Latest News

English Heritage look set to ban alcohol and charge for parking at future Summer and Winter Solstice Gatherings.

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-35500528

Revellers at Stonehenge could face a ban on alcohol and parking charges at this year’s solstice celebrations. English Heritage, which manages the ancient site, wants to introduce “significant changes” in response to “repeated and consistent” feedback. Stonehenge manager Kate Davies, said an alcohol ban would “help everyone to have a better experience of solstice”.

But senior druid, King Arthur Pendragon, said English Heritage was “looking for confrontation”.
In December, large crowds gathered at the ancient monument in Wiltshire to watch the sunrise and mark the winter solstice.

And an estimated 23,000 people descended on the site to celebrate the summer solstice last June.
Despite it being illegal to damage the monument, last year the Heritage Journal wanted revellers banned from getting close to the stones in a bid to prevent the “annual vandalism”.

“A researcher at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) hopes to gain an understanding of sounds heard thousands of years ago.

Michelle Walker’s investigation will involve a cave in Moray where human remains from the Late Bronze Age were previously found by archaeologists.

It is believed prehistoric people buried their dead in the cave in rituals involving beating a drum.

Ms Walker has proposed beating a drum in the same location.
The UHI graduate believes the acoustics of Sculptors Cave where the bodies were laid could have affected mourners’ mood....... ”

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-35316369

A bronze age carved stone ball, measuring approx. 6cm by 6cm has been stolen from its display cabinet at the Dunblane Museum, The Cross, Dunblane, sometime between early and mid November, 2015.

The stone ball may have some identifying numbers marked on it however it would be possible for these to be removed. A photo of the stolen stone ball is attached.

Dunblane Officers are investigating the theft and are appealing for information. If you have any knowledge of who may be responsible or know the whereabouts of the stone ball, please contact them on 101 or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

m.facebook.com/ForthValleyPoliceDivision/photos/pb.162735270431066.-2207520000.1452715137./952907308080521/

[....]
I was up at the hill fort only recently. It’s still so lovely up there but obviously, since the trees are now without their leaves, it is possible to see the Ely Link Road. And, surprise surprise, you can see the solar farm.

Now, and this is the bit that is really making me rather very angry, I have learned – via social media – that we are now going to have – guess what ? OK, that’s unfair, how could you know – I didn’t – a LANDFILL SITE. Yes, that’s correct. Now, this is not your black bag rubbish type tip, this is an ‘inert waste’ tip. What exactly does ‘inert waste’ mean? So, for the next 5 to 6 years up to 20 lorries, very quickly, in a dust raising, dirty and frankly quite dangerous manner will be driving along Cwrt yr Ala Road. That lovely quiet tree lined but slightly narrow road.

I’m really pleased to be able to say that the local Labour Councillor for the area is doing his level best to stop this happening. Indeed the Welsh Lib Dem AM for South Wales Central and spokesperson on Enterprise, Transport, Europe and Business has assured me that she will ‘look into it’ but in the meantime the Vale of Glamorgan has, in their recent report on this completely outrageous planning application – available online and therefore well within the public domain – given me the opportunity to give you some quotes. In fairness I suggest you check this out for yourselves but, in the meantime here are a couple of my favourites:

The site is located in open countryside and within the Cwrt yr Ala basin Special Landscape Area as defined within the Unitary Development Plan. The site also lies within the boundaries of the derelict mineral site, the former Ely Brickworks. In addition it is noted that the Caerau Wood hill fort, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, is located to the north of the site within the neighbouring Cardiff Council Local authority area.

and;

In terms of impact upon Vale residents this would be very limited as there is no residential development, within the Vale, close to the proposed site. With regard to impact upon Cardiff residents, and any significant effect on the environment by virtue of the nature, size and location of the development this is a decision for the Local Planning Authority (LPA)

sebrooke.wordpress.com/2016/01/08/caerau-under-threat/ and reblogged here heritageaction.wordpress.com/2016/01/13/caerau-under-threat/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Archaeologists have uncovered what they believe to be the “best-preserved Bronze Age dwellings ever found in Britain”.

