2012 - with Richard D G Irvine and Candace Weddle. Sacred Architecture: Archaeological and Anthropological Perspectives. in 'Archaeology and Anthropology: Past, Present and Future.' (Association of Social Anthropologists monograph 48) ed. David Shankland, pp.91-118.
Abstract to be added shortly.
2008 - with Niall Finneran, Joe Parsons, and Geoffrey Tassie. (Middle) EAST meets (South) WEST: a cross-cultural approach to field training. The Archaeologist. Spring 2008. Number 67. pp.20-21. 9 [The Journal for the Institute of Field Archaeologists, now the Institute for Archaeologists].
This article explores the cultural implications arising from the experience of training Bedouin students from the United Arab Emirates in field archaeology in Cornwall. This training was part of the Slaughterbridge Training Excavation Project (STEP). [It is interesting to note that despite the highly unusual nature of this event which raises eyebrows when ever it is mentioned, with one exception, the media totally ignored it.]
2007 - Lost at the edges of North Somerset: three possible long barrows. Bristol and Avon Archaeology. Volume 21. pp.77-80
This article aims to test these sites for plausibility by not only using the author's own observations and research, but as the main criteria the data amassed by Lewis (2005) on all of the known long barrows of North Somerset. Of the three in this study, Brean Down has been considered previously, but the Hengaston at Failand and the boundary stones at Bathwick Hill have not.
2007 - Bewys Cross, the Bevis Stone and Sir Bevis of Hampton: An exploration of possible connections. Bristol and Avon Archaeology. Volume 21. pp. 87-90
This article discusses the relationship between the medieval Bewys Cross in the grounds of King's Weston House, and the (now lost) Bevis Stone at the mouth of the River Avon. It considers in particular the origin of the name, and the popular folk hero Sir Bevis of Hampton.
2000 - (by Oliver Garnett) Dyrham Park. Guidebook. The National Trust.
Made extensive use of the year long research project carried out by Nick Hanks in the previous year, for which there is a specific credit in the acknowledgements. Available at Dyrham Park.
2000 - Dyrham Park - Discover more. The National Trust.
Research and document transcriptions carried out by Nick Hanks published on CD-ROM. Available at Dyrham Park. [I am currently planning to get this material made available on the web]
Conference Papers
2012 - Doorways to the Divine : permeability analysis as an approach to the study of ritual. Paper at EASR (European Association for the Study of Religion) conference, Södertörn University, Sweden.Permeability analysis was developed by Hillier and Hanson (The Social Logic of Space 1984) as a method for understanding how the space with in buildings is used. It reveals the social organization and ideology projected on to the arrangement and connectivity of rooms. I developed this method with ideas from archaeology and performance to apply it to religious buildings and to more transient spaces created during rituals within larger rooms or outside. My case studies were eight different faiths including Druids and Baha’is in Bristol, England. My study found a pattern to the use of space across these faiths that differed uniquely from non-religious buildings and which mirrored the ideas of Durkheim on rites of passage (Irvine, Hanks and Weddle ‘Sacred Architecture: Archaeological and Anthropological Perspectives’ in Archaeology and Anthropology: Past, Present and Future ASA monograph 2012). I am now interested in furthering this work by applying this method to the diverse forms of ritual space used in contemporary Paganisms and popular/alternative spiritualities to see what this reveals about them, their use of space and about the usefulness of permeability analysis as a methodology.
2009 - Doorways to the Divine : the use of space in contemporary religious buildings. Paper at ASA (Association of Social Anthropologists) conference, Bristol University, UK.
This is a study of the use of space in eight buildings around Bristol, England, used by Anglican Christians, Ba'hais, Buddhists, Druids, Hindus, Muslims, Reform Jews, and Sikhs. Each was visited and a user of the space interviewed. The spaces were sketch-planned and recorded as permeability maps after Hillier and Hanson (1984) as a way of exploring the interaction between the ritual behaviour, the space and the material culture. Various aspects of these buildings are examined: the adaptation of the pre-existing buildings; the role of the reception spaces in preparation and the separation of strangers; how the community spaces make connections and containment of the culture; the arrangement of the main ritual space and the activities carried out there; the physical actions of participants; the use of space and objects; and how the ritual focus is the centre of the attentional focus behaviour necessary for ritual. However, the study also examines why the visual access to it is restricted, and how the ritual focus is implied as a liminal gateway to hidden layers of permeability beyond, hence making religious buildings incomplete structures. The study concludes with a model of the structure of religious buildings based on those examined in this study, which parallels that of Turner's (1982) model for ritual practice. [This paper and two others in the same session formed the book chapter published by the ASA in 2012, see above.]
2007 - with Yvonne Aburrow. Archaeology and Paganisms: a clash of cultures? Paper for CHAT (Conference for Historical Archaeology in Theory) Sheffield University, UK.
Both Archaeology and contemporary Paganisms have their origins in the modern and post-modern discourses of the last three hundred years. Both are misrepresented in the media. Despite this both are proving to be highly popular. Both Archaeology and Paganisms have an institutional, organised aspect (IFA and Pagan Federation). Both have an experimental aspect which is often misunderstood (the recent excavation of the Ford Transit, and Chaos Magicians who perform Tellytubbies rituals). Both have maverick anti-establishment fringe from which they seek to disassociate themselves (metal detectorists and Stonehenge protesters), but which those outside the discourse regard as the same group.
Research Reports
These will have been deposited at the relevant county records offices as well as with the commissioning organisation. They all relate to sites in England, UK.2012 - A review of erosion monitoring on Brean Down 1997-2012.
2006 - An Historic and Archaeological Assessment of the Manor of Worthyvale - Cornwall.
2005 - An Historic Assessment of Holt Forest and Holt Wood (Dorset) for English Nature.
2004 - The National Trust Archaeological Survey, Failand, North Somerset.
2003 - The National Trust Archaeological Survey, Tyntesfield Park, North Somerset.
2003 - The National Trust Archaeological Survey, Crook Peak and Wavering Down, Somerset.
2001 - National Trust Archive - Dunster Castle. Transcriptions and database on CD-ROM.
2000 - National Trust Archive - Dyrham Park. Transcriptions and database on CD-ROM.
2000 - The National Trust Archaeological Survey, Brean Down, Somerset.
1997 - with Martin Papworth. Dyrham Park Geophysical Survey, The West Garden.
