The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

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Broch of Gurness — Links

Liminae


Broch of Gurness — Fieldnotes

When the Vikings arrived here they didn't rebuild but they did bury some of their people.

They seem to have respected this site, even though it hadn't been inhabited for many hundreds of years.

People have drawn parallels between this well and the water filled base of Minehowe.

I remain to be convinced!

Broch of Gurness — Images (click to view fullsize)

<b>Broch of Gurness</b>Posted by stewartb

Hetty Pegler's Tump (Long Barrow) — Images

<b>Hetty Pegler's Tump</b>Posted by stewartb

Bratton Castle & Westbury White Horse (Hillfort) — Images

<b>Bratton Castle & Westbury White Horse</b>Posted by stewartb

Bratton Castle & Westbury White Horse (Hillfort) — Fieldnotes

The White Horse, as we see it today, only dates from the 19th century but there are local legends that it was cut over an earlier horse facing in the opposite direction.

The are above the horse in known as Bratton Camp and is a maze of archaeology from many periods.

The horse lies to the west of Westbury and is well signposted.

There is a good viewing point on the B3098 at ST 885 517.

Pewsey Church (Standing Stones) — Images

<b>Pewsey Church</b>Posted by stewartb

Pewsey Church (Standing Stones) — Fieldnotes

The back wall of Pewsey church sits on what appear to be worked, megalithic, stones.

There is a local story of a destroyed stone circle at Pewsey and it may be that these stones, along with the standing stones by the riverside, may be its remains.

Pewsey (Standing Stones) — Images

<b>Pewsey</b>Posted by stewartb

Pewsey (Standing Stones) — Fieldnotes

On the bank of the river in Pewsey you'll find these standing stones.

There is a local story of a destroyed stone circle at Pewsey and it may be that these stones, along with the ones built into the church wall, may be its remains.

Ringmoor Cairn Circle and Stone Row (Stone Row / Alignment) — Links

Liminae


Ringmoor Cairn Circle and Stone Row (Stone Row / Alignment) — Fieldnotes

This is a wonderful setting consisting of a cairn circle and a stone row.

The circle itself is around 13m in diameter and has 11 stones. It was re-erected in 1909 and some of the stones may not be original.

The row is 530m long and consists of a double line of stones although some have been lost making it a single row in parts.

Ringmoor Cairn Circle and Stone Row (Stone Row / Alignment) — Images

<b>Ringmoor Cairn Circle and Stone Row</b>Posted by stewartb

Fernworthy stone row (North) (Stone Row / Alignment) — Links

Liminae


Fernworthy stone row (North) (Stone Row / Alignment) — Fieldnotes

Excavation of stone rows on Dartmoor has shown that they were normally built in woodland clearings that had previously been used for agriculture.

Although the trees surrounding Fernworthy are part of a modern plantation and not native species, it may well be that this row is more representative of how they may have looked originally.

Fernworthy stone row (North) (Stone Row / Alignment) — Images

<b>Fernworthy stone row (North)</b>Posted by stewartb

Trowlesworthy Stone Row West (Stone Row / Alignment) — Fieldnotes

This row is part of a complex that includes a circle and a second row just to the east.

It runs for 78m and was originally a double row but has been robbed out to such an extent that it is now a single.

There is a suspicion of a ruined circle at the N end of the row which would make it a match for the eastern one.

Trowlesworthy Stone Row West (Stone Row / Alignment) — Links

Liminae


Trowlesworthy Stone Row West (Stone Row / Alignment) — Images

<b>Trowlesworthy Stone Row West</b>Posted by stewartb

Trowlesworthy Stone Row East (Stone Row / Alignment) — Fieldnotes

This row is part of a complex that includes a circle and a second row just to the west.

Trowlesworthy east is a double row with a separation of about 1.4m. It joins the circle at the SE and runs away S for about 130m.

There is a more modern leat running through the row about halfway down but this can easily be stepped over.

Trowlesworthy Stone Row East (Stone Row / Alignment) — Links

Liminae


Trowlesworthy Stone Row East (Stone Row / Alignment) — Images

<b>Trowlesworthy Stone Row East</b>Posted by stewartb

Trowlesworthy Warren (Stone Circle) — Links

Liminae


Trowlesworthy Warren (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes

This site is part of a complex that includes the circle itself and an eastern and western stone row.

The circle has 8 stones and is about 7m in diameter.

The attached eastern row runs away to the SE.