More:
bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-35280290

A beautiful winter’s day, the fairground ride of Christmas over – sigh of relief for another year. So today ventured out to Avebury to walk over to West Kennett Long Barrow. Having heard it was open to the public again, wanted to see the improvements. The ground levels inside the barrow have been raised slightly and covered with a sandy gravel. The unsightly sky-light has been sealed and replaced with two port holes in the middle and at the end of the barrow. I bumped into an old friend over there (as you do) who told me the plan was for water to drain out through a small gap in the entrance stones.
Just at the moment the walk up to the barrow is very muddy as a vehicle has churned the rubber meshing.

From the Orcadian:

“Archaeological discoveries are often made when least expected, and this is exactly what happened on Monday, at Tresness, Sanday.

In very poor weather, Professor Jane Downes (University of the Highlands and Islands), Professor Colin Richards (University of Manchester), Dr Vicki Cummings (University of Central Lancaster) and Christopher Gee (ORCA, UHI) were walking out to Tresness to examine the eroding stalled cairn on the point.

But en route, they discovered the remains of no less than 14 Bronze Age houses, distributed over a kilometre stretch of sand.

What this discovery reveals is that an entire Bronze Age landscape on Sanday was covered by as the sand dunes formed in the second millennium BC.

But it was the scale and density of occupation that really surprised the archaeologists as they proceeded along the ness. Not only are house structures present but working areas are also visible”

orcadian.co.uk/2015/12/chance-discovery-of-massive-bronze-age-settlement-in-sanday/

For those who know Blackhouse Burn this find is only a few hundred yards away at Cloburn Quarry.

wosas.net/news/cloburn.html

From the Jersey Evening Post:

“A DOLMEN that has stood for thousands of years in St Clement has been vandalised.

The Société Jersiaise is appealing for information after Dolmen de Mont Ubé was daubed in spray paint.

The Neolithic passage grave was built around 6,000 years ago and can be found in trees around 100 metres from Rue de la Blinerie.”

Full story with picture

Hundreds of flint tools have been unearthed during excavation work prior to constructiom of Lincoln University’s Isaac Newton Building. They include tiny cutting blades and are up to 11000 years old.

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-34944768

Stonehenge druid King Arthur resurrects remains battle

A senior druid has vowed to seek a judicial review over a government decision allowing ancient human remains from Stonehenge to be kept in a museum.

King Arthur Pendragon claims the cremated bones, unearthed in 2008, are from members of the royal line and wants them reburied.

A licence allowing them to go on display expired last month, but has since been extended.

Mr Pendragon said the government had “reinterpreted” the law. ‘Mobilise supporters‘

Since their excavation, the remains have led to new discoveries about Stonehenge.

Prof Mike Parker Pearson from University College London said the bones were buried over a period of 600 years, and include the remains of men, women and children.

His findings will be formally published in the Antiquity Journal next year.

If new scientific advances were made, he added, the licence allowed for future examination of the bone fragments.

King Arthur Pendragon will apply for the judicial review in May 2016

The items will be held in storage until the bones are transferred to Salisbury Museum in April.

Mr Pendragon said he would will apply for the repatriation of the bones when they are moved to the museum, and will then apply for a judicial review.

He added: “We are not going to roll over on this and we are going to mobilise our supporters around the world.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Every licence application is carefully considered on its merits.

“Having weighed up all the arguments put forward, Ministers found the case made by Professor Parker Pearson to be more persuasive than that put forward by those who opposed the application and have amended the licence as he requested.”

Meanwhile, Mr Pendragon also told the BBC he planned to seek a change in the law to better protect pre-Christian human remains.

He will also address the issue at the Stonehenge winter solstice on 22 December.

warband.org.uk/

ibtimes.co.uk/britains-superhenge-massive-4500-year-old-stone-monoliths-may-be-largest-prehistoric-monument-1518829

The National Trust has written to the Portman Hunt amid claims its horses and hounds damaged Hambledon Hill, one of the finest examples of an iron age hill fort in Dorset. It is claimed the hunt left the recognised bridleway and came across the hill during a half term hunt last month.

National Trust volunteer Jerry Broadway, who believes this is the second time the hunt has damaged the hill fort, added: “After leaving the bridleway the hunt scattered livestock which were panicked by the hounds who were completely out of control.

