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West Yorkshire

Archaeologists find 'tomb of tribal king' hidden on moor


http://www.wharfedaleobserver.co.uk/news/8410078.Archaeologists_find____tomb_of_tribal_king____hidden_on_moor/


Wharfedale and Airedale observer.


A prehistoric cairn circle which may have been the tomb of a tribal king has been identified on Askwith Moor.

The discovery at Snowden Crags was made by the same group of antiquarians who uncovered evidence of several other cairns, or ancient graveyards, on the moor earlier this year.

Antiquarian Paul Bennett – aided by friends Michala Douglas, Dave Hazell, Robert Hopkins, Paul Hornby and Geoff Watson in finding and examining the spot – is convinced the large circle is an important find.

He said: "The circle is still pretty much overgrown and requires a decent excavation. But it is, without doubt, a prehistoric cairn circle, probably Bronze Age, and appears to be the centre-piece in the middle of the Snowden Crags necropolis.

"For years, several of us have wondered whether or not a stone circle was the antiquity that was being described in the only singular reference of the place, mentioned almost in passing in Eric Cowling's fine survey of this area – Rombald's Way, 1946 – more than 50 years back. But despite various explorations on these moors over the last 20 to 30 years, Cowling's curious singular reference has remained a mystery – until now.

"Thankfully now we have a good view of the place. The site was relocated during one of our exploratory walks assessing the extensive walling, settlement pattern and prehistoric graveyard that scatters the central and north-western section of the moors here.

"Michala had stumbled upon an average-sized ring of stones, between one and three feet tall, and about 13 yards across, with what seemed like an entrance on its southern side, seemingly untouched in the middle of the mass of decaying bracken.

"It took longer than expected to shift all the bracken, but eventually, once we'd done it, we were looking at a very distinct man-made circular monument, measuring 13 yards by 12 yards across and, at its highest point, not even three feet above the present ground level.

"But today's ground level is certainly much higher than it was when these stones were first placed here."

Mr Bennett, from Oakworth, now hopes someone will fund a proper archaeological dig at the site although, with a long waiting list and limited money available for such endeavours, he is not holding his breath.

He said: "What we have so far is this: a large flattened circle consisting of at least a dozen upright stones that define the edges. Between these are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of smaller stones.

"Inside the circle is a scattered mass of many small stones, typical of cairn material, filling the entirety of the monument, but the central region has been dug into at some time in the past.

"It sits on a flat plain of moorland amidst the Snowden Crags necropolis with around 30 other small cairns. But this particular site is several times larger than all the others, probably indicating that whoever was buried or cremated here was of some considerable importance in the tribal group – a local king, queen, tribal elder or shaman."

More details about Paul's local discoveries can be found at megalithix.wordpress.com.

News

Dry weather reveals archaeological 'cropmarks' in fields


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11128297

BBC news link above.

Hundreds of ancient sites have been discovered by aerial surveys, thanks to a dry start to the summer, English Heritage has said.

The surveys show marks made when crops growing over buried features develop at a different rate from those nearby.

The newly-discovered Roman and prehistoric settlements include a site near Bradford Abbas, Dorset.

The Roman camp was revealed in June after three sides became visible in sun-parched fields of barley.

The lightly-built defensive enclosure would have provided basic protection for Roman soldiers while on manoeuvres in the first century AD and is one of only four discovered in the south west of England, English Heritage said.

The dry conditions also allowed well-known sites to be photographed in greater detail.


"It's hard to remember a better year"

Dave MacLeod English Heritage


Bumper year

Newton Kyme, near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, was shown to not only be home to a Roman fort dating back nearly 2,000 years but also a larger, stronger defence built in 290AD.

English Heritage senior investigator Dave MacLeod said: "It's hard to remember a better year.

"Cropmarks are always at their best in dry weather, but the last few summers have been a disappointment.

"This year we have taken full advantage of the conditions. We try to concentrate on areas that in an average year don't produce much archaeology."

Flights over the Holderness area of the East Riding proved particularly productive with about 60 new sites, mainly prehistoric, found in just one day including livestock and settlement enclosures.

English Heritage said some sites which have not been visible since the drought of 1976 reappeared this summer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11128889

Aerial photos above.
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