The alignment of the row and circle is up the hill towards the hut circles on Trowlesworthy Tors

Trowlesworthy Warren (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>Trowlesworthy Warren</b>Posted by stewartb

Dozmary Pool (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Links

Liminae


Dozmary Pool (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Fieldnotes

This is said by some to be where Bedwyr (Bedevere) returned Excalibur to the Ladies of the Lake after the death of King Arthur at the battle of Camlann.

One of my favourite memories of it is when I tried to drive a Fiat Panda right down to the waterside and got it stuck.

In my defence I must say that this was a very long time ago

Dozmary Pool (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Images

<b>Dozmary Pool</b>Posted by stewartb

The Greywethers (Stone Circle) — Links

Liminae


The Greywethers (Stone Circle) — Fieldnotes

The first time I tried to visit this site I got within about 200 metres then got hit by Dartmoor snow storm and had to shelter in the lee of a stone wall for 30 minutes.

The Grey Wethers is a double stone circle with the two circles side by side instead of concentric.

The Greywethers (Stone Circle) — Images

<b>The Greywethers</b>Posted by stewartb

Tregiffian (Entrance Grave) — Fieldnotes

This would originally have been a very impressive burial chamber but, sadly, the B3315 goes straight through the middle of it! Before the damage it would have been 12 metres in diameter.

The cup marked stone at the entrance is a cast replica of the original, which is now in the County Museum in Truro.

Tregiffian (Entrance Grave) — Images

<b>Tregiffian</b>Posted by stewartb

Stalldown Stone Row (Stone Row / Alignment) — Images

<b>Stalldown Stone Row</b>Posted by stewartb

Stalldown Stone Row (Stone Row / Alignment) — Fieldnotes

I'm a little tentative in calling this Stalldown as it's not named on my maps but it's a stone row and it's on Stalldown so I guess you can see where I'm coming from.

I spotted the tallest stones when I was on the other side of the river following Butterdon Stone Row and yes, I did have to wade through a Dartmoor river in March to get to it. However, it was worth it.

This is another stunner! There must be 50 or 60 stones, many of them taller than me and running almost due North South.

Stalldown Stone Row (Stone Row / Alignment) — Links

Liminae


Hillson's House (Cairn(s)) — Links

Liminae


Hillson's House (Cairn(s)) — Fieldnotes

This site is here mainly because it's a good sighting point on the way to Stalldown stone row. However, there is a second reason in that I have a good friend named Hillson who's family is from this part of the Dartmoor.

If anyone has any information on how this site got its name, we'd be very glad to receive it.

Hillson's House (Cairn(s)) — Images

<b>Hillson's House</b>Posted by stewartb

Beckhampton Avenue (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) — Images

<b>Beckhampton Avenue</b>Posted by stewartb

Beckhampton Avenue (Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue) — Fieldnotes

In the summer of 2000, I was lucky enough to take part in an archaeological dig at the Beckhampton end of the Avebury Complex.

Pressure of work meant that it was only for one day and most of the work involved pushing a wheelbarrow but hey, I got my trowel dirty at Avebury.

Mine Howe (Burial Chamber) — Links

Liminae


Mine Howe (Burial Chamber) — Fieldnotes

Minehowe is truly one of the gems in Orkney's archaeological crown. This is a very strange place and, whatever else you do, don't miss it when you're on Orkney.

The site was first discovered in 1946 but was quickly closed off to stop farm stock falling into it. Unfortunately, the 'many stone tools' discovered have disappeared along with any skeletal remains. It would be nice to think that these might turn up at some stage so that the site could be put into a firmer context.

Mine Howe (Burial Chamber) — Images

<b>Mine Howe</b>Posted by stewartb

Yellowmead Multiple Stone Circle — Images

<b>Yellowmead Multiple Stone Circle</b>Posted by stewartb<b>Yellowmead Multiple Stone Circle</b>Posted by stewartb

Yellowmead Multiple Stone Circle — Links

Liminae


Yellowmead Multiple Stone Circle — Fieldnotes

Another Dartmoor oddity here! Yellowmead consists of 4, not quite concentric, circles and a short row. The tallest stones lie just South of East with the row slightly West of South.

The stones of the innermost circle form a near continuous wall.

Barnhouse Settlement (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Images

<b>Barnhouse Settlement</b>Posted by stewartb

Barnhouse Settlement (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Fieldnotes

This Neolithic settlement is contemporary with Maes Howe, Stennes and Brodgar and may well have been home to the people who built the monuments.

One of the houses is of a type I've not come across before in that it is more or less symmetrical about the entrance, sort of a semi-detached or duplex. However, the symmetry is not exact as one of the dwellings is bigger than the other.
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