On November 15 2013, the staff members of the Archaeological Center of Pskov Region held an information day for middle school students that was dedicated to the archaeological heritage of Eastern region of Lake Pskov.

The meeting was held in the Gdov Museum (Associate partner of the AAC project). The participants were explained how the occupational layers are formed and what are the questions that archaeology deals with. Also, it was explained why archaeologists do not approve the usage of metal detectors on archaeological sites.

During the second part of the presentation, the ancient history of Gdov region was discussed about. More specifically, the main historical monuments, especially the medieval monuments of the Eastern region of Lake Pskov were introduced.

The Gdov middle school students were also members of the History club of the Gdov Museum and expressed their desire to participate in archaeological inspections near the city of Gdov next year.

A large amount of building material for the reconstruction of an ancient storehouse (an addition to the ancient farm in Rõuge) was prepared during a seminar on experimental archaeology in summer 2013. The participants acquired several new sklls and gained knowledge.  The walls of the storehouse were erected during summer. During the second week-end of October, roof support was installed.  As most of the work and details had been done already in summer,  two men were able to finish the job by themselves.

The roof structure was first assembled on the ground next to the reconstructed ancient house to check whether all the details fit tohether.

Then the roof was lifted on the house bar by bar.

Finally it was covered to protect the building from possible weather damages.

Thie years’ last activities in Rõuge were visited by the participants of the student seminar. The students from the ”Archeology, Authority and Community” project seminar were given a small overview of what had been done there.

It was also possible to experience the ”joys” of a smoke hut as a fire had been lit earlier in the hearth of the reconstructed house.

The building had not been heated for a while and as the difference between inside and outside temperatures was not very big this day, the level of the smoke in the chimneyless Rõuge house was rather low. Everyone who dared to step into the house had the opportunity to breathe in a good amount of fumes.

During the next years’ seminar, it is planned to disassemble the storehouse to reassemble it in its right place and add proper roof cover. Also, the construction of an Iron Age smithy will be started and hopefully a summer kitchen will be built, too, so that a pot could bubble close to the builders.

Viire Pajuste

University of Tartu

translated and adapted by A.Kivirüüt

In Ludza Museum, a ”Days of Archaeology” took place to introduce the archaeological monuments of Latgale, Latvia. First day was organised in Ludza Middle School No2. Ancient Latgale jewellery and artefacts were presented to the participants – teachers and students from forms 9-11 – and they could even hold the items to feel more connected with their ancestors.

In addition to the presentation of the found artefacts, the workers of the Ludza Museum explained how archaeologists dig, how they choose places to be excavated and what are common qualities among archaeologists.

Valerijs Dzevaltovskis

Ludza Museum

translated and adapted by A.Kivirüüt