Latest Fieldnotes

I spent my lunch break strolling round the Bronze Age parts of the British Museum today and came home determined to look up the Badbury stone in Grinsell. It’s a bit confusing as he doesn’t use the name the Three Kings at any point, but the barrows in question are probably what he calls Shapwick 5, 6a and 6b (6a having yielded the stone). But although the Museum information says the barrow was destroyed, Grinsell puts it down at 9 feet high and I suspect it has not been destroyed since. Anyway here’s his marvellous description:

“...nearly levelled 1845, but removal of the centre was watched by JHA [J H Austen]. About three inhumations, probably primary, two with food-vessels and one with an ornamented handled pot resembling those of Cornish type; up to 15 cremations (perhaps more), a few possibly contemporary with the inhumations, the majority clearly secondary and a few with E/MBA [early to middle Bronze Age] collared urns of a latish type; as far as can now be ascertained, none was LBA [late Bronze Age]. The barrow consisted of a central cairn of local sandstone blocks enclosed in a ring of flints, which was bordered by a massive wall of sandstone 30 feet diameter, outside of which was a ring of chalk about 15 feet wide, which must have originally covered the mound. The interments were probably all in the central cairn. In the centre according to Durden (not in the surrounding wall as often stated) was the well-known large slab of sandstone which was decorated with carvings of daggers and axes, the former of type similar to those from Stonehenge, conjectured to be of Mycenean type.

from “Dorset Barrows”, 1959.

Those two rocks really reminds me of certain tales
where guardians were magically turned to stone.
They are standing aligned on both sides of an ancient abandoned path leading to the Mount Grosso’s top.
As two guardians.
A portal...

A “Perthshire pair ” the western stone is recumbent . General orientation is SW/NE .

The north side of Loch Tay has plenty rock art but there is a dearth on the south side so any new find find is a bit special . This one was discovered yesterday 444 m up on the west side of Tullich Hill , bearing 51 cups .

I visited this site on 13th November, 2008. Due to vandalism inside the chamber the key is no longer available.

Internal viewing is between 1200 and 1600 hours on bank holidays and weekends from 1st April to 30th September

A viewing can be aranged by contacting the Wayside Stores on 01407 810153

I’m sorry about this but I have to correct the wholly misleading suggestion about a local tale of a destroyed stone circle. My family have lived in and around Pewsey for some 500 years. I was born and brought up there and went on to study archaeology at UCL. I can say with authority that i have never heard any story which even vaguely concerns a destoyed stone circle either in or around the village.

It is true that there are sarsens used as footings for the church, almost certainly reused from the original wooden Saxon church that occupied the same site. Pewsey is a saxon word derived from “Pefe’s Well-watered land” which might suggest a marshy, low-lying damp sort of place where large lumps of stone were a prerequisite for the footings of many buildings as the town developed. However the ones situated alongside the river were brought in by council contractors when the area between the river and the football ground was landscaped as part of the Queens Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977. I know because I was part of the local Scout group that helped dig out one of the ponds, and I watched them doing it! I agree that they appear to have been dumped fairly randomly but such was the wisdom of rural council contractors in the 1970’s

Dale-Gudbrand is a well known figure in the story of the christening of Norway. Saint Olav on his way up the valley of Gudbrandsdalen (i.e. Gudbrands valley) came to Gudbrands farm at Hundorp a day in 1021. The story is told in Snorre Sturlassons Heimskringla:

King Olav met the farmers as agreed early on the next morning, when the image of the god Tor was carried out. When the meeting was in order Dale-Gudbrand asked the king were his god was? The sun rose and the king said: Here comes my god with a great light. As the farmers turned against the sunrise, Kolbein the strong hit the image, it burst and out streamed mice, lizzards and worms. When they saw this, Dale-Gudbrand and the farmers accepted christianity.

This is all that is documented of Dale-Gudbrand as a historical figure. The farm that carries his name at Hundorp has other qualities however.

- 5 mounds dated iron-age.
- One square-shaped stonesetting with 10 stones.
- A white stone
- One stone (ca 1,5 m high) remaining of a large stone-setting of originally 36 stones! The ring was documented by Gerhard Schøning in the 1770-ies (Reise som giennem en Deel af Norge i de Aar 1773, 1774, 1775 paa Hans Majestæt Kongens bekostning...).

Situated very close to the main road (E6) it is well worth a stop, you may even spend the night as there is a small hotell there as well.

