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Fragment from Yorkshire Today web site:

[Timewatch] spokesman George Chaplin said: “The threat of quarrying has not been removed by the planning refusal but it has given time to take stock and for everyone to agree upon the best future for the whole area.”

The Timewatch proposals are for:

– a much wider “no quarry zone” extending at least a mile radius from the central monuments

– the preservation of all archaeology within the zone to be the top priority

Read the full article on the Yorkshire Today web site:

ripontoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=18&ArticleID=1365226

A day school aimed at anyone who is interested in the history and archaeology of Ceredigion is running on Saturday 4th March between 10.50 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.

The event is taking place at the Hugh Owen Lecture Theatre, Aberystwyth University [sic].

Cambria Archaeology

Radio Orkney’s monthly “Orkology” last night had a report on a small-scale dig at the Ness of Brodgar to ascertain the cause of slip observed recently by the farmer at this feature. They found many pieces of Corded Ware and a pitchblende fragment, bolstering the theory that the known revetments are in connection with a large chambered tomb – the admittedly limited excavation found no IA material to back up the theory that we had a broch here (though one should bear in mind that locally we do have precedent for a broch built over a CT at The Howe).

“Plans to quarry gravel from part of Britain’s biggest prehistoric site were rejected yesterday but the construction company Tarmac is to appeal.
A full public inquiry is now likely over the fate of land surrounding Thornborough Henges, three giant discs encircled by earthen ramparts which have survived from a complex of eight erected around 5000BC in the Vale of York.” – The Guardian, 22nd Feb 2006, Martin Wainwright guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,,1715002,00.html

Campaigners are rejoicing after controversial plans to extend a quarry near an ancient monument in North Yorkshire were rejected by councillors.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/4734994.stm

Just noticed that some idiot is selling stones from Callanish on EBAY – and what’s worse, people are buying them!

cgi.ebay.co.uk/EXPERIENCE-THE-MAGIC-OF-A-PIECE-OF-CALLANISH-STONE_W0QQitemZ5665929231QQcategoryZ122748QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Why do people feel the need to take totems from these sites?

A mini “Stonehenge” has been uncovered by archaeologists in Cornwall.

The 5,000 year-old “circle henge”, an early religious site, was discovered during work on the A30 bypass at Goss Moor, between Indian Queens and Bodmin, and is the first of its kind found in the region.

The 10 metre diameter site at Deep Tye Farm, which could have been the setting for human sacrifice, has excited archeologists. Stuart Foreman, from Oxford Archaeology, which is doing the work, said: “Excavated sites of this period are comparatively rare in Cornwall.”

The excavation, costing £500,000, is part of a planned set of examinations by archaeologists working ahead of road builders on the £93 million Goss Moor bypass. The discovery won’t delay work on the road. The henge was unearthed less than a mile from the Castle-an-Dinas hillfort by a 10 metre wide trench that has been dug along the entire seven kilometre length of the bypass route.

Also known as a “pit circle”, the circle henge dates from the late neolithic, or “new stone” period, between 3,000 and 2,000BC. “The site is an important one for the region,” said Mr Foreman. “The Deep Tye Farm site is a modest example of this type of monument, which can reach quite lavish proportions. Stonehenge is the best known example.”

Large-scale henge monuments are known in the region, including the earthwork at Castilly Henge, which lies at the eastern end of the road scheme near the Innis Downs roundabout. Mr Foreman explained that the site unearthed was relatively small compared to others.
11:00 – 18 February 2006

www.thisisdevon.co.uk

Ruling due in March on M3 case
Mary Carolan

Irish Times
Wed, Jan 25, 06

The High Court will give its decision on March 1st on the challenge by
an environmentalist to the proposed route of the M3 motorway near the Hill of Tara.

After Mr Justice Thomas Smyth yesterday ruled that he did not require to hear oral evidence by archaeologists and other experts in order to determine legal issues in the case, the seven-day hearing concluded.

Counsel for Vincent Salafia had earlier argued that there were factual disputes in the case, particularly relating to whether the greater Tara area in itself constituted a national monument.

It was submitted that the court should hear oral evidence from experts on such matters and determine whether the greater Tara landscape was a national monument.

However, lawyers for the Minister for the Environment, the State, Meath County Council and the National Roads Authority argued that oral evidence was not necessary to determine the legal issues.

