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The Chairman of TimeWatch, George Chaplin, is unhappy with the way the further examination of the Ladybridge farm site is being conducted.

“This newest digging will not produce the eight to ten per cent sample required by English Heritage and, in fact, is focused on an area where artefacts have already been found,” he said this week. The researchers appear to be focusing only on Neolithic archaeology in one location while additional important archaeology is likely to be located where they are not looking.

“We are concerned that the current digging is being done in a hurried manner, in bad weather, using heavy equipment, and without the constant supervision of an outside group of archaeologists who have no vested interest in the outcome.”

But archaeologist Steve Timms, who is heading the team conducting the additional archaeological investigation at Ladybridge, has dismissed the group’s claims.

More at knaresboroughtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=18&ArticleID=1244009

There is an open morning at the site tomorrow between 8am and noon.

From BBC online, Wednesday, 2 November 2005:
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4399194.stm

Archaeologists have unearthed what is thought to be one of the largest Neolithic settlements in Britain. The discovery, which includes buildings, a human burial pit, tools, pottery and ritual objects, was uncovered at a Northumberland quarry.

It is hoped it will boost understanding of the period, which dates back thousands of years.

The discovery was made during routine archaeological investigation of the quarry, which is run by Tarmac.

The settlement, near Milfield Village, Northumberland, includes at least three buildings dating to the 4000 BC Early Neolithic period and three buildings from the 3000 BC Later Neolithic period.

Archaeologists said the find was highly important because remains of buildings are rarely found on Neolithic settlements in England.

Dr Jonathan Last, from English Heritage, said: “To find the remains of so many buildings from the Neolithic period grouped together is incredibly important.

“This exciting discovery offers huge potential to improve our understanding of Neolithic ways of life in the north-east of England.

“We hope that analysis and scientific dating of finds from the site will reveal much more about the date and function of these structures and establish whether they were homes or ceremonial buildings.”

The remains have been found over an area the size of two football pitches.

Archaeological site director Dr Clive Waddington said: “This is one of the most important sites of its kind to be discovered.

“It provides an exciting opportunity to further understanding of Britain first farmers, their way of life and beliefs about the world.”

The project to get funding to improve the area around Caradon Hill has “reawoken”. A new project officer has been appointed and “experts” brought in to assess the whole thing.
At a meeting on the 31st October Bryn Tapper of Cornwall Historic Enviroment Service (what used to be CAU) discussed what role the archaeologists would like in the project.

Keeping away from the 19th century mining remains he has looked at over 1000 sites in the area which stretches from Bearah Tor in the north to Liskeard town in the south, Golitha falls to the west and the Lynher river in the east. Of this 1000 sites he cut it down to 165 which were inspected on foot. From this the team have drawn up a list of 95 that they believe would benefit from financial help and would be of interest to the community historically.

The sites range from Siblyback lake where flint deposits have been found to dissused Methodist chapels.
The BIG news for those of us on the TMA is that he has put forward a proposel to re-erect 11 stones in the Hurlers complex. These will be part of the northern and southern circle and the latest technology will be used to make sure they are placed in thier correct positions. As many of you will be aware the Hurlers have been re-erected over the years and there is some doubt over the origins of some of the stones.

Bryn is aware this suggestion may not be liked by all, and I have offered to post a few words on the forum... please go there to comment.

Mr H

Unusual designs have been found on a 5000-year-old stone slab discovered inside a cairn near Beauly. The sandstone slab formed one side of a burial chamber within the cairn, and was discovered after Highland Council ordered a quarry company to undertake an archaeological survey on the site at Balblair prior to extracting rock and gravel.

Andrew Dutton, a senior archaeologist with Headland Archaeology, said:
“It has certainly got people scratching their heads, ” he admitted. “It is unique. There is a lot of rock art around here and the cup and ring symbol can be seen in the open air at several sites but the curvilinear lines on this slab are very strange. Also the cup marks have been worked through from both sides until there is a perforation that, perhaps, people could look through to see inside the kist or to let light inside.”

The stone is now in a store at Inverness Museum until more of its story can be unravelled. Conservation officer Jeanette Pearson is making its surface stable to preserve the carvings.“It is very unusual, ” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s certainly not Pictish so we are seeking specialist advice from the National Museum to help us identify it.”

From the Inverness Courier article here.