I must apologize for the poor quality of the posted photographs, they were taken just before sunset with a mobile. But as there may be a few years before I’ll be in the vicinity again this is what I have to offer...

This last week I have taken new digital images used my SLR (slide film not used up yet) and a mini-DV camcorder to record various features in this area [including a ?land-drain which ends partway down the cliff with six foot depth of narrow drystone wall forming its top]. Coincidentally it has been announced today that the land between Hatston pier [read Lower Saverock] and the main road is being taken into development. To do this they have also bought “a field on the Finstown side”. Presumably not disturbing archaeology ?
The conglomerate/puddlestone on the burnt mound’s uphill side is becoming buried, probably by the same over-vigorous machining that has further eroded the top. More of the small stones, mostly burnt [though some slightly larger pieces may have been shiny once] are showing now. But more interestingly the polished dark tops of possibly square stones are presently coming level with the surface, and these seem to have some kind of order to them. I managed to get my fingers two or three inches down the side of one without finding a base, though it is too early to be talking of pillars yet. On the top at the Finstown side I’m sure there is some kind of ridge – evidence for a wall beneath or simply a by-product of early digs ? I am reminded a little of the Hawell burnt mound.

An excellent, and well preserved, broch.

I found this marked rock about four years ago just above a very steep bank over the Corrody Burn in Strathbraan .Similar to Hob’s recent posting from Copenhagen .

Not too hard to find assuming you’ve got a map, the first inkling that you’ve arrived is catching sight of Clach thingy wotsit down the road, park there by the standing stone and kerbed cairn they’re all in the same field, or just go straight to Strontoiller farm.

Aubrey Burl says there are still 31 stones, but I don’t think I counted that many but he was right about the western arc being best preserved, the circle is fairly ruined but still obvious as such, not intervisible with the big stone and kerb cairn as there are what looks like glacial moraines between them. Standing on top of one we can look down on the circle just as I was doing that very thing my mum called me on the mobile, a first, and freaky little thing. Just across the field I can see Loch Nell shining in the sun, another glorious day, Scotland must like me, and I like Scotland.

Off the A83 in between Inverary and Lochgilphead is Achnagoul farm, half way up the farm track is spaces for half a dozen cars, this is where we parked.
Whilst nonchalantly jumping the fence a car passed us going up to the farm, catching us somewhat redhanded, but they only smiled and waved so we carried on up the hill. We found this very long chambered cairn lounging around in the shade of two big trees like a fat lazy lion, but it came upon us suddenly as we couldn’t see it untill we’d crested the hill, obviously it was meant to be seen from afar, probably to the south and west.

It was a bit cramped in the chamber with the kids, and there’s only just enough room to squeeze in through the deliberately small entrance, the capstone is large and heavy and seemingly born to be a burial chamber capstone, as it fits so snug.

I’m a bit surprised only me and GW have been here, it’s a really big edifice and though the central chamber is all gone bar one orthostat its still in great condition and the setting is truly inspiring looking over the fine Loch Fyne to the snow capped mountains, and all the autumn colours coming through, it was a shame I had only limited time and daylight.

A ruined wedge tomb, but a classic of its type. These squat tombs always remind me of some futuristic tank crawling across the landscape. I’d been up at the court tomb and the cashel and felt up for a further little trek down to what’s call a ‘giant’s grave’ on the old OS maps at archaeology.ie.

Approaching the tomb from above it’s hard not to be disappointed as it’s a tangled mess of brambles and briers that you see at first. However, there’s quite a bit of the structure left. The two ‘portal’ stones are massive and there’s some evidence of the double kerbing at the back of the tomb. Standing a little to the north-west of the tomb you get a really good idea of where they came up with the name for this classification of Irish tomb, its wedge shape revealed as the tomb gradually tapers back towards the chamber.

The surrounding terrain in these fields west of Magheraghanrush Deerpark show plenty of signs of earth working and quarrying that seem to have been undertaken by the people who first constructed the court tomb, then the wedge tomb and the cashel.

South-east of the court tomb and north-west of the wedge tomb, about equidistant from both, this site is on private land. There’s a style in the wall that leads down to it. It’s quite a wonderful place, perched above Colgagh Lough and with views west across to Knocknarea. I could imagine this site as a prized and well defended homestead. The souterrain has been uncovered and it’s wonderful to see the passage snake down into a corballed chamber. The cashel is very ruinous but is one of those places that tugs at your heart, steeped as it is in the mysteries of pre-history.