They submitted that none of Mr Salafia’s experts had sworn on affidavit that any of 38 sites discovered during test trenching of the proposed M3 route constituted national monuments.

After hearing both sides, the judge said he had to ask himself whether oral evidence and cross-examination of experts would assist him in the determination of the identified issues in the case. The answer to that had to be no, he said.

While there were conflicting views and opinions by highly- qualified
experts on both sides, those views were not focused on any issue which he must determine, he ruled.

These matters of opinion regarding the archaeological landscape,
culture and heritage of the Tara area were extremely interesting, but
he had to keep firmly focused on the issues.

He did not see that his decision not to permit oral evidence deprived
Mr Salafia of any benefit in the case, the judge added.

Earlier, in closing arguments on behalf of Mr Salafia, Frank Callanan
SC said the role of archaeological and other experts, including the
director of the National Museum, had been “considerably diluted” under new laws enacted to deal with the discovery of national monuments during construction of a motorway.

The State had effectively argued in this case that it had no
substantive obligation regarding conservation of the national heritage, he said.

===

Court sets date in March for Tara motorway route decision

Irish Independent
Wed, Jan 25 06

Ann O’Loughlin

THE High Court will give its decision in March on the challenge by an
environmentalist to the proposed routing of the M3 motorway near the Hill of Tara.

After Mr Justice Thomas Smyth yesterday ruled that he did not require to hear oral evidence by archaeologists and other experts to determine legal issues in the case, the seven-day hearing concluded and the judge said he would deliver judgment on March 1.

Counsel for Vincent Salafia had earlier argued that there were factual disputes in the case, particularly relating to whether the greater Tara area constitutes a national monument. It was submitted that the court should hear oral evidence from experts on such matters and determine whether the greater Tara landscape is a national monument.

However, lawyers for the Minister for the Environment, the State, Meath County Council and the National Roads Authority argued that oral evidence was not necessary to determine the legal issues and submitted none of Mr Salafia’s experts had sworn on affidavit that any of 38 sites discovered during test trenching of the proposed M3 route constituted national monuments.

After hearing both sides, the judge said he had to ask himself whether oral evidence and cross-examination of experts would assist him in the determination of the identified issues in the case. The answer to that had to be no.

Opinions

While there were conflicting views and opinions by highly-qualified
experts on both sides, those views were not focussed on any issue which he must determine, he ruled. These matters of opinion regarding the archaeological landscape, culture and heritage of the Tara area were extremely interesting but he had to keep firmly focused on the issues.

He did not see that his decision not to permit oral evidence deprived
Mr Salafia of any benefit in the case, the judge added.

Mr Salafia, of Dodder Vale, Churchtown, Dublin, is seeking to overturn the directions given by the Minister and is also challenging the constitutionality of provisions of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004 on the grounds that they give the Minister an unreviewable and unfettered discretion todisapply protections for national monuments.

hilloftara.blogspot.com/

Seat of Celtic kings is threatened by motorway
By Tom Peterkin, Ireland Correspondent
(Filed: 13/01/2006)

A plan to build a motorway beside the hill where ancient Celtic kings were crowned has been challenged in court as campaigners fight to save a monument described by W B Yeats as the “most consecrated spot in Ireland”.

The Irish government’s proposal to build a new commuter route for Dublin through the valley containing the Hill of Tara has infuriated archaeologists, historians and conservationists.

Map

The battle, which has been depicted as a conflict between Ireland’s mystical past and the materialistic modern nation of the Celtic Tiger, yesterday came to the High Court in Dublin.

The hearing, which is scheduled to last for five days, is the culmination of a two-year campaign to stop the 30-mile M3 motorway passing less than a mile from the coronation site of around 100 Irish High Kings in Co Meath.

Dublin’s decision to press ahead with the road was challenged by Vincent Salafia, an environmentalist, who has argued that Dick Roche, the environment minister, should not have granted the motorway permission.

Gerry Hogan, senior counsel for Mr Salafia, claimed the legislation used to push through the project was unconstitutional.

He said the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004 weakened the role of the Oireachtas (Ireland’s national parliament) by giving the minister discretionary powers to determine the fate of the country’s heritage. Mr Hogan claimed the state’s duty to protect monuments had been “seriously compromised”.

Under the terms of the Act, Mr Roche is able to decide whether to preserve a site on the basis of the public interest as well as archaeological considerations.