The excavation of an Iron Age site at Sand Wick on Unst, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland, was initially aimed at training volunteers how to excavate eroding coastlines. However, archaeologists from Glasgow University, the Scottish Coastal Archaeology and the Problems of Erosion Trust (SCAPE) and local volunteers have excavated many artefacts and an interesting skeleton. The skeleton was found lying on its back with a polished stone disc tucked inside its mouth. Near the arm was a tiny ornament formed of rings of copper alloy and bone which the team believes was some kind of pendant.

Dr Olivia Lelong, excavation director and project director of Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division, said: “The skeleton was a totally unexpected find. It was a beautifully composed burial, obviously put together with a great deal of thought and care, from the way the body was placed to the objects buried with the person.”

Full article at the Scotsman website:
news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2136632005

Kate Wilson, inspector of ancient monuments for English Heritage North-East has called for action to stop arsonists on Eston Moor who are destroying the heather which protects archaeological sites. Trials bikes and off-road vehicles are also damaging the earthworks.

Detective Constable Trevor Smith, of Cleveland Police, who said: “By building a closer relationship with English Heritage, we can reduce the number of incidents of damage to scheduled monuments and, where necessary, secure convictions against those responsible for the damage.”

The organisations are also concerned that fences have been ripped up and used as bonfire fuel, while earlier this year two sheep were slaughtered and one farmer’s cattle were stampeded through a neighbour’s crops.

Police recently seized an air rifle, an axe, a 6in combat knife and lock knives from rival gangs of children camping around landmark rocky outcrop Eston Nab in groups of up to 40. Over one weekend last summer, Cleveland Police rounded up 22 teenagers, with an average age of 14, of whom six were armed.

full article at
thisisthenortheast.co.uk/the_north_east/teesside/news/NEWS0.html

By Mark Ford
09:30 – 20th October 2005

The spectre of occult practices in the West reared its head yesterday as
police investigated a second case of ritual sheep slaughter near an ancient
Pagan altar on an isolated moor.

Six sheep were found with their necks broken and their eyes removed on land
at Moortown near the edge of Dartmoor. Four of their bodies were arranged
in a regular square shape, another two were lying next to a pattern of stones.

In January, seven sheep were found just half-a-mile away in the same eerie
shadow of Vixen Tor. Again their necks were broken, and this time
chillingly arranged in the shape of a heptagram – a seven-pointed star
symbol, linked for centuries with the dark arts and Black Magic rituals.

Now, the Western Daily Press can reveal that police are connecting the
incidents with the presence of an ancient Pagan sacrificial altar, the
stone remains of which are located just to the east of the tor.

“Our understanding is that this place used to be some sort of meeting place
for Pagans,” said a spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police.

“To the east of Vixen Tor there is evidence of an ancient stone sacrificial
altar.

They added: “We are investigating this as a matter of criminal damage.

“People obviously have their right to practise their religion, but when
that involves damaging, or in this case killing, other people’s property,
it becomes a crime.” The dead sheep, worth £600, were still warm when they
were found by their owner, farmer Daniel Alford, on Sunday morning.
He has little doubt the shocking incident has its roots in Pagan ritual.

“You hear of all sorts of crazy stuff like that around Dartmoor, it’s that
sort of place, people believe in all sorts of strange things,” he said
yesterday.

“It is a bit unsettling knowing that someone has been creeping around up
there doing this, but there’s not a lot we can do, it’s such a vast area.

“There were the four sheep and then 10ft or 15ft away there were another
two, which were laid next to three stones which had been arranged in a
pattern,” he said.

“The stones looked like a kind a of gateway, a similar thing that had been
found in January.

“After talking to a few people we established that it was probably
something to do with Janus the Pagan god of January and the beginning of
the New Year and banishing evil spirits.

“What this one is about, I’ve no idea. It was a full moon.”

In this case, the eyes were completely removed from the sheep, and there
were no signs of the messy pecking that could attribute the loss to an
attack by birds.

Police confirmed the animals had their necks quickly broken and there were
no indications of a prolonged struggle or suffering.

It is thought at least two people would have to had to have been involved,
given the sheer physical strength needed for the killing and arranging of
the sheep.

Vixen Tor and the Alford family have gained notoriety recently in a
high-profile right-to-roam row with ramblers, walkers and climbers.

In 2003, the Alfords controversially ended 30 years of permitted access to
the tor on the grounds they could be held liable if there was an accident
on it.

Earlier this year, the decision was upheld by an inquiry inspector who
ruled against opening up the land under Countryside and Rights of Way
legislation.

Last month those demanding access to the tor and the land it stands on
mounted a peaceful protest on the Alfords’ land.

Yesterday Daniel Alford said he did not believe the clash over access was
in anyway connected to the disturbing finds.

