Showery Tor (Rocky Outcrop) — Images (click to view fullsize)

Posted by RoyReed 9th May 2012ce

King Arthur's Hall (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes

Visit date 8th May 2012. Every now and again you come across something really special and for me, today, I did...King Arthur's Hall on King Arthur's Downs, an area of Bodmin Moor. We have stone circles coming out of our ears down here in Cornwall but this stone-lined lowered ‘enclosure’ is a one-off and as far as I know the only one of its kind in the UK but I believe there is a similar structure in Brittany. It was only meant to be a stopping-off point for me along the way to the stone circles at Leaze but turned out to be the highlight of my day and probably my year! What is it? No idea, and neither has anyone else it would seem! Basically, to the eye, it is a lowered rectangular flat-bottomed 140’ X 60’ bowl formed by digging out the topsoil (down to bedrock I wonder as a 'paved' area in a corner has been noted?), banking it up and being 6m wide, then lining the interior with standing stones on all sides and is today protected by an enclosing fence with a gate and stile access. Very little archaeology seems to have been carried out here and if I had the way, means and authority I'd be out there tomorrow carrying out a full sympathetic survey as this site smacks of great importance to me! With stones up to around 2 metres in height sticking up, prostrate or angular, it is believed to be Late Neolithic/Early Bronze and has 56 stones showing and many others now buried by the collapsing sides. It is believed there were as many as 140 in total and I was blown away to see this in an area famed for its stone circles and amazed that it has not created so much more interest in comparison. How can this be so overlooked? As you can imagine the ‘bowl’ created is of course a great collection point for water but there was an outlet point to the south-west corner which, because of the lack of research and archaeology carried out here, undecided if it was part of the original build or more recent. We’ve had a fair bit of rain recently over the moor in this area but the base was remarkable dry for this time of the year I thought. I had my usual partner Chief the Border Collie with me and showing his total disrespect for the site he was splashing about in the central area which did have a small amount of lying water showing but he was not sinking into it which surprised me somewhat. I stepped onto this central surface a couple of times to negotiate fallen stones and it was just a tad soft but I’m sure gets much worse after prolonged and heavy rain. Throughout my visit and whilst in the bowl, I had a wonderful feeling of calm and security like I was in a sanctuary and amongst ‘friends’. In look it reminded me of an un-kept churchyard where the headstones had been removed and placed against the perimeter walls but were now tumbling and often lying buried. Without a doubt it personally gave me a feel of the ancestors and a shrine to the dead whose remains may well still be lying here undiscovered. Either way this is without doubt a special place which in my opinion should be sympathetically investigated and equally sympathetically re-instated to its former glory before it succumbs to nature further rather than the moorland animals that it did previously. I would recommend a visit here at your earliest opportunity. A wonderful, wonderful place that I will re-visit over and over. https://picasaweb.google.com/100525707086862773355/KingArthursHall2?authkey=Gv1sRgCL224IqauvvzFQ# I came onto King Arthur’s Downs via Candra Hill (enough stones lying around here to build all the stone circles ever discovered) and descended to Casehill over the ford crossing where I parked up on a grassed area to the left on the bend leading up to the farm house. Don’t park on the deeply rutted open moorland to the east as you may well block entry onto it by farm machinery. From here I walked up the rising open moor to the east which is walled and wire fenced to the left and right of you. I swerved off to the right halfway up as I bumped into these ‘locals’ and wasn’t about to chance my luck :-) https://picasaweb.google.com/100525707086862773355/HighlandCattle?authkey=Gv1sRgCOWHlYybmNSu1gE#5740437560420852578 On reaching the top which is a reasonably easy walk, you will see the King Arthur’s Hall enclosure down beneath you to the south-east and beyond that in the distance the area of farmed land where the two stone circles I was also heading off to at Leaze are to be found (separate fieldnotes submitted). Entry into the KAH enclosure is via a stile or a wide gate which on my visit was secured. At this time of the year, sheep, horses and cattle abound on the moor and as many have lambs, foals or calves at foot, be sensible and give them a wide berth if possible because if you get injured on the moor it can be a very lonely and desolate place! Comments (3)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by Sanctuary 9th May 2012ce

Piran's Round (Hillfort) — Fieldnotes

Visited 19.4.12 My 900th field note! - that’s a lot of writing (and walking!) Parking is available right next to the site. The pink house mentioned in previous field notes is now beige! The information board is interesting and has good photos. I know this is listed as a ‘Hillfort’ but it gives a good idea of how Henges must have looked in their prime. For some reason it reminded me of a mini version of the Roman amphitheatre in Caerleon. The surrounding ditch is about 1m deep and the bank about 3m high. I really liked this place and would heartily recommend a visit when in the area. Watch the B3285 though – it’s a busy one! Comments (2)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by CARL 9th May 2012ce