According to Pat Wallace, the director of the National Museum of Ireland, the Hill of Tara is one Ireland’s most important treasures.

Mr Hogan told the court that 38 archaeological sites had been identified along the M3’s route.

Tara’s importance as a religious centre dates from around 4,000 BC. The oldest visible man-made feature is the Mound of the Hostages, which dates from the third millennium BC.

It is associated with Cormac Mac Art, the legendary Irish High King. Tara became a pagan spiritual and political centre in the third century AD. It has remained a potent symbol of Ireland’s nationhood.

During the rebellion of 1798 the United Irishmen camped on the hill, but were attacked and defeated by British troops.

In 1843, Daniel O’Connell, the Irish MP, hosted a peaceful Home Rule political demonstration at Tara that is reputed to have attracted one million supporters.

The application for judicial review is being heard before Mr Justice Thomas Smyth. The environment minister, Meath county council, the National Roads Authority and the attorney-general dispute Mr Hogan’s assertion that a wider zone around the hill should be considered part of the existing national monument.

The hearing continues.

telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/01/13/wtara13.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/01/13/ixworld.html

hilloftara.blogspot.com/

From an article by Brian Dooks, published on 15th February 2006 in the Yorkshire Post:

English Heritage wants ‘Stonehenge of the North’ preserved after claiming it is of archaeological importance.

Controversial plans for sand and gravel quarrying near Thornborough Henges in North Yorkshire look set to founder as new research offers further evidence the ancient monument was aligned with the stars.

Councillors have been urged to turn down an application to quarry 112 acres of land on a site just over half a mile away from the henges at Ladybridge Farm, near Masham, amid claims they are of national importance.

Last year councillors deferred a decision on plans by Tarmac Northern to extract a further 2.2 million tonnes of minerals by extending the existing Nosterfield Quarry after English Heritage claimed that archaeological investigation of the site had been insufficient.

Further archaeological work has taken place which has confirmed that features from the Neolithic or Bronze Age period are confined to an area of slightly higher land in the south west part of the site.

Read the full article on the Yorkshire Today web site:

yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=1351443

“Researchers at Newcastle University have found the Thornborough Henges are one of the earliest major monuments aligned to the constellation Orion.

The 5,500-year-old earthworks, north of Ripon, and the Egyptian pyramids are thought to have been built to mirror Orion’s belt for its religious focus.

The research will be published in 2007 in a new report on the henges complex.

Senior lecturer at the university Dr Jan Harding said they used a three dimensional model to confirm the stellar alignments of the henges, which date back to the Neolithic period.”

BBC report

From BRITARCH today:

The University of Bristol’s Department of Archaeology & Anthropology is
delighted to announce that it will be hosting an entire weekend of rock art
symposia this coming May.

- Saturday May 6: 3rd Bi-Annual Rock Art Symposium at the University of
Bristol

- Sunday May 7: British Rock Art Group Symposium

More details about both symposia, including how to enrol, can be found by
clicking on this weblink: bris.ac.uk/archanth/continuing/conf

See a picture of the beautiful stripey (part-of-an) axehead at The Courier:
thecourier.co.uk/output/2006/02/12/newsstory8018512t0.asp

There are contact details if you want to go on the next visit to the find site with the Kinnettles and District Heritage Group, on the 19th Feb.

From the TimesOnline article at
timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,61-2037531,00.html

At the Fumane cave on the southern edge of the Alps, an occupation with tools of Aurignacian type has been radiocarbon dated to between 34,000 and 32,000 years ago. In the Aurignacian deposits painted rock fragments were found which had spalled off the walls of the cave because of the freezing of water in cracks: erosion of the paint showed that the art, in red and yellow ochre lines, had been on the walls for some time before it fell and was buried.

Among the motifs is an “anthropomorph”, a humanoid figure, according to Dr Alberto Broglio. It is full face, with two horns which “may be a mask” on its head; the arms are by its side and the legs are spread. “The right hand is holding something which is hanging downwards, probably a ritual object,” Dr Broglio says. Another figure shows a four-legged animal seen from the side and “resembles the profile of a small statuette from Vogelherd”. Radiocarbon dates from the Vogelherd caves, near Ulm on the upper Danube, also give dates between 36,000 and 30,000 years ago...

