Up and Running...

It has been quite the year and there are several accomplishments that need to go into this first PIPP Squeak. Namely, the first NSF funded PIPP season was a HUGE success! We were able to conduct extensive magnetometric survey over approximately 32 hectares at Csökmő-Káposztás-domb and the results are stunning. Subsurface anomalies illustrate a ditch around the tell, lots of houses (rectangular anomalies in white, oriented northwest to southeast), and many other settlement features (e.g., pits, possible wells, modern farmstead, etc.). This is a promising start for the first season.

Magnetometric results from the 2019 PIPP season (map created by R. M. Seifried).

But it wasn't all rainbows and butterflies. We ran into several obstacles this summer, namely the weather. Extreme drought early in the year, followed by non-stop rain in April and May meant that the wheat and barley harvests were over a month delayed. But this is the life of an archaeologist and we constantly have to make plans, alter plans, and them completely change plans. First rule of being an archaeologist: be flexible. And flexible we were! We managed to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time and the results are going to drive the next phases of research.

Barley and wheat crops at the site of Csökmő-Káposztás-domb in June 2019.

Becky with her award winning AIA poster in 2017 (with Dr. C. A. M. Gardner).

In addition to the 2019 fieldwork, PIPP finally has a website! With all of the research that has been conducted as a part of PIPP over the last 6 years, a website to share this information was long overdue. Readers can explore the PIPP website to learn about past and present research, related projects in the region, and stay up-to-date on new developments. It's a one stop website for all of your PIPP needs!


Lastly, a shout out to our GIS Specialist, Dr. Rebecca Seifried! She has recently begun a new position as a GIS Librarian in the Digital Scholarship Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Congrats, Becky!!!



This year has brought a lot of changes for project and personnel alike and undoubtedly there will be more to come. Stay tuned for more news from the PIPP Squeak!

- D. J. Riebe

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