“On this occasion extensive damage was done by the horses to the hill generally, and most worryingly the Neolithic Longbarrow which is over 3,000 years old. They have now twice been guilty of blatant and wilful damage to a scheduled ancient monument. What, I wonder will it take to make them actually take real notice?”

Meanwhile, National Trust West & North Dorset general manager Helen Mann confirmed complaints had been received that a hunt crossed Hambledon Hill. She said: “It appears that the hunt, while crossing the hill on a bridleway, left the track to round up some dogs which had got out of control.

“Hambledon Hill is a remarkable and important site for both wildlife and archaeology and we have written to the hunt to remind them that they must stay on the bridleway when crossing the hill. Any horses being ridden off the bridleway risk damage and erosion to the fragile Iron Age ramparts which give the hill its distinctive appearance.”

Hambledon Hill was acquired by the National Trust last year. Built over 2,000 years ago, the massive earthwork defences lay over one of the most significant early Neolithic landscapes in Western Europe, dating back almost 6,000 years, and is a place half of British butterfly species call home.

The Portman Hunt was unavailable for comment.

bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/14021300._Out_of_control__hunt_did__extensive_damage__to_3_000_year_old_hill_fort__says_National_Trust/

A GOVERNMENT service which champions England’s heritage has condemned a scheme to site a 960-panel solar farm near the most important ancient site between Stonehenge and the Orkney Islands.

Historic England said the small-scale renewable energy scheme at East Tanfield, near Ripon, could harm the neighbouring Thornborough Henge Scheduled Monument complex, which featured ritual structures, massive circular ditches and banks dating back 4,000 years to the Bronze Age.

North Yorkshire County Council archaeologist Lucie Hawkins has called for the application to be withdrawn, stating she was disappointed the plan had been submitted to Hambleton District Council without any assessment of the impact on the historic environment.

Development consultants Arrowsmith Associates said Richard Alton, the owner of Rushwood Hall, once the seat of the Nussey baronetcy and home to Teesside steelworks artist Viva Talbot, was seeking to provide energy for the crop services business based at the hall and a number of cottages.

A spokesman for the firm said the application site, 500 metres from the henges and medieval village, was not close enough to either of these to have any impact on them.
He added the solar panels would be completely screened by trees and their impact on the landscape, which also includes East Tanfield deserted medieval village, would be negligible.

He said: “What public views would exist would be seen in the context of an ever increasing acceptance that such sites are part of the modern rural landscape, as supported by government policy.”

Objecting to the scheme, Historic England said the solar panels would represent “a distinctly modern intervention” in a sensitive landscape of regional, national and international historical significance, with the henge complex being “one of the pre-eminent prehistoric landscape complexes in Britain”.

Its ancient monuments inspector Keith Emerick said: “The henges are part of a ritual landscape that extends beyond the surrounding wetlands to Catterick in the north and south to Ferrybridge.

“Only four henge sites in the British Isles are larger, all in Wiltshire and Dorset, and nowhere else are there three closely-spaced and identical henge monuments. The northernmost henge is believed to be the best-preserved henge monument in the country.”

Mr Emerick said part of the site’s importance was that it was located within a bowl, which had a lack of “overtly modern intrusion”.

Proposals to screen the site, he said, a regional hub in the social, economic and religious life of many widely dispersed groups in the Neolithic era, were temporary and changeable.

thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/14026375.Solar_farm_sparks_fears_for__Stonehenge_of_the_North_/

Site on Sligo/Leitrim border may not have been found until now due to mountain setting

A hilltop tomb recently discovered close to the edge of Tievebaun mountain on the Sligo/Leitrim border may be more than 5,000 years old , according to the archaeologist who found it.

Michael Gibbons said a series of discoveries in this area – including animal enclosures, field systems, and booley settlements – suggests that there are layers of history spanning the Neolithic period, the iron age, the bronze age and the post medieval period on these uplands.

Mr Gibbons, who discovered other tombs in this area a decade ago, said that the hilltop tomb, which was a sacred site up to 3,500 BC, was probably not discovered before now because of its dramatic setting on the edge of the mountain.

More: irishtimes.com/news/science/tomb-thought-to-be-more-than-5-000-years-old-discovered-1.2422061

West Kennett Long Barrow is currently closed for conservation work. The entrance is fenced off while a small team of what looked like three people work on the drainage and 1950s concrete skylight. I was over there earlier today and spoke to someone who said he was an archaeology-engineer. The work, being carried out with care and precision, has been jointly commissioned by NT and EH.
A very strong plastic webbing ‘road’ has been laid up to the barrow and a portacabin is up there behind the fencing.

