Alexander The Great visits Sydney

This school holidays I visited the Alexander The Great Exhibition at the Australian Museum (Sydney). My favourite part was seeing all the ancient artifacts. Especially those that showed Heracles and some of the other Greek Gods and Goddess'.

I especially loved the coins or "Tetradachma's on display.

The exhibition is definitely worth going to http://www.alexandersydney.com.au/the-exhibition/about/

My favourite picture in the exhibition was of Alexander meeting the hermit Diogenes. The story goes that Alexander on meeting Diogenes offers to give him anything he wants and Diogenes responds "Get out of my Sun light" - Very Funny!

Alexander meets Alec & Tzara at the Australian Museum

Old Red Clay Bricks

After a few weeks of continuous wet weather we resumed our dig at Rouse Hill Anglican College and discovered these pieces of Red Brick. They are very old, include numbering marks N23 on one and 6 or 9 on the other. They are quite thick, show that there were holes in the centre, and seem to have been glazed (matte) finished as some point. We suspect that they are pre-1950's.
Here's some interesting info on brick history in Australia:
http://www.dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/bricks
http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibition/objectsthroughtime/convict-sandstock-bricks/

Cream Ware and pottery from Bathurst NSW

Thanks to the work of Jackson T. from my class I'm adding this new entry. Jackson and his family collected this cream ware, plain and decorated from Bathurst NSW whilst on holiday, they suspect it is from landfill, but probably still local. All of it is quite old. I've been searching the web to find a match for the patterned pieces but no luck so far.

Day 1 of 2012 Dig Season Begins at RHAC

Today I started year 3 at school and we are in a different playground so at lunch we began searching for finds on  our new dig site. Mum had sent a kit of brushes in my bag so we were equipped and ready to go. I've posted a photo of today's finds. There was heaps of old roof tiles, some with lettering (probably Monier).

Time Team

I've been enjoying watching Time Team UK with my family on TV lately, it's my favourite show. I love the mystery of it, wondering what they are going to discover in each episode. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/time-team

A lost Civilization?

My dig team (AKA my buddies in year 2 at school) have been busy. We have been excavating a part of the site at Rouse Hill Anglican College (apologies to Mr Binnie the grounds keeper for the holes everywhere), and the picture attached shows some of our finds. There seems to be a large mixture of floor and wall tiles all from the 1970's & 80's by the look of it. Either they've been dumped as part of a land fill from somewhere else, or its part of a lost civilization, or settlement on the site before the school was built here in early 2002.
http://www.hht.net.au/discover/highlights/guidebooks/rouse_hill_house__and__farm_guidebook

The Mystery of the Blue China

Yesterday was my school athletics carnival. And whilst walking to my school sports field for the carnival I spotted a piece of broken pottery in the shrubbery by the path we were walking on.

When I turned it over I found a beautiful peice of Blue & White Pottery. It had a scene with the windows of what looks to be a church, and some shrubbery in front of the building. It is quite thick so probably from a vase or pot or platter, rather than a plate or cup.

Not much to go by, but I love a good mystery, so Mum and I got on the web today and started searching.

We have found what we think is the original piece of china. Here is the photo of the peice I found, and then a picture from the web of the original jug it comes from and some info on it.

Our school is built on the site of some original farms which date back to this time, so who knows.

Maker: Boyle  Pattern:Antique Scenery Series
Jug or Pitcher Dutch large c1830
Made by Zachariah Boyle of Hanley and Stoke active 1823 to 1850. The pattern on this large jug or pitcher is the well-known Antique Scenery Series, although the location of this particular scene of a family amongst cows before a river, with a castle, ruin and village behind has not been identified. Fundamentally in good condition, although there are some nicks and knibbles to the rim and handle. The glaze is crazed with some light associated staining, mainly round the neck and inside. Overall an impressive piece, especially because of its large size. A rare survivor. No maker's backstamp.
Dimensions: 2.85 ltr 19.5 cm high / 5 pints 7.75 ins high
Our ref: 19CN35070

http://www.blueandwhite.com/museum.asp?m=Boyle&p=Antique+Scenery+Series