Internet Archaeology

16/06/2026

This data paper introduces the CHERISH (Climate, Heritage and Environments of Reefs, Islands and Headlands) Project collection in the Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI). The collection is composed of several datasets from terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) digital ph...

10/06/2026

09/06/2026

New in IA71: Archaeological Excavations at the North Annexe, York Guildhall by Benjamin Savine et al.

https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.71.10

As part of a wide-ranging programme of refurbishment and redevelopment of York Guildhall, archaeological investigations revealed a deeply stratified sequence of human activity running from the late 1st century CE to the modern period.

This publication offers a look into urban spatial management and changing land use over two millennia in the heart of York .

Read the complete study here: https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.71.10

A related digital archive has been deposited with ADS and will be available soon.

Archaeological investigations took place in 2020 in advance of the refurbishment and redevelopment of York Guildhall, and uncovered a significant sequence of archaeological deposits, dating from the late 1st century CE to the modern period.

19/05/2026

New in IA71: van Tongeren, T. 2026 Furnace Fields: Iron Age and Roman Metalworking between York and the Humber, Internet Archaeology 71. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.71.11 (open access)

An archaeological investigation associated with a proposed renewable energy development at Thornton in the East Riding of Yorkshire (UK) revealed extensive evidence for middle Iron Age to early Roman industrial activity.

The site demonstrates how communities adapted settlement patterns, enclosure systems and production strategies in response to changing environmental conditions. The availability of fuelwood and bog iron ore within this hydrologically sensitive setting created favourable conditions for iron production, situating Thornton within a wider zone of metalworking activity in the Vale of York. Radiocarbon dating shows that iron smelting was firmly established during the middle Iron Age, with dates clustering in the fourth to second centuries BC and extending into the late Iron Age and early Roman period. Evidence shows this to be a long-lived industrial landscape in which enclosure systems were repeatedly modified and re-cut, serving both drainage and waste-disposal functions. By the Roman period, these systems were reconfigured, with activity extending into Core Area 6, reflecting evolving land-use practices rather than abrupt abandonment.

The recovery of a large quantity of archaeometallurgical residues, including a uniquely intact 155kg furnace bottom, confirms large-scale non-slag tapping slag-pit smelting employing wood pit-packing. Microstructural and elemental analyses demonstrate technological consistency across the assemblage and confirm that the residues derive predominantly from smelting rather than smithing. The large size of the furnace bottom suggests blooms were produced sequentially, rather than singly. Requiring considerable ore and charcoal, it is also suggestive of a communal effort. Similarly sized furnaces are known from the early and middle Iron Age further south in England but they are unknown from the Midlands and the North. The Thornton furnace bottom is described in detail and provides the first microstructural dataset for Iron Age smelting residues from East Yorkshire.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd Statkraft

An archaeological investigation associated with a proposed renewable energy development at Thornton in the East Riding of Yorkshire (UK) revealed extensive evidence for middle Iron Age to early Roman industrial activity. Amongst over 200kg of archaeometallurgical residue finds was a single intact fu...

18/05/2026

The latest issue in Internet Archaeology (primarily funded by Historic England) shows how heritage participation can improve mental health and wellbeing by providing individuals with a sense of purpose, social connection, and a strengthened identity rooted in their local community and the past.

https://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue73/

While many activities offer social or physical benefits, heritage specifically contributes something unique which is potent for wellbeing and recovery. It links past, present and future and offers a unique relationship with time, providing a "temporal distance" that gives a reassurance about the passage of time and the continuity of life. The thrill and wonder of uncovering the past can help to create positive emotional states, which can in turn lead to transformative experiences for participants.

Whether through volunteering, visiting, or active archaeological fieldwork, engaging with heritage acts as a "force-multiplier" for wellbeing by combining physical activity with cognitive stimulation and emotional expression.

