Award to Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Writing in the The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald yesterday, Lewis Cowen reports that,
"The Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes has been awarded £58,200 to work on plans to create new Bronze Age galleries. The money has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund and now the museum will progress to the second stage of the HLF application process. The project will cost more than £200,000 and the museum, in Long Street, will have to contribute between £20,000 and £30,000. The new galleries will feature the rich finds from burials in the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site. The project will feature the unique gold and amber finds that define the Bronze Age Wessex culture and are currently locked away in the museum's vaults. The most famous of these are the 4,000-year-old finds from Bush Barrow, including a gold lozenge, belt hook, stone mace and richly decorated bronze dagger. The new displays will also include objects excavated from Upton Lovell and Manton as well as recent finds from Marden Henge, near Devizes."
More here - http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/8938471.__58_000_bronze_age_windfall_for_Wiltshire_museum/ and here - http://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/good-or-bad-news-for-wiltshire-heritage-museum/
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Laser scan for Stonehenge
"Stonehenge is being scanned using modern laser technology to search for hidden clues about how and why it was built. All visible faces of the standing and fallen stones, many of which are obscured by lichen, will be surveyed. Some ancient carvings have previously been found on the stones, including a famous Neolithic "dagger". The survey is already in progress and is expected to finish by the end of March. "The surfaces of the stones of Stonehenge hold fascinating clues to the past," said English Heritage archaeologist Dave Batchelor. The team will be looking for ancient "rock art", but also for more modern graffiti, in a comprehensive survey of the site."
More here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12688085 and here - http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/news/stonehenge-in-high-definition/
And a video here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxAnanfB_rg
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Centenary celebration of Nash's Wittenham Clumps
"Throughout his career as an artist, Paul Nash (1889-1946) had a special affinity for the wooded hills in South Oxfordshire called The Wittenham Clumps.
"First encountering them in his late teenage years, he was immediately caught by their atmospheric shapes and mystical associations. The Clumps became a rich source of inspiration for him and he returned to paint them many times during his life."
More here - http://www.nashclumps.org/index.html
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Stonehenge rocks definitely came from Wales...
...but how?
Reporting for BBC News Wales, Neil Prior writes -
"New research has cast fresh doubt on the journey which the Stonehenge Bluestones took from Pembrokeshire to the site of the pagan monument. Since the 1920s, geologists have strongly suspected that the 'spotted dolerite' Bluestones, which form Stonehenge's inner ring, originated from Mynydd Preseli in the north of the county. However, whilst the new findings have also linked a second type of stone - rhyolites - to the area, they call into question how the stones arrived in Wiltshire."
More here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12544924
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Ravilious's White Horse in latest Tate Britain show
Writing in the Observer today, Laura Cumming reports on the Watercolour exhibition now showing at Tate Britain and running until the 21 August.
The exhibition includes a watercolour of The Vale of the White Horse (circa 1939) by Eric Ravilious. Something, "...conjured entirely out of cross-hatchings, strokes, dabs and striations of faint colour, frail contour against pale line, with the white page breathing airily in between, is almost nothing, a see-through dream. But it is uniquely strange, starting in reality and ending in its own radiant elsewhere."
More here - http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/feb/20/watercolour-tate-britain-review-cumming
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Stonehenge and Avebury revised research framework
"This project will provide a united historic environment research agenda and strategy for the Avebury and Stonehenge World Heritage Site. The two parts of the World Heritage Site currently have separate research frameworks that were created at different times and in different formats. The project will update and harmonise the existing frameworks to create a single research framework comprising a resource assessment and a single research strategy with a five-year currency."
More here - http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/wiltshire/stonehenge-avebury-rrf
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Avebury Landscape Photography Workshop
The National Trust will be holding an Avebury Landscape Photography Workshop on Saturday, 26 March 2011.
"Professional photographer Mark Philpott will help you look at landscapes in an exciting new way. Learn how to get the best from your camera and be inspired by the Avebury landscape, its stone circle, cosy cottages, fine church and ancient trees."
More here - http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/event-search-2/events/show?id=2108046427&direct=1
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Geology and Landscape walk
This an opportunity to learn more about Fyfield Down (Site of Special Scientific Interest) with Peter Keene, formerly senior lecturer in geomorphology at Oxford Brooks University.
"The ability to 'read' landscapes or to have 'an eye for the country' adds a new dimension to our appreciation of our surroundings. On this walk, from Avebury via Overton Down to Clatford Bottom across the Fyfield SSSI we shall learn through discussion and investigation of the evidence that is observable in the field how the landscape, with its layers of chalk, sarsen rocks, streams and dry valleys, evolved in this part of the Marlborough Downs."
The walk begins in Avebury at 10:30am on Saturday, 16 July 2011. More here – http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=607&prev=1
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Ridgeway under threat from high-speed rail link
Laura Barton, writing in the Guardian yesterday, reports on the route of the high-speed rail link that -
"At stake, too, is the preservation of the Ridgeway, Britain's oldest road — a pathway followed since prehistoric times by herdsmen, travellers and soldiers, running from Wiltshire, along the chalk ridge of the Berkshire Downs and on to the River Thames at the Goring Gap. It passes the stone circle at Avebury and the White Horse at Uffington, as well as Grim's Ditch, Wayland's Smithy and Barbury castle. It runs, too, right down Wendover high street, past the clock tower, built in 1842 and now repurposed as the visitor centre, then out towards Wendover woods. There is an ancient feel to this land, something rich and deep and solemn."