In Buttermere village turn down towards the Fish Hotel, passing the hotel, follow the road and park at the pay and display. Once parked you will see a large domed outcrop (you cannot miss it). Follow the footpath that takes you over the stream and into the campsite. The cup marks are found at ground level on the footpath that goes around the outcrop.

This carved and cup-marked boulder, classified by the Archaeological Inventory as a mass-rock, is raised on the north-eastern side of a shallow basin, with mid-range views to the south and west. Cup-marked rocks are not plentiful in this area but there is a light scattering along the south coast, between Clonakilty and Rosscarbery.

The boulder is imposing, coffin shaped; 2.08m long, 1.42m wide, 0.57m thick (measurements from Archaeological Inventory), shouldered by two blocks – each placed centrally under a flank – and what appears to be a mound of smaller stones under the north-eastern, quartz-tipped end. It is aligned, along its longer axis, NE-SW. While it looks like a possible (south-west opening) boulder-burial, its traditional reputation as a mass-rock could point to a more recent, early 18th Century origin.

The top surface contains eleven cup marks, 3cm to 5cm in diameter and grouped on a raised shelf; part of a defined central rectangle. This shape is lightly marked on the longer sides, just inside the width of the stone, but deeply trenched where it separates from the main body; grooves 7cm wide and 3cm deep, 1.1m apart and parallel. The exterior of the rectangle is 1cm lower that the interior.

While tempting to imagine the entire assemblage as some prehistoric magnum opus, it seems more likely that the outline carving was done at a later date, possibly as an altar elaboration in penal times. The cup marks, gracefully curve-patterned, must be part of a much older – Bronze Age, at least – design on the same feature.

Just over 1km north-east, in the town-land of Gortnascarty and immediately to the rear of the ruins of Kilkerranmore church and graveyard, is another possible boulder-burial – classified in the Inventory as a “megalithic structure” (W36351 38865). No support stones are visible underneath. Two jagged upright slabs, perhaps the remnants of a NE-SW alignment or, less likely, part of a kerbing arrangement, lead from the south-eastern end of the monument. Given the proximity of the graveyard, these could be ancient grave-markers but, if so, they would have been placed unusually close to its side.

The boulder at Coorleigh South is not marked on the OS map so it may be best to just plot these GPS coordinates and look out for it on the south side of the road. The very obliging landowners live in the farm-buildings on the same side of the road, on the rise to the east.

Thanks to Reg for pointing this one out to me.

Archaeological Inventory of Cork, 1992; No.3263, 353 (Coorleigh South); No.934, 114 (Gortnascarty).

One of the rarities left near home that I had never visited. I came out for a walk to St Mary’s Church, Twyford and then up the hill and down the pleasant Love Lane with its view across the Hazeley hollow. At the end of the road you pop through into a ploughed (oh yes) field following the sign for the “Monarch’s Way” and the barrow is up the slope on your right. You have to really walk up the edge of the field for a minute or so to see it.
There’s very little left, poor thing, maybe 50cm height over the surrounding field. It would have been quite splendid in its prime at about 15m diameter. Maybe I should have paced over it to measure it out properly and look for any fragments of relic turned up by the plough, I didn’t want to intrude. Like visiting a dying relative in hospital, you feel you ought really to just let them be and stop bothering them.
The Ordnance Survey don’t seem to get their Sitef of ye Olde Antiquitief very accurate round here, showing this as a biggish mound and omitting the Twyford Pumping Station barrows completely.

Update re access: the new owners (non-local) who moved in a couple of years ago have now put up signs down the road stating “No unauthorised vehicles beyond this point”, which I’m not sure is strictly kosher. Certainly access on foot is still covered under the Right to Roam legislation. I’m not recommending anyone breaking the law but these clowns are going to have to learn that the days of colonialism are over – and that the people of Scotland (and elsewhere) have the right to access sites which have been visited from time immemorial. Some local action is planned on this, stay tuned.