“I really don’t think it is the sort of thing the Thermos flask brigade
would get involved in,” he said.

westpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=146049&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145779&contentPK=13351104

From an article published on the BBC News web site on 19th October 2005:

A campaign to raise public awareness of a historic countryside area to safeguard it for the future is to be launched next month.

The campaign is to use a range of arts to get people interested in and to understand the history of the South Dorset Ridgeway, north of Weymouth.

Photography and painting competitions are among the ways organisers hope to raise awareness of the area.

Read the full article...

from www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk 15 October 2005

A team of archaeologists from Sheffield University have revealed significant new insights into the role of Stonehenge after discovering a prehistoric ceremonial road. The team, also from four other universities, discovered the avenue.

It proves there was a walkway between a henge (a circular momument) at Durrington Walls, and the River Avon, three miles away, blowing a hole in the theory the standing stones at Stonehenge were a one-off feature.

The new find supports the team’s theory that Stonehenge was in fact just one part of a much larger complex of stone and timber circles linked by ceremonial avenues to the river.

Radiocarbon dates indicate the henge was in use at the same time as the sarsen stones were erected at Stonehenge. The newly-discovered roadway, with its rammed flint surface, is wider than most modern roads and more substantial than any other Neolithic track in Europe.

It runs for about 100 metres (328ft) from the timber circle within the great henge to the river. Analysis has shown that the avenue was heavily trampled by prehistoric feet, and archaeologists have unearthed numerous finds along its edge.

Prof Mike Parker Pearson, from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Archaeology, believes Stonehenge and Durrington Walls, together with its adjacent site of Woodhenge, were linked by the river to form a single complex.

He has suggested the entire complex was a funerary monument. The work was filmed for a Channel 4 Time Team special, to be screened next year.

A new project aims to increase people’s awareness, knowledge and appreciation of the amazing landscape between Weymouth and Dorchester.

It is being launched on November 5 by the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty team which hopes the project will appeal to everyone who enjoys the countryside, including artists, photographers and amateur historians.

Among outstanding features of the area are the strange `lumps and bumps’ which litter the skyline between Broadmayne and Hardy’s Monument – and which few realise are round barrows that have been there 4,000 years.

See thisisdorset.net/dorset/weymouth/news/WEYMOUTH_NEWS_NEWS3.html for details.

From the Yorkshire post:

“They roamed the earth almost 6,000 years ago, performing rituals on animal remains and devouring human body parts.
But these are not the strange creatures of film or fiction – they were farmers in the Yorkshire Dales.
New research on bones discovered in six Dales caves has revealed that farming in the area dates back thousands of years –and with it a history of cannibalism.”

Read the full article

A study has highlighted how rural development and drainage for agriculture in the Somerset levels has badly damaged nationally important archaeological sites.

When ground water levels drop in the summer, the waterlogged remains dry out: current farming methods don’t leave enough water inthe peat to protect them.

The study focused on 13 of the most important sites near Glastonbury, including prehistoric trackways and villages. Some sites had already been lost while others were suffering gradual decay.

Vanessa Straker of English Heritage said: “We are encouraging as many farmers as possible to apply for Defra’s environmental stewardship scheme, which gives them payments in return for conserving the countryside.”

taken from the article “Farming endangers prehistoric roads” by Norman Hammond
in the Times
timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,61-1818469,00.html

The survey was jointly carried out by English Heritage, the Environment Agency and Somerset County Council, and will be reported in detail in the November issue of British Archaeology.

Campaigners are calling for an independent assessment by archaeologists of the threatened quarry site near the Thornborough Henges.
Last week North Yorkshire County Council put off a decision on controversial plans by quarry firm Tarmac to extract 2.2 million tonnes of sand a gravel from the Ladybridge Farm site, half a mile from the triple henge complex north of Ripon.

But campaign group TimeWatch has voiced concerns regarding the agreed strategy of allowing Tarmac a further four months to carry out research into the archaeology at the proposed quarry site.

The group has now called on North Yorkshire councillors to ensure that the archaeological work due to be carried out at Ladybridge is done by an independent third party.

“There is a massive gulf between Tarmac and the rest of the archaeological world regarding the importance of Thornborough’s archaeology,” said George Chaplin, chairman of TimeWatch.

“Now that Tarmac’s evaluation has effectively been rejected by the council, we are pressing to get this new evaluation done by an independent third party otherwise we can see that this confused situation will only continue.

