The archaeology of warfare encompasses much of human history and extends to all corners of the globe.  Although war has been a recurring theme across cultures, few individual wars remain fresh, scars on society’s collective memory.  World War One, deemed the “Great War,” is one such instance where a combination of time, place, and scale culminate in an event of far reaching proportions.  The soldiers who fought left behind records in letters, journals, and even art, but their legacy continues on a larger scale.

The battle of Messines led up to the much larger battle of Ypres.  At Messines, the men worked for approximately 18 months preparing fortifications, and in the actual battle there were close to a total of 50,000 casualties and injuries.  What makes this site of particular interest lies not on the battlefield, but rather at the Brocton and Rugeley training camps, located in England.  During the war, these facilities were used to train allied troops but also to house prisoners of war.  These camps are, of late, the focus of an Archaeological investigation focused on a specific area, known as Cannock Chase, which since the war has become overgrown from disuse.  Under this reclaimed field lies the remnants of a large-scale construction project.

An actual trench from Messines

Built by soldiers with a great deal of labor from prisoners of war, the trench system at Cannock Chase perfectly matches that of Messines in 1917.  The only difference is the location and size.  Why, during a war, would allied forces spend time constructing a scale model of a battlefield that was subject to change at any minute?  This seems a tactic of little use in today’s age of urban warfare, but in its time Cannock Chase served several important duties.  First and foremost, they served as invaluable training tools for new infantry forces.  The fighting at Messines stretched out over several years, and during that time trenches changed sides and forces shuffled across a barren wasteland.  By using these model trenches, officers were able to prepare their troops for the exact environment they would soon face.  The trenches were quite literally a chessboard where officers could safely shuffle troops about, practicing maneuvers and attempting new tactics.  By training in these trenches, soldiers also became accustomed to the lay of the battlefield at Messines before they set foot in the actual war zone.

Part of Brocton and Rugeley Camps where the trenches are located

What can this site tell anthropologists about warfare?  Well the answer is not quite clear yet, but with the mapping and excavation these fortifications should yield insight into the daily life both of prisoners of war but also the allied forces preparing to enter the real trenches.  It is hoped that this model will help historians and archaeologists learn more about the actual battlefield at Messines, for the site at Cannock Chase remained largely unoccupied and undisturbed after the war.  Until the investigation is complete, these trenches remain another of conflict covered up by time, with the promise of new information in store for those studying the site.

Sources:

1.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2408820/Archaeologicial-dig-begins-unearth-scale-model-World-War-Ones-bloodiest-battlefields-created-survivors-Staffordshire-field.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

2.http://www.staffspasttrack.org.uk/exhibit/chasecamps/archaeology.htm

3.http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/messines.htm

Pictures:

1.http://ww1revisited.com/2014/02/21/ww1-german-trench-messines/

2.http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Messinesheader.jpg

For More Information:

1.firstworldwar.com

2.ww1revisited.com

Looking at One World Trade Center from across ground zero

The One World Trade Center stands tall, 1776 feet to be exact, above Ground Zero, a site deeply entrenched in the hearts of millions of Americans.  Earlier this year, workers placed the final touches on the building that justly defines the New York City skyline, completing one of the nation’s most emotional construction projects to date.  The tower’s current influence will shape United States history for years to come, but the building, or its construction rather, has much older ties to America’s past.

In July of 2010, workers excavating a part of the foundation made a discovery, and what began that morning as routine construction quickly evolved into an archaeological dig.  Where the One World tower stands today was once a part of the Hudson River.  The debris-filled area, actually a landfill dating back to 1790, gave up a curved timber to a backhoe, and archaeologists working on site immediately went in to investigate.

After the silt and accumulated soil had been carefully removed, researchers and laborers alike peered down at the skeleton of half of a ship.  The remainder was later unearthed in an adjacent quadrant.  Estimates place the medium sized merchant vessel at approximately sixty feet in length, leading to the conclusion that it would have engaged in local trade along the East Coast.  The exact details as to where the ship had traveled are hoped to be revealed under further analysis.

A top view of the ship after the majority has been unearthed. Note the tell-tale curved timbers, overall hull shape, and silty soil.

In its day, this type of ship was standard, seen in nearly every port city.  However, detailed drawings and plans are uncommon for these ships, as they were expendable.  “[the ships] were considered mundane, and the building techniques weren’t documented.  It’s a once-in-a-lifetime discovery” stated Diane Dallal, one of the archaeologists present on-site.¹

The ship was unearthed approximately thirty feet under the modern-day surface of New York, but stratigraphy did not yield a date.  Instead, scientists from Columbia University’s dendrochronology lab were able to accurately date and place several the ship’s timbers using tree-ring analysis.  “The same pattern of growth variability in the World Trade Center boat was found in timbers in southeastern Pennsylvania.  There is no indication that timbers came from a more remote area,”² stated Edward Cook, who spearheaded the investigation.  It is likely then, that the ship was constructed in Philadelphia on or after 1773 and sailed from there to the sea.  According to Martin Bridge of University College London, “With shipbuilding you usually use [timbers] within a year or two [after they are felled] because it’s easier to work with,”³ meaning the ship left port on the eve of the revolution.

Some of the ship’s timbers ready to be arranged at their current resting place in Maryland

One World Trade Center, now complete, attracts the eyes of thousands each day.  But on display in Maryland, the remnants of a merchant ship draw researchers, architects, and archaeologists interested in our nation’s past.  Thanks to Diane Dallal and her team, this ship is resurrected, and while New York has reclaimed her skyline, anthropologists have made their own monumental achievement.

Sources:

1. Neely, Paula. “Ship Found at World Trade Center.” American Archaeology, Fall 2010.

2, 3.  Langin, Katie. “Wooden Ship Unearthed at World Trade Center Site From Revolutionary-Era Philadelphia.” National Geographic. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/07/140731-world-trade-center-ship-tree-rings-science-archaeology/ (accessed September 15, 2014).

Renfrew, Colin, and Paul G. Bahn. Archaeology essentials: theories, methods, and practice. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Thames & Hudson, 20102010.

Pictures:

1. http://www.renewnyc.com/images/wtc_ship_remnant/Ship-Remnant-view-from-East.jpg
2. http://inhabitat.com/nyc/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/2012/04/one-world-trade-center-537×355.jpg
3. https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQYEtbHqD7ORLVz99-0HWVHWRoWm7d4XtUY9fqASR_BDky8kau6

Further Reading:

http://onewtc.com/

http://www.thepirateking.com/ships/ship_types.htm

http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/research/topics/dendrochronology

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLBkDFh5tB4