It was a crackin’ day, the great and good of Cumbrian archaeology turned out to honour the Mighty Clare Fell.
John Hodgson gave a good overview of prehistoric Cumbria and future plans. Jamie Quartermaine was on good form discussing the remains of the elusive “aceramic” Iron Age of Cumbria.
As Vicster has said Burl was on top form and was definitely the highlight of the day, the chairman, quite rightly introduced the great man as a “galactico”. To beaming faces the great man took us on a tour that started out with the development of the portal stones of the great Cumbrian rings and then traced the development of the megalithic avenue using examples such as Ballynoe, Mayburgh, Rollright, Avebury and Stonehenge and finishing with the multiple avenues and rings of Carnac.
Mr Burl was followed by Mary Burkett who delivered a touching tribute to Clare Fell and launched the book ‘Studies in Northern Prehistory, Essays in Memory of Clare Fell’.
After lunch, Mark Edmonds gave a wonderful talk entitled ‘The Neolithic in the Central Fells’, I have seen Mark speak on a couple of occasions, he is always good value for money his knowledge, passion and laid back delivery are always wonderful. His talk was excellent and focused on the axe production sites and how they may have been perceived and used.
After Coffee Helen Loney gave a lecture on ‘Towards a European perspective on the Cumbrian Bronze Age’ the best thing I can say about her lecture was that it was like wading through treacle. Definitely a case of wrong place, wrong time for Helen. That apart, a lovely day.

After lunch, Mark Edmonds gave a wonderful talk entitled ‘The Neolithic in the Central Fells’, I have seen Mark speak on a couple of occasions, he is always good value for money his knowledge, passion and laid back delivery are always wonderful. His talk was excellent and focused on the axe production sites and how they may have been perceived and used.
After Coffee Helen Loney gave a lecture on ‘Towards a European perspective on the Cumbrian Bronze Age’ the best thing I can say about her lecture was that it was like wading through treacle. Definitely a case of wrong place, wrong time for Helen. That apart, a lovely day.