“For more than three years Tarmac have abjectly refused to accept the notion that there could be archaeology of national importance at Ladybridge. This line has remained unchanged despite the protestations of a great many archaeologists, campaigners and now English Heritage.

“When Tarmac was faced with rejection of the planning application, they ask for a delay, not so they can work out how much nationally important archaeology they are looking at, but to try yet again to prove that it is not important at all.

“This is turning into a critical situation, one that could have ramifications for every major heritage site in North Yorkshire.”

Tarmac’s existing Nosterfield Quarry, close to the henges, is nearing the end of its working life and the firm wants to continue production by expanding on to the adjacent Ladybridge site.

The firm’s estates manager, Bob Nicholson, said: “The application site is more than half a mile from the nearest henge and in our view truly poses no threat to the monument. Tarmac has no wish or intention to affect the henges but naturally we want to continue in production and keep the employment in place.”

Commenting on the deferment of a decision on their application, he said: “The deferment will give time to discuss the archaeological aspects with English Heritage in more detail and hopefully reach an informed decision based on additional factual evidence if required.”

The county council is expected to consider the matter again in January.
30 September 2005

ripontoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=18&ArticleID=1207264

The bodies of two new-born infants have been found in northern Austria at a site which dates them to between 27 to 40,000 years old. DNA testing might be possible and may confirm if they were twins.
The bodies had been wrapped in, probably, an animal hide, covered in ochre,decorated with ivory beads and protected by the shoulderblade of a woolly mammoth,propped up by pieces of tusk.

Fuller story here... newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8063

The latest newsletter of the Cornwall Archaeological Society brings news that the Eathorn Menhir, long stuck at the side of a field and covered in ivy and chicken wire, has now been re-erected in its original position.
With the help of Steve Hartgroves of CAU and the Earth Mysteries Group the original base was found and the stone placed back in it using a local farmers crane.
Sadly this news came 24 hours too late for me...I was down on the Lizard yesterday and if I had known would have popped round for a photo.

26th November 2005

The annual archaeology conference at the Lakes School , Troutbeck Bridge, Windermere.
Including -
Exploring Lower Eskdale.
Re-Opening of Leverswater mine, Coniston
Bales sites smelting in Yorkshire & Cumbria
Rock Art in Cumbria: Context & Connections
Monks Farmers & Raiders – The early Medieval Period in the Lake District.
Conservation & Interpretation at Force Crag Mine.

Tickets £8 including tea & coffee. £14 with lunch
Avilable from The Lake District National Park Authority.

Rock Art project officer Tertia Barnett said: “It is
fascinating work and we are uncovering more all the time. Help from volunteers has been invaluable so far and we are looking to recruit more.”

The one-day training programme is at County Hall, Morpeth on October 21 and anyone interested is asked to contact Tertia on (01670) 533076 or [email protected]

The volunteers will be working in small teams using a range of methods to document the rock art, including a ground-breaking 3D technique developed for the project by English Heritage that will allow the carvings to be viewed and studied in great detail.

from Berwick Today
berwicktoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=970&ArticleID=1196540

Archaeologists at the mesolithic site have found “more than 1,000 finds ranging from shards to complete axes and entire pots.”

More from the BBC here

Campaigners opposing plans for quarrying near an ancient monument in North Yorkshire must wait until the New Year for a decision by councillors.
Tarmac has applied to quarry sand and gravel at Ladybridge Farm, north of Ripon, near Thornborough Henges.

Opponents fear it could destroy clues about the 5,000-year-old earthworks’ history but Tarmac says the land could cope with quarrying and conservation.

A decision was deferred on Tuesday to await a full report in January.

On Tuesday North Yorkshire County Council issued a statement saying: “Today’s meeting has decided to defer this matter to allow a further archaeological investigation to be carried out.

“We hope to have a full report for members to consider in January.”

Members of the North Yorkshire County Council planning board had visited the site in August and were recommended to refuse permission by planning officers.

The henges are believed to be one of Britain’s largest ritual gathering places from the Neolithic period.

The henges are in open countryside near the A1

Local campaign group TimeWatch has collected a petition of more than 10,000 signatures against the plans which would see work about half a mile away from the henges.

It said the quarry would contribute to the permanent loss of nationally important archaeology.

US-based conservation group the Landmarks Foundation has also voiced its concern at the quarry proposals, describing them as a tragedy.

But several people have expressed their support for the quarry extension.

Tarmac already has a quarry at Nosterfield, close to the ancient henges which consist of three earthworks built in a line running north-south for about a mile.