Archaeologists examining a Bronze Age burial mound on the Black Mountain in Carmarthenshire found meadowsweet pollen grains.
“Adam Gwilt, curator of the Bronze and Iron Age Collection at the National Museum of Wales, said the discovery shed new light on ancient burials. He said: “It gives tenderness to otherwise remote and impersonal burial rites”. Mr Gwilt said the same burial ritual had been found as far away as the Orkney Islands in Scotland. “(does this mean using meadowsweet specifically?)

More at
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/4697748.stm
and
britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba88/news.shtml#item1

(If you want to grumble about geocaching at the site also page down and read at
britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba78/news.shtml

Human remains dating back almost 4,000 years have been uncovered on Rathlin Island off the County Antrim coast

More details from the BBC here.

Groups campaigning to stop quarrying around Thornborough Henges have slammed a recently published conservation plan. TimeWatch is disappointed with the proposed Thornborough Henges Conservation Plan announced last week, saying it neither includes the entire Thornborough complex nor addresses all the important issues.

“The consultation group and the proposed conservation plan are a response to a number of concerns raised by many people regarding the preservation and appearance of the Thornborough Henges complex,” said George Chaplin, TimeWatch chairman.

“In particular, people are concerned that the wider archaeological landscape is being quarried and many thousands have signed the petition calling for a one mile ‘no quarry zone’ around the henges. The proposed area fails to address this.”

TimeWatch says that in early consultations the conservation plan area was shown to cover a stretch of the landscape from Kirklington to West Tanfield. Now they say the proposed conservation area is barely larger than the scheduled areas at Thornborough and omits Ladybridge Farm (the proposed site for further quarrying by Tarmac) and other areas known to hold archaeology related to the henges.

“In addition, there are concerns about the ongoing impact of the landfill site next door to the central henge, on the setting of the national monument in terms of looks and smell,” said Mr Chaplin. “This landfill site is outside of the conservation area.”

The group says it will be responding to the consultation and requesting that the plan be redrawn so that it addresses these fundamental concerns.

More of the article at Ripon News
nidderdaletoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=18&ArticleID=1338713

From the Peeblesshire News, Jan 20th 2006;

Concern as new flats could close in on standing stone

An ancient standing stone may be set to share its field with thousands of building blocks. Developers plan to build 21 new flats near the site of the rural relic at Cardrona. But local historical and environmental organisations have raised concern about the proposal. A representative from Historic Scotland, Lesley Brown, told the Peeblesshire News: “We have already written a letter to the council’s planning department to object about this. The stone is listed as being of national importance. When we talk about conserving it as a historical monument we are not only concerned with the physical impact on the stone itself, but also on its setting. This is part of national planning policy. The only was we would concede is in exceptional circumstances, but there is no real cause for building here. Housing needs are already being met” she added. Plans for the new building development have been put forward by Renwick Country Properties and the modern flats would be built behind the old Station House. Local planning officer, Barry Fotheringham, said: “We have already had a number of objections to this. The building would be close enough to the stone to warrant concerns. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the application will be refused, but these things will be taken into consideration.” Little is known about the stone, but archaeological experts believe it could have been standing in the field from as far back as 3000 BC. One theory is that it was a marker for an ancient ford crossing through the nearby River Tweed.

£1m to be cut from Lakes’ budget

Almost £1m is to be slashed from the budget of the organisation responsible for the Lake District National Park.
read more here
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cumbria/4521944.stm

On the Brighter side

Lottery cash opens up Lakes’ past
A treasure trove of information about the Lake District’s archaeology is being opened up to the public thanks to a £171,000 grant.
read more here
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cumbria/4651436.stm

Simon Jenkins
Friday January 27, 2006
The Guardian

This world heritage site is a national disgrace. Consultants have made millions but achieved nothing in 20 years.

West of Amesbury on the A303, the road dips and rises towards a meadow in the distance. In the meadow stands a clump of grey stones, looking like dominoes rearranged by a shell from the neighbouring artillery range. The clump is Britain’s greatest stone-age monument.
Nobody can touch it. Stonehenge is cursed. I have bet every chairman of English Heritage – Lord Montagu, Sir Jocelyn Stevens and Sir Neil Cossons – that no plan of theirs to meddle with the stones will ever work. This week the latest tunnel proposal collapsed, following last year’s rejection of a new visitor centre. The fate of the site is consigned to that Blairite neverland called “consultation”, joining St Bart’s and Crossrail among the living dead, projects which move only because they are maggot-ridden with costs.

