#avepäev 2024 has kicked off, authors are about to receive their copies of Archaeological Fieldwork in Estonia 2023, presented by Erki Russow & Arvi Haak

Up next, Heiki Valk, again on Iron Age/Viking Age hillforts. An exciting parallel from Southern Estonia - at Pühiküla, a triple ditch surrounding the fort was disovered, which is unusual in Estonia (Luhtõ, Kaloga), but prevalent in Latvia #avepäev #archeology

Villu Kadakas is stepping in for Ragnar Nurk (Heritage department of the Town Planning Office) - surveys & excavations carried out in Tallinn in 2024. Biggest find - the remains of a 13th-century watermill #archaeology #avepäev

The day continues with a presentation from our National Heritage Board (Muinsuskaitseamet) to share news & statistics about sites, digs, metal detecting, EAC materials & everything else relevant to archaeologists actively carrying out fieldwork #avepäev #archaeology

Pikne Kama, Ragnar Saage & Pille Tomson continue with studies of the Kakulaane charcoal production area, firstly with information from folklore & previous studies, followed by their own fieldwork this summer on a 15th-century production pit/pile #archaeology #avepäev

Kristo Siig continues with a presentation on Purtse Tarakalda hillfort, where a subterranean building was found and proto-stoneware was uncovered which is unusual for rural sites of the period in Estonia #avepäev #archaeology

Ants Kraut introduced the results of Muinasprojekt (commercial unit), from Paide and Lustivere to Viru-Nigula and Kopra wind farm, finishing with a call for ideas and examples for exhibiting the well of Põltsamaa Castle #archaeology #avepäev

Lunch over, presentations continue: Marika Mägi introduces results from Valjala hillfort, discussing the possible shape of the stone fortress & the reconstruction of the earth & stone rampart, before turning to Pöide hillfort where #styli (!) were found this summer #archaeology #avepäev #ironage

Final paper: osteologist Martin Malve on the sites & skeletons he has worked on in 2024. Fewer than usual (for him) but quite a varied selection from urban to rural sites & from the 13th-20th century #archaeology #avepäev

Penultimate paper today: Tuuli Kurisoo, Valter Lang, Maria Smirnova, Ulla Kadakas & Martti Veldi examine the problems arising from the widespread use of metal detectors within the framework of the projects KUM-TA4, using fieldwork at sites & old expert assessments of finds #avepäev #archaeology

Now Marie Anna Blehner & Heiki Valk on burials from medieval Ugandi (Southern Estonia), results indicating e.g. that Loosi rural cemetery was used from the 13th-18th century with some cremation burials dated to 14th-15th century A.D. (!) #archaeology #avepäev

Priit Lätti from the Estonian Maritime Museum continues with research on dry land - findings from inside the Lootsi cog and the ship itself - for example, an analysis of the wood species of the details awaits #archaeology #avepäev

Now Ivar Treffner from the Estonian Maritime Museum talks about underwater archaeological research that took place this year - inventory of wrecks, photogrammetry and publications #archaeology #avepäev

After a little coffee break, we have Ragnar Saage and Kristo Oks, who traveled around Estonia (Hiiumaa & Jõgevamaa) looking for slag, to compare the composition of the samples with the composition of the finds in the future #archaeology #avepäev