Exciting Neolithic spring site at Woodbridge

Suffolk 3

Rhiannon Jun 28, 2018 08:45:47

Somewhat old news I suppose as I think the digs are done and dusted and there's nothing left to see. Although I suppose there wasn't anything left to see anyway, apart from in the imagination.

But there's lots to imagine: springs and wooden trackways and auroch's skulls on sticks...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-44455266

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jun/28/archaeologists-stumble-on-neolithic-ritual-site-in-suffolk

Pretty cool. The two links' descriptions don't tally entirely, but the guardian one suggests a spring enclosed by a causewayed enclosure, and the site re-enclosed up until the Iron Age, and only properly covered in the 11th century. Very intriguing.

And Scottish power have apparently diverted their cable line away from the area? so that would be a positive thing at least? does that suggest if there's more hidden there it'll stay unpoked for now?

goffik Jun 28, 2018 09:42:12

Replying to Rhiannon

I bookmarked this earlier - will definitely read it at lunchtime! I bloody love a good spring, me! Did I ever mention that?

G x

Sanctuary Jun 28, 2018 12:12:09

Replying to Rhiannon

Rhiannon wrote:

Somewhat old news I suppose as I think the digs are done and dusted and there's nothing left to see. Although I suppose there wasn't anything left to see anyway, apart from in the imagination.

But there's lots to imagine: springs and wooden trackways and auroch's skulls on sticks...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-44455266

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jun/28/archaeologists-stumble-on-neolithic-ritual-site-in-suffolk

And Scottish power have apparently diverted their cable line away from the area? so that would be a positive thing at least? does that suggest if there's more hidden there it'll stay unpoked for now?

Outrageous - neither article links it to Stonehenge!

The words ritual and ceremonies got in though :-)

Joking apart - great find and you can bet there are loads more around in this green and pleasant land of ours still waiting to be discovered!

Monganaut Jun 28, 2018 15:09:17

Replying to Rhiannon

Ooh, that's exciting. I do love that part of the world, Suffolk and Norfolk, and expect there is a lot more ancient stuff to find in those counties. There is deffo something limnal about some of those off the beaten track places in the region. They found some of the oldest footprints outside of Africa in Happisburgh some years back, and like the footprints that regularly turn up at Formby Point, they were gone in a few tides. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26025763
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happisburgh_footprints

tjj Jun 29, 2018 11:46:45

Replying to Rhiannon

Have only just read this Rhiannon (Nix too). Yes, it is exciting ...
"On a recent scorching day, the trackway level of the site was still sodden. “You can’t stop the water,” archaeologist Vinny Monahan said. “We came upon evidence of various attempts to drain the field, but it bubbles up wherever you dig.”

It is easy to see why natural water sources springing from deep within the earth were (and should still be) considered sacred. Life giving.