Crowdsourcing for Historic Relics
Archaeologists in Trim a town in County Meath, Ireland are currently digging and sieving the earth on a patch of wasteland near a supermarket.
They’re on the hunt for the bones of Sir Geoffrey de Geneville, a French nobleman who lived in the 13th century and whose remains are believed to be buried there.
But the researchers are not searching for the skeleton on their own. They’re being helped by the local community and people who’ve heard about the project on the web and through news channels.
The site of the dig is the foundations of a 13th-century Dominican blackfriary that was founded by Sir Geoffrey. It houses a number of skeletons and one of them could be that of the good knight.
Inviting the Crowd
When the project was given the green light, researchers didn’t want to go the typical route of excavating and then announcing the findings to the world. They wanted to involve the local community and anyone else with a passion for digging into the past.
In an interview with The Irish Times Steve Mandal from archaeological consultancy CRDS said: “We thought, hang on, this is an ideal site. Can we involve the local community, can we get people in from all over the world?”
The site is a hive of activity as members of the public including students come along and watch progress or get involved.
It is delicate work for a number of reasons: The remains have to be treated with respect, and may be in a fragile condition as some of the burials are only a meter below the ground.
Crowdsourcing Benefits
The crowdsourcing project is win-win situation for all involved. The scientists get extra help, students are learning in the field, and the community is actively involved in discovering its past.
Reader Comments
I am a somewhat skeptical user of Ancestry.com and recently turned this gent (Sir Geoffrey De Geneville, approx. 1226-1314) up as a 21st grandfather on my mother's line. With a niece now living in England, this becomes of particular interest. Could you please let me know if this work is continuing and, if so, who she could contact if she is interested? Would appreciate your response. Jacqueline Rissotto, Mexico
Posted by Jackie Rissotto on April 26, 2013
Add your Comment
[LOGIN FIRST] if you're already a member.fields are required.