“A dig in Jersey has yielded a stash of hunter-gatherer artefacts from the end of the last Ice Age, including stone pieces criss-crossed by carved lines.”

bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34679202

archaeology.org/news/3822-151022-mesolithic-skye-nutshells

Hazelnut shells have been uncovered at a Mesolithic site on the Isle of Skye by archaeologists from the University of the Highlands and Islands, members of the Staffin Community Trust, schoolchildren, and volunteers. “We have found lots of fragments of charred hazelnut shells in the lower soil samples. They are the ideal thing to date as they have a short life span and were a Mesolithic favorite,” archaeologist Dan Lee told BBC News. The team also recovered flints and a piece of bone that may have been used as a toggle or a bead.

More than 2,000 artefacts possibly dating back as much as 6,000 years have been discovered on the site of a new school in Anglesey .

It is the largest ever Neolithic discovery in Wales after being discovered by archaeologists investigating the site at Llanfaethlu.

The ruins of three buildings have also been uncovered by the CR Archeology team who have been on site since November 2014.

Archeologist Cat Rees told the Daily Post : “Until about 50 years ago all we knew about this period in North Wales came from the megalithic tombs and chance finds but this changed with the discovery at Llandegai, Bangor of a single house.

‘Unlike anything else in North Wales‘
“To date less than five have been found in the whole of North Wales.

“This settlement (at Llanfaethlu) has the best preserved houses and is the only one which has more than one house.”

Speaking from the site Matt Jones said: “The number and quality of artefacts is unlike anything else in North Wales.

“The main excavation started and we found one building, which we originally thought was it.

“That alone was fantastic but we soon discovered two others, this may have been a village.”

Cat continued: “So far we can tell from the finds that people were using the site for at least 1,000 years and we have found more than 2,000 flint, stone and pottery artefacts.

“We also have burnt hazelnuts, acorns and seeds which will allow us to radiocarbon date the site and reconstruct the Neolithic diet.”

Archaeologist Vicky Hudson and Matt Jones.Archaeologist Vicky Hudson and Matt Jones.
Matt said there was even a chance the site may have been a stone axe factory, with high-quality stone from Penmaenmawr discovered.

But the dig almost never happened when a pit group was initially discovered in a small evaluation trench.

But the group returned to examine a larger area as the houses extended beyond the excavation limit.

‘Discoveries have been astonishing‘
Cat said Anglesey Council have been “so supportive” of their discoveries.

“The council backed us and the discoveries have been astonishing, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

In April last year a mysterious copper artefact was discovered at a Neolithic tomb near Brynsiencyn.

Neolithic pottery found at the site.Neolithic pottery found at the site.
The find was able to add weight to one of archeology’s burning questions on whether or not there was a British Copper Age.

Anglesey is rich with ancient monuments with approximately 30 Neolithic and Bronze age burial chambers on the island, several ancient settlements and standing stones.

The find at Llanfaethlu however is unlike any other in terms of the number of artefacts which will now be analysed and soil to be carbon dated.

CR Archeology, who will wrap up the site in the next few days have had locals visit the site every week and held public talks on their discoveries.

Pupils from the schools which the Llanfaethlu super school will replace have also been to visit.

walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/largest-ever-neolithic-site-wales-10269341

Picked up from the ‘Stone Pages’ Good news it seems.

Plans for a wind turbine close to Northumberland’s answer to Stonehenge have been thrown out by the government.

The proposal less than two miles from the 4,000-year-old Duddo Stone Circle has been rejected by minister for communities and local government Greg Clark.

The decision follows a lengthy planning battle which saw the government opt not to defend a planning inspector’s decision to give the turbine the go-ahead in the High Court, following a protest led by a cross-party group of North East peers and the Bishop of Newcastle.