Workers at the Nosterfield Quarry and local building firms have sent in 80 letters and a 350-signature petition arguing that more than 50 livelihoods depend on the application’s approval.

Tarmac has said the extension is on farmland where there is only “thin and scattered” evidence of prehistoric activity, according to a recent study by archaeological consultants.

The actual henges are under no threat from quarrying because of their status as protected ancient monuments, the company added.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/4261022.stm

dynamic.rte.ie/av/2075790.smil

A short video with some very nice footage of the equinox on 20th Sept 2005 by RTE, the Irish state broadcaster.

A gallery of my own photos from that morning:

cianmcliam.smugmug.com/gallery/824678

Click on the photos for larger versions.

“Underwater archaeologists in Perthshire have made the incredible discovery of a drowned forest, thought to date from the neolithic period some 5000 years ago.”

More details here

Decision-makers urged to reject quarrying near henges

From the archive, first published Wednesday 14th Sep 2005.

THE long and often acrimonious battle over the future of one of Britain’s most important archaeological sites will come to a head next week.

At a meeting in Masham town hall, North Yorkshire county councillors will decide on the future of quarrying operations by the 5,000-year-old Thornborough henges.

In a major blow for quarry operator Tarmac, they are being recommended to throw out plans to extend extractions near the three large Neolithic earthworks.

Planning officials said the proposal would have “an unacceptable impact on nationally important archaeological remains”.

They also said the move would be contrary to the authority’s policy on mineral extraction and that there was no overriding need for it.

Tarmac Northern wants to extend Nosterfield Quarry at Ladybridge Farm, Thornborough, near Ripon, to extract 2.2 million tonnes of sand and gravel over four years.

An application was submitted in June last year and immediately brought protests from those who feared for the future of the henges, about a kilometre south-east of the extension area.

Almost 850 letters of objection and three petitions with a total of 9,680 signatures were sent in. Some of the objections came from overseas.

The Council for British Archaeology, Yorkshire Archaeology Society and action groups the Friends of Thornborough Henges and Timewatch also submitted detailed responses calling for the scheme to be rejected.

Tarmac has insisted throughout that the development would pose no threat to the henges, saying the extension would be further from the earthworks than the existing quarry site.

Yesterday, their response to the recommendation to refuse permission was muted.

Tarmac Northern estates manager Bob Nicholson said: “We have only just learnt of the officers’ recommendation and will need to study the report to committee in detail before we are able to comment further.”

Councillors will meet at 1pm on Tuesday, and the public turnout is expected to be high. The chairman of Timewatch, George Chaplin, was not making any early celebrations yesterday.

He said: “The messages we are getting are that refusal is far from certain.”

archive.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/2005/9/14/206072.html

Brown Gelly, the hill to the south of Dozmary Pool goes up for auction on the 27th September. On the hill are several barrows plus iron age settlements. The land has recently become open access land, before that access to the hill was never clear. The guide price for 240 acres of prime Bodmin Moor is £220,000...The save Brown Gelly fund starts here!

For more info go to..

https://212.50.188.105/cgi-win/vebra.cgi?details1?src=vebra&PropertyCode=1431011/LANDA/18780/11

Archaeologists believe they have uncovered the first Iron Age burial on the Isle of Skye.

The skeleton from about the 1st millennium BC is thought to be that of a young female. It was found recently in an open stone-lined grave as the archaeologists worked to re-open the blocked entrance to the High Pasture Cave.

The discovery is extremely rare. Iron Age burial sites have been found in several locations on the east coast of Scotland, but this is among the few occurrences along the country’s Atlantic seacoast and the first on Skye.

“The discovery of the human remains at the High Pasture’s site is a very important find and will provide a unique opportunity to study a wide range of aspects of Iron Age life and death in the region,” said George Kozikowski, a member of the High Pasture Cave Project.

This article: heritage.scotsman.com/news.cfm?id=1907512005
Also see the news item below, and the website at
high-pasture-cave.org/

From:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/4219956.stm

Archaeologists face a race against time after the discovery of what are believed to be the remains of a stone age settlement on the A30 in Cornwall.
The Highways Agency allowed the archaeologists access to the site ahead of the dualling next to Goss Moor.

Heavy machinery has already began stripping part of the route, leaving little time for the dig.

They are trying to record all signs of human activity and so far have come across a lot of evidence of mining.

Meanwhile, circular stone structures have been uncovered at Belowda, near Roche.

These ruins include old stream workings, some leats and culverts which may be tied in to more intensive tin workings, and the settlement.