More here – http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/20/heartache-over-high-speed-railway
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Julian Cope's life to be filmed
All ready mentioned elsewhere but -
"...the curious story of Julian Cope, former Smash Hits cover star, practising druid and great British eccentric, is set to be turned into a feature film. David Morrissey, the award-winning actor, has secured the film rights to Head On, Cope's autobiography.
"A student of pagan ritual, Cope's most surprising career shift has been his emergence as an acclaimed expert on Britain's prehistoric stone circles; his book, The Modern Antiquarian, sold 40,000 copies, was adapted as a BBC documentary and prompted an invitation to lecture at the British Museum."
More here - http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/from-smash-hits-to-stone-circles-julian-copes-life-to-be-filmed-2103180.html
(Can we hope for a private viewing party ;-)
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Experts to gather for Stonehenge debate
"LEADING experts on Stonehenge will be gathering in Salisbury to debate the monument's purpose next weekend. The event, called Solving Stonehenge, is part of Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum's 150th anniversary conference on October 2 and 3. The main speakers will be Professor Tim Darvill, Professor Mike Parker Pearson, Mike Pitts and Julian Richards. The debate will be chaired by Andrew Lawson."
More here -
http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/8407609.Experts_gather_to_gather_for_Stonehenge_debate/
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Electricity cables finally removed
"The gateway to the Avebury World Heritage Site has been transformed after work to bury unsightly electricity cables was completed…"
"The project, which started over three years ago, was made possible by a partnership involving Wiltshire Council, the National Trust, North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding National Beauty, English Heritage and local farmers. Funding for the work was provided by Scottish and Southern Electricity…"
"The new cables have been buried underneath the major monuments at Overton Hills Seven Barrows Bronze Age barrow cemetery and beneath the Neolithic West Kennet Avenue which originally linked Avebury Stone Circle to the Sanctuary.
"Scottish and Southern Electricity employed archaeologists to examine all the entry and exit points for the moleing machinery to check for any archaeological remains.
"Their work has been monitored by Dr Nick Snashall, National Trust archaeologist who said: "A major eyesore has been eliminated from the World Heritage Site with the removal or these power cables, bringing the landscape closer to its ancient appearance. We've also been able to record all the archaeology found during the works, which adds to our story of the development of Avebury.""
More here – http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/latestnews.htm?aid=107488&utm_source=Wiltshire+Council&utm_medium=twitter&utm_content=News
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Stonehenge Visitors Centre to go ahead – but not till AFTER the Olympics?!!
"According to the Salisbury Journal the project might go ahead – but not till 2013.
"The newspaper says that on Thursday English Heritage project development manager Martin Harvey updated councillors and members of the public on progress made and quotes him as saying "If all goes well with the remainder of this year, we believe we can still start work on the site in 2012 and open for business the following year.""
More here -
http://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/stonehenge-visitors-centre-to-go-ahead-but-not-till-after-the-olympics/
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Ridgeway: Barriers keep crime at bay
"BARRIERS installed along Britain's oldest road have helped cut poaching and hare-coursing, according to police.
"Oxfordshire County Council installed the temporary barriers between Hill Road, Lewknor and Hill Road, Watlington, on the Ridegway National Trail. And they have already seen results with a drop in crime. The blocks were fitted in April to stop poachers, harecoursers and deer stalkers in cars accessing the track, known as the Icknield Way, and to stop thieves driving to isolated farm buildings.
"The pre-historic Ridgeway track runs from Avebury, Wiltshire, to Ivinghoe near Dunstable, across South Oxfordshire."
More here - http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/8356258.Barriers_keep_crime_off_the_Ridgeway/
See also - http://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2010/02/14/avebury-is-not-dudley/
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Field trip to archaeological excavation near the Monument
Field trip to the English Heritage archaeological excavation near Silbury Hill, Wiltshire and the Alexander Keiller Museum, Avebury.
Wednesday 1 September 2010.
10.30am - 4pm.
"The Icon Archaeological Group field trip will be visiting a research excavation being undertaken by the Archaeological Projects team at English Heritage. The excavation is evaluation the recently revealed Romano-British settlement located in the fields surrounding Silbury Hill. The day will include a guided tour of the excavation by the project manager as well as the opportunity to hear about the recent Silbury Hill conservation project.
"In the afternoon the field trip will move on to the site of Avebury and a guided tour of the Alexander Keiller Museum.
"A buffet lunch will be provided at the Red Lion Pub, Avebury."
More here - http://www.icon.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1284&Itemid=16
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Studied art and design at Swindon School of Art, Wiltshire, England and afterwards Japanese painting and calligraphy at Kyoto University of Fine Arts, Kyoto, Japan.
In 1966 I was a lay monk at the Zen Buddhist temple of Ryozen-an in Kyoto and practiced under the guidance of its Director, Ruth Fuller-Sasaki and senior monk Dana R Fraser (co-translator of Layman P'ang: A Ninth Century Zen Classic).
Also present at Ryozen-an was the author and poet Gary Snyder. Gary Snyder was one of the first Westerners in Japan to study Zen Buddhism and was the inspiration for Jack Kerouac's book, The Dharma Bums.
I was assistant conservator (paintings) at Kyoto National Museum from 1969-1980 and Chief Conservator (Eastern Pictorial Art) at the British Museum from 1980-1986. Japan Foundation Fellow 1973-1974 and Fellow of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works since 1985.
Interests include ancient history, classical music, comparative religion, the fine arts, poetry and writing.
Home: North Yorkshire, ENGLAND
weblogs:
Avebury Matters http://aveburymatters.blogspot.com/
Megalithic Poems http://megalithicpoems.blogspot.com/
Silbury
http://silbury-hill.blogspot.com/
The moral right of the author with regard to text, illustrations and photographs has been asserted.
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