Future posts will go into more detail regarding how the project goes about looking for and analysing evidence for folk rites and beliefs. But for now, I’ve outlined a few of the tasks involved in project work. The About page mentions some of the sources examined alongside historic environments and material culture; so here, I’m principally discussing material evidence.

Archaeological fieldwork and research – carried out as part of this project, and related independent research – involves (among other tasks):

• Conducting background research, in order to become familiar with prospective material and other sources, including previous work, and conclusions; examining evidence from previous centuries and locations, to contextualise discoveries, and mitigate misinterpretation; ascertaining how knowledge and understanding might be improved and enhanced, assessing the potential risks and responsibilities, including social impact, of conducting and disseminating existing and subsequent work; and determining appropriate approaches and methodologies through which work might be achieved;
• Investigating standing buildings (domestic, communal, industrial and commercial) for traces of ritual activity (such as graffiti, and other surface markings); recording discoveries photographically, and creating archaeological illustrations;
• Analysing potential ritual deposits – that is, artefact assemblages corresponding to specific patterns of behaviour and treatment, in some cases correlating with historic oral and written testimonies – discovered within and around buildings, community spaces, industrial sites, and commercial premises (for example, encountered incidentally during maintenance and improvements); and recording discoveries photographically, and through archaeological illustrations;
• Surveying artefact collections (such as archives; private collections; and digital databases) for relevant material found through excavations, ‘field-walking’, by metal-detectorists, and as ‘stray-finds’ (for instance, encountered incidentally during work and leisure activities, such as hiking, and gardening); and recording discoveries photographically, where appropriate, creating technical illustrations;
• Searching a range of sources, and repositories to locate and assess comparative materials, features, sites, practices and beliefs; and to examine change and continuity over and between different contexts, times, and places;
• (Re)appraising previous historical research, and fieldwork reports, for potential evidence; recording relevant information; and comparing this with relevant sources and materials;
• Visiting sites and monuments associated with folklore, to visually appraise, and photographically record (and sometime draw), their forms and context; and (without disturbing) any surface finds encountered, reporting any significant discoveries to the appropriate bodies;
• Interpreting, writing-up and publishing discoveries; and / or otherwise testing hypotheses, and disseminating findings – for instance, producing replicas, and through craftwork; discussing work at academic conferences, public ‘talks’ and workshops, and through social media; and creating audio recordings, and AV presentations, such as trails, field-guides, and exhibitions;

This all takes time – which is often increased by the (understandable) delays involved, to name a few, in liaising with various officials, organisations, and individuals (particularly awaiting responses to enquiries, such as access to archives and other sources); fulfilling legal requirements (e.g. seeking permission to gather small groups in public spaces, such as during field trips); difficulties in obtaining and managing the necessary funds (such as travel costs, library fees, and insurance); and arranging mutually-convenient access to buildings.

Some of the approaches adopted in previous work, as well as discoveries made, are outlined on another website, here.

I’ll outline the specific methodologies adopted by IF in another post (some of which are, and others are not, included in those mentioned above).