Continued...

chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/duddo-stone-circle-wind-turbine-10192385

NEOLITHIC TEXTILE AND CRAFT WORKSHOP
Mon 7 Dec 2015

10:00 – 16:00

SUITABLE FOR Adults

Work with textile experts Sally Pointer and Gareth Riseborough to discover more about the research and processes used to create replica Neolithic and Bronze Age clothing for Stonehenge and get hands-on experience with materials and techniques. Learn to make cordage from natural fibres and deer sinew and experiment with braiding, twining and looping techniques. All materials are supplied, and using flint tools, you will craft a needle from red deer antler to take home along with the resources to continue your project.

Member (Adult) £60
Adult £65

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PREHISTORIC TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP
Mon 2 Nov 2015 10-4

SUITABLE FOR Adults

Join skilled bushcraft and ancient technology experts Guy Hagg and Joe O’Leary at England’s most famous Neolithic site for this one day hands on prehistoric technology workshop. Learn how to make your own arrows, atlatl spear throwers or darts. Develop your knowledge and skills through the day and go home with your own handmade piece of ancient technology.

Member (Adult) £80
Adult £85

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PREHISTORIC POTTERY DEMONSTRATION
Sun 10 Jan 2016 10:00-16:00

SUITABLE FOR Everyone

Throughout the day, Graham Taylor will demonstrate how to make a pottery toolkit and decorate replica pots as well as how to fire them using authentic prehistoric methods. Graham will use a handling collection of replica pots, tools and artefacts to bring prehistory to life.

English Heritage members Free
Adult £14.50
Child, 5-15 years £8.70
Concession £13.00
Family £37.70

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PREHISTORIC POTTERY WORKSHOP
Mon 11 Jan 2016 10am-4pm

SUITABLE FOR Adults

Join expert potter Graham Taylor at Stonehenge this winter for our hands-on workshop. You will make your own prehistoric pottery tool kit and learn the basics of ancient pottery skills as well as creating, firing and decorating your own Neolithic and Bronze-Age replica to take home.

Member (Adult) £70
Adult £75

english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/events

english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/sale-of-the-centuries/

SALE OF THE CENTURIES

Mon 26 Oct – Sun 1 Nov 2015 10:00-16:00

Stonehenge visitor centre

SUITABLE FOR Families

Visit Stonehenge in October half term to take part in our two part interactive, theatrical performance which will take you back 100 years to the dramatic auction of 1915 where Stonehenge was put up for sale! Bring the family and take part in the bidding in this centenary year.

English Heritage members Free
Adult £14.50
Child, 5-15 years £8.70
Concession £13.00
Family £37.70

ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN ORKNEY HAVE UNCOVERED THE REMAINS OF OVER 30 BUILDINGS DATING FROM AROUND 4000 BC TO 1000 BC, TOGETHER WITH FIELD SYSTEMS, MIDDENS AND CEMETERIES.

The find includes a very rare Bronze Age building which experts believed could have been a sauna or steam house, which may have been built for ritual purposes.

EASE Archaeology recently made the exciting discovery on the periphery of the prehistoric Links of Noltland, on the island of Westray in Orkney, next to where the famous ‘Westray Wife’ was found in 2009, which is believed to be the earliest depiction of a human face in Britain.

Continues.....

heritagedaily.com/2015/09/archaeologists-uncover-bronze-age-sauna-house-in-orkney/108454

‘Scandal’ that oak road on Mayne Bog, dating to 1200-820 BC, not surveyed or preserved

The Midland bogs have always been places of mystery – vistas of burnt umber that every so often unearth prehistoric time capsules: vats of bog butter, golden hoards, the mummified remains of sacrificial corpses.

In Longford, the Iron Age road unearthed at Corlea Bog has become the county’s prime tourism attraction, with massive oak planks wide enough for two chariots to pass side by side. In 2005, the discovery of a grander and far longer oak road at Mayne Bog in Coole, Co Westmeath, was a cause of great excitement. The National Monuments Service established that it was no mere trackway, measuring up to 6m in width, and dating to 1200-820 BC – a 1,000 years older than Corlea.

Westland Horticulture, extracting peat from the site at the time, were expected to cease work immediately but the National Monuments Service did not issue a preservation order, nor record it in the Register of Historic Monuments.

More:
irishtimes.com/news/environment/bronze-age-road-in-midlands-turned-into-potting-compost-1.2368920

orcadian.co.uk/2015/09/new-ritual-building-discovered-at-links-of-noltland/