Preliminary investigation into the behaviour and cultural practices of the “BEF” society.

Every archaeological excavation is unique. Some practices are shared between groups, such as daily confrontations concerning the colour of tea (Figure 1), whereas others may be highly nuanced. Conforming to site specific etiquette can often be confusing, resulting in offensive actions by outsiders who unwittingly engage in taboo behaviours. This study whilst brief, provides highly accurate observations from the “Barnham, East Farm” (BEF) society and aims to facilitate smoother transitions of archaeologists between groups.

Methodology

The study area is located in the United Kingdom, in the historic county of Suffolk, in a landscape that has been occupied by differing human societies for over 600,000 years. The group mostly congregated around two sites:

·         The home-base - Little Lodge Farm

·         The working range - East Farm

However, foraging trips were often made to the local “Sainsburys” (aka “Sainys”) by the hunter of the group, a man aptly named “Chewy”, hereafter to be refeered to as  Subject ‘Ch’.  

After earning the trust of the community, I was able to live amongst them to record otherwise highly private insights into the customs of individuals and their wider socio-cultural setting. Observations were systematically recorded on the hour, with additional comments made for unusual behaviour or behaviour that appeared to be “other”.

Results

6:00 am : Much of the camp remains dormant. One member Subject ‘S’ appears to be the first awake, circling the cabins and tents of other campers. As one of the leaders of the groups Subject ‘S’ had not slept the previous evening, potentially with the aim of defending the society from predators or as a result of ritualistic feasting and drinking until 3 am. The festivities culminated in a game titled “Toad In The Hole” that roughly translates to “Frog In The Pit”. The game entails segregating the group based on their appreciation of the deity “Sir Craig David” and then throwing coins into a lovingly crafted lead table. The group may be unaware of the dangers of lead poisoning.

7:00 am : Subject ‘S’ continues to circle.

8:00 am : As the hoards of modern primitives began to stir, the tranquillity of the morning mist over the River Little Ouse was rapidly disturbed as the group became frenzied, fighting red in tooth and claw for access to caffeine and dark cherry jam (food soon became scarce with later- risers), forced to scavenge between caravans for illusive bottles of milk. Luckily for me, the social radicals in the society, herein referred to as the “Herbivores”, welcomed me into their home on the outskirts of the home base and provided me with a comprehensive breakfast spread.

9:00 am : Now at site in East Farm, the group split into their daily fission-fusion groups. Marking the beginning and ending of every day the shaman, Subject ‘C’, ceremoniously summons the site’s water.

10:00 am : In the wet-sieving area, the less experienced in the group participate in an initiation ritual involving the distribution of sediment across metres of tarpaulin. This physically demanding and repetitive task demonstrates the students’ willingness to impress and their determination in the face of adversity, which are both valued personal attributes to the “BEF”. Meanwhile in Area III, the group intricately remove centimetres of palaeosol and grey clay sediments, as the omega male, Subject ;’J’, leans on a spade (Figure 2).

Figure 2

11:00 am : Area VI is ruled over by the alpha male, Subject ‘R’, who has his group constantly focused on finding and recovering burnt flints. Temporarily, the archaeologists in the different areas mix to trade highly prized items, for example the one wheelbarrow with the fully inflated tyre or the water pump for misting their dirt.

11:30 am : Tea break is overseen by a different member of the society each day and is used as an opportunity to prove yourself to the ever-ominous tribe elder, Subject ‘P’, who requires that the bags be steeped for no less or more than four minutes. After participating myself, I have come to realise this is a highly complex process that requires enhanced cognitive ability.

12:00 pm : Subject ‘J’ leans on spade (Figure 3).

Figure 3

1:00 pm : Subject ‘J’ leans on spade (Figure 4).

Figure 4

1:30 pm : Lunch break. The hunter, Subject ‘Ch’, centralises the food resources to optimise foraging. Highly calorific foods are targeted first with both the Herbivores and Carnivores overlapping their foraging circles leading to hostility as the society deplete their resources in an event that perfectly exemplifies the “Tragedy of the Commons”. Cheese was the first to be eliminated.

2:00 pm : Work commences.

3:00 pm : Information distribution is facilitated by the messenger, Subject ‘N’, who updates the smaller factions with the wider society’s progress and disseminates knowledge of the scientific method to the younger archaeologists.

3:30 pm : Subject ‘P’ oversees afternoon tea break.

4:00 pm : Subject ‘J’ leans on spade (Figure 5). 

Figure 5

5:00 pm : Work slows as the community prepare for the ending of the day. The society wise woman, Subject ‘E’, ensures that the toil of removing sediment bags, buckets and wheelbarrows is evenly distributed amongst all members of the group. Subject ‘J’ leans on spade.

6:00 pm : Half of the group commence social niceties and begin to drink malted hops as others shower or collapse from a day of labouring.

7:00 pm : The Herbivores and Carnivores split for their evening meal.

8:00 pm: As the entire community congregate and continue drinking they begin to hypothesise about life’s big questions: “When I say Bo, what doth the crowd say?” The community has come to the decision that the answer is indeed “SELECTA!”. This has no English equivalence.

9:00 pm: The night begins to disseminate into a series of savage games with the hope of winning prized trinkets provided by the “Human 3D Printer” otherwise called Subject ‘B’ (Figure 6).

Figure 6

10:00 pm: The local beverage “ꞠinNjuꞁce” is consumed enmasse as a new game is introduced. The “Box Game” tests the flexibility of the members to ensure their agility during excavation. The reigning champion of the game, Subject ‘FC’, is held in high esteem for her ability to fold almost completely in-half.

11:00 pm: The camp begins to disband as members head to their sleeping quarters. Some stragglers gather around the dying embers of a communal BBQ pit.

12:00 pm: As everyone sleeps, Subject ‘S’ begins to circle the camp.

Conclusion

This study has highlighted the key activities to participate in to be welcomed in the “BEF” and behaviours to avoid. Finally, when approaching any “BEF” member, proceed with caution, follow the instructions for making tea, always carry sample bags up from the trench and remember that when the crowd say “Bo”, you say “SELECTA!”

~by Rachael Holmes, photos by Jordan Mansfield