Historical Novel Society Conference; In Archaeology: Digging into Pompeii & Underwater Salamis

From My Fantasy Writing Desk:

I’m attending my favorite conference this week, the Historical Novel Society Conference. I learn about writing craft and intriguing history, but mostly it’s my place to see my writer friends from all around the country. This conference is the gathering of my community.

I’m on two panels, one on self-publishing (it was great fun to do this lively presentation today with Anna Castle and Janet Oakley) and one on creating local chapters (more community-building). Both are good, practical topics that I’m glad to share. But what makes me delighted to be here are the conversations outside the formal program. Writing books has its solitary moments facing down the blank screen, but I couldn’t be a good writer without my big, extended writing family. And a ton of that clan is right here for the next four days. Cue big smile.

Archaeology I enjoyed:

Pompeii: A 250 Year Old Archaeological Dig

Digging deeper into Pompeii’s past. Archaeology Magazine has an excellent article about the new finds at Pompeii. That’s all quite intriguing. But I particularly like the beginning of this spread about the much older, pre-Roman settlement at Pompeii that we have learned more about.

There’s also a discussion of the history of the dig itself. They’ve been digging at Pompeii for more than two and a half centuries. The new area of excavation permits archaeologists to see what things actually looked like when they were first excavated. So much has been transformed in various ways about the site that this is proving to be quite the revelation.

As Steven Ellis of University of Cincinnati put it, “Is this how the city really looked, or is what we see now a product of the past two centuries?” I’m I crazy to love hearing about the history of an archaeological dig? But I do! Click here for Archaeology Magazine “Digging Deeper into Pompeii’s Past”

The Battle of Salamis Comes up for Air

Archaeologists have conducted underwater research for 3 years off the island of Salamis. This area was the location of one of the most famous battles in history, between the Greek city-states (with Athens in the lead) and the Persian King Xerxes in 480 BCE.

Major ancient buildings on Salamis have since been covered by sea water and we know the landscape has changed significantly. One area of research comes from sediment data to reconstruct the shape of the bay and straits at the time of the Battle of Salamis.

The other area of exploration is the excavation of sunken buildings and the artwork etc. found therein, part of a once bustling civic area. An engineering firm created flexible barriers to hold out the water from some of the excavation area, so the underwater research is now only very-soggy research. It does speed things up immensely. Great finds resulted this past season.

I like the evocative sculpture of the head of a young man or god. And as they get more of the buildings sorted out, the urban plan of an essential part of the Classical world will grow clearer. Click here for Archaeology News Network “New finds from underwater research on Greek island of Salamis”