The key mechanisms include:

Purpose and meaning - Heritage projects offer a valued role which satisfies an individual's need for altruistic and meaningful activity

Social connection and belonging - Heritage acts as a catalyst for "togetherness," connecting people to one another and to their locality

Identity - Connecting to the past helps individuals explore their own roots and origins, fostering a sense of pride and place attachment

Capacity and skill building - Participation facilitates "knowledge gain" and the acquisition of transferable life skills such as communication, critical thinking, and cooperation.

https://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue73/

Issue 73. Wellbeing and Archaeology

14/05/2026

The Archaeological Archives Group is one of the European Archaeological Council's most active and long-standing working groups. In March, "Accessibility & re-use of archaeological collections in heritage management. EAC symposium proceedings" edited by Agnieszka Oniszczuk, Agnieszka Makowska & David Novák was published by Internet Archaeology. Find papers exploring the topic here: https://lnkd.in/epwKaXFi

Now the group is analysing the evolving role of archaeological repositories in the process of archaeological heritage management and the cost of sustainable archiving. They have an open questionnaire on the topic aimed directly at the managers of archaeological repositories. If you are someone who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of an archaeological repository, please take the questionnaire. Find it on the EAC website. https://bit.ly/4nymXtK

13/05/2026

New issue: Wellbeing and Archaeology
This collection of articles shows the power of heritage-led and how it can help progress the democratisation of , diversify and help address societal .

Monckton, L. 2026 Transforming lives through archaeology: civil society, social justice and heritage, Internet Archaeology 73. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.73.1

Gradinarova, D. 2026 Heritage and social prescribing - Historic England's learnings from pilots and collaborative work across sectors 2023-2024, Internet Archaeology 73. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.73.2

James, A. and Austin, B. 2026 Cultural immersion into maritime heritage: Our experiences in using maritime heritage to enhance wellbeing, Internet Archaeology 73. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.73.3

Croucher, K., Bates, C.R., Booker, O., Evans, A., Gaffney, C., Ichumbaki, E.B. Jennings, B., Moore, J., Ogden, J., Ritchings, J., Simpson, S., Sparrow, T., Snaylam, S., Sutton-Butler, A., Walker, A. and Wilson, A.S. 2026 Place, Identity and Wellbeing: Bradford and Beyond, Internet Archaeology 73. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.73.4

Hutcheson, A., Melvin, C., Pittaccio, M., Quickenden, T. and Seeley, C. 2026 The Later Prehistoric Norfolk Project: wellbeing, art and archaeology, Internet Archaeology 73. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.73.5

Lewis, C., Siriwardena, N., Laparidou, D., Pattinson, J., Sima, C., Scott, A., Hughes, H. and Akanuwe, J. 2026 "It makes me feel happy that we did it and what came out of it": Recent research into the association of heritage participation with wellbeing, Internet Archaeology 73. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.73.6

Sofaer, J., D'Cruz, L., Zaboloteanu, O., Whitmarsh, B., Maguire, N., Sadler, J. and Chauhan, A. 2026 Wellbeing Through Heritage for NHS Staff. Heritage Engagement and Participant Choice in the HerWellNHS Project, Internet Archaeology 73. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.73.7

Bray, J. and Payne-Lunn, S. 2026 Worcester Life Stories, Internet Archaeology 73. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.73.8

14/04/2026

Archaeology is a driver of scientific innovation. Rather than being a perceived financial burden, it is actually a high-value investment that can improve human health and environmental sustainability.
We can use ancient to understand the genetic origins of diseases like MS or the evolution of the plague to develop new treatments.
Sequencing ancient plant to identify crop varieties that survived extreme heat or drought in the past, can help secure future food supplies.
Tracking how jump from animals to humans (zoonosis) to predict and prevent future is critical to .
Physical artifacts can be used to improve life satisfaction for hospital patients and those living with .
Archaeological are a treasure-house of and data that cannot be replicated in a lab. These materials provide a unique natural experiment that can play their part in solving modern global crises.

See the recent article in issue 71 👉 Sloane, B. 2026 'Legacy and Springboard: The Untapped Potential of Archaeological Archives for Scientific Innovation', Internet 72. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.72.11

14/04/2026