The Modern Antiquarian. Ancient Sites, Stone Circles, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic Mysteries
Home Latest Posts Forums Maps Help
Browse Sites News Blog Contributors The Books

News Items by mascot

 Latest Posts
Previous 20 | Showing 21-34 of 34 news posts. Most recent first

Cut Hill (Stone Row / Alignment)

Date for Cut Hill stone monument set at 3,500 BC


Guardian on-line has details of Carbon Dating of peat at Cut Hill showing the monument was raised around 3,500 BC.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/apr/19/ancient-stones-devon-dartmoor
Posted 30 Apr 10ce  |  Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Scotland (Country)

Mathematical analysis of Scottish Stone Art points to lost language?


At New Scientist web site:

"Elaborate symbols and ornate depictions of animals carved in stone by an ancient Scottish people have given up their secret – to mathematics. Statistical analysis reveals that the shapes are a forgotten written language. The method could help interpret many other enigmatic scripts – and even analyse animal communication....."

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18725-mathematics-of-ancient-carvings-reveals-lost-language.html

Full research article available at:

http://rspa.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/03/26/rspa.2010.0041.full.pdf+html
Posted 01 Apr 10ce  |  Comments (5)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

News

Marked Egg Shells Oldest Form of Symbolism?


BBC web site reports findings of 60,000 year old egg shells with clear circular markings.

Finds come from Western Cape area of South Africa.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8544332.stm
Posted 03 Mar 10ce  |  Comments (2)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Most Europeans descended from Early Farmers


Interesting news item on the BBC web site.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8467623.stm

Claim is that:
"Most men in Europe can trace a line of descent to early farmers who migrated from the Near East, a study says."

Link to research paper mentioned in news item
http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1000285
Posted 21 Jan 10ce  |  Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Orkney

Pre-historic Stone Structures Found Underwater


Discovery of man-made structures on the seabed off Orkney - the well preserved structures are near the island of Damsay and some of the structures may date back thousands of years.

One structure found was a stone "table" with 4 legs.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8416600.stm
Posted 17 Dec 09ce  |  Comments (4)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Perth and Kinross

Bronze Age burial ritual shown to have flowers in grave goods


Dig in Scotland has discovered a bunch of meadowsweet blossoms in a Bronze Age grave at Forteviot, south of Perth.

More at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/8412938.stm
Posted 15 Dec 09ce  |  Comments (1)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

News

UK Geology Maps Available Online


The BGS has set up a web service to allow free access to Geology Maps.

BBC News article here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8398451.stm

BGS Web service here

http://www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience/
Posted 07 Dec 09ce  |  Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

7,000 year old evidence of mass cannibalism in Germany


BBC carrying this news story on findings from a site in South West Germany

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8394802.stm

Antiquity link article link at

http://antiquity.ac.uk/ant/083/ant0830968.htm

The BBC have obviously gone for the "big headline" story here (as I have) but there is strong debate around this as evidence cannibalism vs processing of bodies as part of a death ritual.
Posted 06 Dec 09ce  |  Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Highland (Mainland)

Bronze Age Cist found in Strath Oykel, Sutherland


Skeleton found in a substantial stone cist, partially wrapped in animal/furs with a wicker basket over the skull area.

Links to BBC story with photo

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8261343.stm

and Scotsman article

http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/39Whicker-Man39-tomb-to-yield.5661633.jp
Posted 06 Oct 09ce  |  Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

News

Europe's first farmers were segregated, expert incomers


Article in National Geographic seems to show clear genetic differences between the first farming communities (circa 5500 BC) found and local hunter gatherer groups in the same regions.

Hypothesis is that the earliest farming communities were incomers who arrived with pre-existing farming skills and domesticated animals in tow.

Link
http://news.nationalgeographic.co.uk/news/2009/09/090903-europe-first-farmers.html
Posted 22 Sep 09ce  |  Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Kent's Cavern (Cave / Rock Shelter)

New dig in Kents Caverns near Torquay


A new dig at Kents Cavern neat Torquay starts next week to continue excavations looking for more evidence of Neanderthal occupation.

The cavern will be open from September 10 and visitors will be able to view the dig.

Link to article
http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/Caves-secrets/article-1291040-detail/article.html
Posted 02 Sep 09ce  |  Comments (1)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

News

Oldest "Musical Instrument" Found - 35,000 years old


BBC web site has coverage of a 35,000 year old "Flute" made from bone. Found in Hohle Fels cavern in southwest Germany:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8117915.stm
Posted 26 Jun 09ce  |  Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Part of Neanderthal Skull dredged up from North Sea


Well known that there must be lots of ancient archeology under the North Sea but first evidence of Neanderthals dredged up.

BBC web site article at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8099377.stm
Posted 15 Jun 09ce  |  Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Exciting new dating method for pottery


BBC web site has details of a new dating method for pottery based on the rate that it takes up water since firing.

If this works as stated here then it offers significant dating opportunities for sites where other dating approaches aren't possible.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8058185.stm

Royal Society Link at http://royalsociety.org/news.asp?id=8527

Paper by authors from 2008 outlining the processes involved
http://www.mace.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/staff/academic/profile/publications/journal_pdfdownload.php?id=1766
Posted 21 May 09ce  |  Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink
Previous 20 | Showing 21-34 of 34 news posts. Most recent first
Based in Cheshire but spend a lot of time in Northumberland I've always been interested in things Iron Age and earlier.

I now have the time to combine this interest with walking and taking photos so I hope to add content where I can.

My TMA Content:
Terms & Conditions  |  Home  |  Julian Cope presents Head Heritage Top of page