View the Sites and Monuments list online (v. useful).
Clickable maps of sites to visit.
Latest Links
March 22, 2004
Research and excavation of Neolithic and Beaker enclosures at Belle Tout.
March 19, 2004
With images of the stone before it fell over.
The folklore behind this stone is probably connected with the High Man, a giant warrior figure, thought to be Cúchulainn, in the landscape of Co. Louth.
“Mendip Hills: An Archaeological Survey of the
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” by Peter Ellis.
There are a number of round barrows in this area, perching on the edge of the hill at Chew Down, and a couple of supposed longbarrows. Some people have doubted the latter’s authenticity (this is a mining area and longbarrows are rare in this area anyway). For details you could look at the Somerset Historic Environment records via https://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk[...]&mapx=299110&prn=34622
An exploration of Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth, Tara, Loughcrew and other ancient sites of Ireland in the context of art, astronomy, mythology and archaeology.
Carnbane West at Loughcrew has a higher concentration of remains than Carnbane East, with a total of two large cairns and ten smaller ones still extant on the summit.
The archaeology, mythology and astronomy of the Hill of Tara. This site includes an interactive map of the monuments and a photo gallery.
Researchers have put forward an interesting theory which may explain the apparently unusual orientation of the eastern and western passages at Knowth.
Dowth was extensively excavated (and damaged) during excavations by the Royal Irish Academy in the 1840s.
There is some quite intricate megalithic art inside Newgrange, including the world famous “triple spiral” on an orthostat in the end recess of the chamber.
A 12-mile high warrior figure in the ancient road system near the famous Brú na Bóinne megalithic sites of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. Could this be a representation of Cúchulainn, the Irish Orion?
March 17, 2004
Panoramic from the circle, clearly showing Corndon Hill – the source of many Neolithic axes.
‘An antiquary’, observed the satirical writer Samuel Butler in the 1660s, ‘is an old frippery-Philosopher, that has so strange a natural Affection to worm-eaten speculation, that it is apparent he has a Worm in his Skull. He values one old Invention, that is lost and never to be recovered, before all the new ones in the World, tho’ never so useful.‘
Noel Malcolm reviews ‘Antiquaries: The Discovery of the Past in Eighteenth-Century Britain’ by Rosemary Sweet.
March 16, 2004
Family friendly archaeological visitor centre.
25 Miles from Aberdeen. Indoor and outdoor activities.
Covers neolithic – iron age periods, with a reconstruction of roundhouse etc. I liked it, so did the missus and the bairn.
A Mesolithic Settlement at Howick, Northumberland.
More details of the excavation.
Amateur archaeologists John Davies and Jim Hutchinson discovered Mesolithic flint artefacts eroding from a cliff-edge at Howick, Northumberland. This prompted a detailed investigation of the site by archaeologists from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne during the summers of 2000 and 2002. The remains of a Mesolithic hut were discovered ....
March 15, 2004
This is a searchable, light-weight version of the National Monuments Record (NMR) for Northern Ireland (the equivalent of CARN for Wales or CANMORE for Scotland).
March 12, 2004
The Twelve Apostles by Brian Barker – this short article refers to theories from Bradford University which state that this monument had astronomical uses, and briefly describes the involvement of 17th Century Masons in its reconstruction.
see the site on the OS map of 1867
March 8, 2004
Excavation report (.PDF file) relevant to Carnbaan, St Michael’s and Glecknabae
There are plans of the sites on pdf pages 13, 20 and 23 respectively
This one shows the whole enclosure, which the plug-in doesn’t quite.
Check out those plough marks in the surropunding fields...
March 7, 2004
Information on Knowth including a 5000 word description by a former Tour Guide who very kindly posted his tour guide notes knowth.com/knowthtour.htm
The illumination of the passage and chamber at Newgrange by winter solstice sunrises is world famous. Less well known is the illumination of the passage and chamber at Dowth by winter sunsets knowth.com/dowth-sunsets.htm
Resource site for the Boyne Valley megalithic passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. Other sites covered are the nearby megalithic sites at Fourknocks, Loughcrew and Tara.