New York Times: “Egypt or Central Park: Where Does an Ancient Obelisk Belong?”

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Per Storemyr

The issue of bringing Central Park’s Cleopatra’s Needle back to Egypt is still in the media. See this recent video from New York Times on the weathering of the New Kingdom obelisk:

"Weathering The Times" - a video from New York Times on the decay of Cleopatra's Needle

“Weathering The Times” – a video from New York Times on the decay of Cleopatra’s Needle

…and check out these blog posts of mine to get independent information on why the obelisk weathered in the distant past and is now in a more or less stable condition:

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A Google Map of the Northern Faiyum Desert

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Per Storemyr

A little while ago I posted about the Egyptian Petition to save the marvellous landscape in the Northern Faiyum from destruction by massive tourist and other development. Since then the campaign NO PORTO FAYOUM is putting increasing pressure on developers and authorities to change plans. In my view there is a need for a map showing the natural and archaeological treasures and how these will be affected by development.

Read on and study the Google Map

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Egyptian petition: Stop destruction of Lake Qarun Protected Area in the Faiyum!

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Per Storemyr
The spectacular landscape at the Old Kingdom basalt quarries at Widan el-Faras in the Northern Faiyum

The spectacular landscape at the Old Kingdom basalt quarries at Widan el-Faras in the Northern Faiyum

For all interested in landscape conservation: Please sign the Egyptian petition on stopping the destruction of a truly spectacular, protected landscape in the Northern Faiyum!

The Northern Faiyum has it all: Splendid landscape, fantastic fossils, a unique cultural heritage back to the Palaeolithic, with highlights such as the Pharaonic (Old Kingdom) basalt quarries, Continue reading →

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