Article continues at: guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1696043,00.html

The visitor hut at a prehistoric stone circle has been burnt to the ground in what police say was an arson attack.
The hut, at the Rollright Stones on the border of Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, was completely destroyed in the blaze on Sunday.

It had been used to store visitor guides and merchandise.

Police said the fire was unrelated to an incident in March 2004 when 70 of the Neolithic stones were splashed with yellow paint.

Flames were spotted by a passing motorist in the early hours.

PC Tony Auden said the fire had “caused a significant amount of damage”.

He said arsonists had forced their way through a door and set the hut alight.

Dohn Prout, site manager, said he could not believe the Rollright Stones had suffered further “bad luck”.

Read whole story on the BBC website here: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4644482.stm

Recently published is a lovely little travel book called Findings, written by the poet Kathleen Jamie based on some eclectic travels around Scotland.

The first chapter, Darkness and Light, is about her visit to Maeshowe for the winter solstice. For anyone who has been, or is intending to go, its an evocative and stimulating read.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/4639116.stm

New plans for Stonehenge bypass
A government transport minister has been outlining possible options for the A303 road around historic Stonehenge.
It follows a decision in July 2005 to review plans – now estimated to cost £510m – to bore a tunnel at the site.
Stephen Ladyman said in addition to the tunnel, the viability of a bypass to the north or south or a ‘cut and cover’ tunnel would be examined.
He said: “The Government is committed to improving the A303 past the World Heritage Site at Stonehenge.”
He added: “I hope that everyone with an interest in this important issue will take this opportunity to contribute to the review process.”
David Lammy of the Highways Agency added: “This review is an important stage in our work. We need to find a solution for the A303 past Stonehenge that is right for the setting of the stones and right for the historic landscape which surrounds them.”
The public consultation period runs from 23 January to 24 April 2006, with public exhibitions being held in Salisbury on 9-11 February 2006 and in London on 17-18 February 2006.
Alternatives to the underground road tunnel at the site could threaten the recovery of one of Britain’s rarest birds – the stone curlew – the RSPB has warned.

rspb.org.uk/action/stonehenge.asp

The RSPB says that the two proposed overground routes would destroy nesting and roosting sites of the stone curlew, which only has two UK strongholds.

“The southern route would destroy two-thirds of the RSPB’s Normanton Down Reserve and split the remainder, reducing its value to wildlife. The reserve is part of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site and boasts Britain’s most important Bronze Age barrow cemetery. The site is also an invaluable feeding ground for stone-curlews before they leave on migration. Last year 19 birds were seen together, using the area as a direct result of improved habitat management.

The northern option would run close to the Salisbury Plain Special Protection Area (SPA), a site protected by European wildlife laws. The road scheme would damage the potential of that land for increasing stone-curlew numbers.

Stonehenge lies close to the SPA, which together with Porton Down and Normanton Down forms north-west Europe’s largest network of chalk grassland. Corn bunting, skylark and lapwing are amongst declining birds using the area together with butterflies such as the grizzled skipper, one of several disappearing chalkland specialists. The harebell and dropwort are amongst thriving plants that are rare elsewhere.

The RSPB believes the government should not consider the northern or southern over-ground routes as viable options and hopes that the review process will lead to the adoption of route less damaging for the area’s wildlife.

TimeWatch has called for international support in the battle to save the Thornborough Henges from the threat of quarrying nearby.

Quarry company Tarmac Northern Ltd was granted a delay to the planning process while it carried out further archaeological investigations at its proposed quarry site at Ladybridge Farm, half a mile from the triple henge complex. These have now been completed and there is a new consultation process ahead of the the North Yorkshire County Council planning meeting on February 21 which will determine the firm’s application.

“As a result of Tarmac’s latest work, English Heritage have confirmed that the proposals will destroy archaeology of national importance,” said TimeWatch chairman George Chaplin this week. “This has vindicated our position and proves the area needs to be regarded as part of the setting of the Thornborough Henges complex”.

“NYCC have already confirmed there is no need for the gravel, and that the application fails several planning policies, but we are still concerned that any perceived drop in public concern may have a detrimental outcome on the decision. We are therefore asking the international community to show support for our campaign”.

Responses to this latest consultation should be sent to Mr Shaw, at the Minerals and Waste Planning Unit, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AH by February 3 February.

nidderdaletoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=18&ArticleID=1321648