Jutland (Region) — News

Organic Tools Found In Stone Age Camp Sensational new archaeological find reveals paddles and bow in an underwater Stone Age settlement. More info : http://sciencenordic.com/organic-tools-found-stone-age-camp Comments (1)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by drewbhoy 9th May 2012ce

Bigbury Camp (Hillfort) — Images

Posted by GLADMAN 8th May 2012ce

Old Rayne (Stone Circle) — Images

Posted by thesweetcheat 8th May 2012ce

Bigbury Camp (Hillfort) — Images

Posted by GLADMAN 8th May 2012ce

Old Rayne (Stone Circle) — Images

Posted by thesweetcheat 8th May 2012ce

Bigbury Camp (Hillfort) — Images

Posted by GLADMAN 8th May 2012ce

Old Rayne (Stone Circle) — Images

Posted by thesweetcheat 8th May 2012ce

Brandsbutt (Stone Circle) — Images

Posted by thesweetcheat 8th May 2012ce

Broomend (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Images

Posted by thesweetcheat 8th May 2012ce

Broomend of Crichie (Henge) — Images

Posted by thesweetcheat 8th May 2012ce

Cairnhall (Stone Circle) — Images

Posted by thesweetcheat 8th May 2012ce

Cryn y Brain (Cairn(s)) — Fieldnotes

I opted for the "with son " option for this becairned not too high mountain, not too high, but I brought the bikes to just to sweeten the deal. I parked up at the Pondorosa cafe near the Horseshoe pass, from there the well made concrete path up to the top is only fifty feet down the road, without much of a do we started our bike ride/push up to the top. After several stops we got near the top from here we could see Cairn topped Moel y Gamelin and in the opposite direction Dinas Bran capably watches over the Vale of Llangolen. Just one rediculously steep part of the path to go (Eric noted that he was not going to ride down that) and we were at the top, next to the television mast and Cryn y Brain II, the best of the bunch of cairns up here. Sheltering whimsies have rearranged the cairn material, but it does nothing to hide the cairns true size. Eric pointed out all the quartz stones used in the cairn, well spotted mate. Grand views to Moel y Gamelin and off to distant Snowdonia and futher north the Clwyd range , I think I could see the Jubilee tower on Moel Famau. From Cryn y Brain II we follow the path which is no longer concrete, (as it's used for folk coming up to the masts) to Sir Watkins tower and the trig point cairns. Passing a low heather covered cairn on our left. I don't know who this Sir Watkins was but how dare he park his crappy tower on a bronze age cairn, just how dare he, then to compound the insult the ordnance survey stick a trig point on the other cairn right next to it. How dare they all. It's snowing now, snowing in May, how rude, perhaps its nature showing me it's still in control, another century and the trig point will be rubble and part of the cairn, Watkins tower is already a pile of rubble, so all things considered the transient nature of the place consoles me, nothing stays the same. On the way back, near Cryn y Brain II, I spotted another likely looking heather covered cairn, but the snow was coming down thicker now and we were not dressed for that so we started the exciting ride down. It would have been exciting but for Eric's fall the other week in the Preseli's. It made him far to careful and he was far too reticent to just let go and trust in gravity, but it still got us down in a fraction of the time walking would have done. Comments (1)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by postman 8th May 2012ce

Embury Beacon (Cliff Fort) — News

Race against time to save hill fort In the North Devon Gazette this weekend. http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/race_against_time_to_save_hill_fort_1_1368697 A TEAM of archaeologists will be surveying and excavating the remains of a hill fort before it is lost to the waves forever. The work at Embury Beacon in Hartland will be a race against time to save the remaining 25 per cent of the fort. Previous surveys suggest that the monument may have enclosed the crest of a prominent coastal headland, most of which has eroded away in the last 2,000 years. The current excavations, which began on April 16 by a team of volunteers, are examining how the original entrance opened. Justin Seedhouse, National Trust Ranger, said: ““We have enjoyed involving local schools in the digs. “Woolsery Primary School got their hands dirty learning to be trainee archaeologists and hearing about the history of the fort here, and we have Hartland Primary School also coming to visit.” The excavation is part of the ‘unlocking our coastal heritage’ project, supported by the Rural Development Programme for England, which aims to improve the visitor experience along the South West Coast Path National Trail. The excavation is being undertaken by AC archaeology in collaboration with the National Trust, English Heritage and SWCP Team. Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by Mr Hamhead 8th May 2012ce

Cryn y Brain (Cairn(s)) — Images

Posted by postman 8th May 2012ce

Avening Burial Chambers — Images

Posted by baza 8th May 2012ce