This is a barrow cemetary on the northern edge of the New Forest. Access is easy as a large layby on the busy A31 gives direct access. Also to the north of the site is a large car park, one of many provided by the New Forest countrypark.
The barrows are in some of the worst condition I have ever seen. This contrasts with the entries on M.A.G.I.C. and may well mean that I missed some small ones that haven’t been damaged. The four pictured have all been robbed or very poorly excavated. The largest on the site has a large crater in the centre of it and is the least damaged!
The small, low barrows all had large cross shaped trenches across them and look ok from a distance, the damage only becomes really apparent up close.
Having said all that, the site is worth visiting and had I had more time I would have visited the hillfort in the forest nearby, Castle Piece.

Close by Vardehaugen (200 m.) is the gravesites at Gleinneset . You’ll see remains of viking- and bronze-age burials. Most of it lies in a pine-plantation (that my local informant said was going to be cut down soon). The bronze-age-mound has a magnificant location by the sea. It may be strange today, but Dønna was a very central place just a hundred years ago, when all traffic was by sea. The boat-grave contained a few remains of iron and a small bell, the ship must have been about 2 m. wide and 7 m. long. The long mound itself was about 20 m. The other mounds are round. In 1952 about 30 mounds of various sizes were counted. In 1955 14 were excavated.

We parked just west of Pontrhydfendigaid ( nice little name for a nice little town) halfway down a lane leading to Dolebolion farm,
The footpath crossing this lane takes you more or less striaght to the top of the hill. At 352m it’s quite a puff to the top but the view
alone is worth it, the trig point speaks of the forts hieght and maybe its unasailability but only being there shows its dominence over
the surrounding country. The Entrance is very well preserved, being the most vulnerable side it has three banks and ditches only a low
bank stregnthens the eastern side. Infront of the entrance is an irregular shaped ring of rubble, iron age I doubt but near that is a 
pair of large boulders (one standing) they do look part of something older. Around the stones are three large mounds from on top
of which we could almost look down on the fortified entrance, not often does that occur.
On our way back down we saw what the track was for around the southern edge of the hill, cars were racing round it, a pity they werent
more cool cars, astra’s, escorts and the like, but it was different, and we did stay and watch for a bit.
From the other hillfort three miles N.West the hill that Pen y Bannau is on seems to stand out even more, it is such a perfect place
to build a fort on .

To the east of Pontrhydfendigaid is Ystradmeurig the hillfort is just north of the latter, but seeing as both places are unpronouncable and
deep in last century Wales, miles even from the nearest B road, any directions are just a piss take, get a map !
After reaching the top of the hill just walk along the wide ridge till you come upon the fortified entrance this is more or less all thats left,
except the natural barrier of steep sided cliffs and they’ll be there forever. Not as well preserved as Pen y bannau and the topography
flattens out going off to the coast, but well worth the walk, some good fungi too.

Leaving Ysbyty Ystwyth south on the B4343 turn right immediatly then right again, at the fork in the road park and take left branch.
Follow the path with dark Mynydd Bach forest to your right, looking to the left of the track for the ring cairn, beware, it comes up suddenly.
A good one this, after recently visiting Hirnant ring cairn it was good to see one that has more cairn than ring, the eastern arc of stones are
still under the cairn,there are two large stones and some smaller ones and some probably missing, in the centre of the cairn is a long thin
stone about a metre long this might be a cist side stone. From here we could see the hillfort a little to the south.

By far the easiest approach is from the north, we parked by some big black bagged hay roles half way down a farm track, and sneaked
the rest of the way.
High above the Afon Ystwyth (and I mean high) is the third of todays hillforts, it was the most beaten down of the three but it was in
the most exhilerating position, the view up and down the river is perfect. The entrance and a long bank arcing east-west enclosing the
hilltop between the long way down to the river and the easy way up are all thats
left. The best view of the hill fort is from the car as you approach.
A short thankyou to the capricous welsh weather is needed
as it was greyer than a greys grey spot, but no more than a 
few spots of chilled sky water did touch our tender selves.
Thankyou Wales

What an absolute beaut! After a lovely, cool walk through the woods, we came across this cracking little circle and were more than pleased we decided to come – the heat of the day was starting to get to us and all we had really wanted to do was head back to Ballater and have a pint of cider!

We had struggled to see how we could get here at first, missing the turning twice – we hadn’t realised that we needed to park by the cemetary and then walk. We obviously need to go on a map-reading course!

We sat in the dappled sunlight and just drank it all in. This tiny circle is made of up of improbably large stones and we spent a good hour just pottering around, enjoying the peace and solitude of this site. This is the most perfect spot and is the most perfect, small circle.