Creswell Crags (Cave / Rock Shelter)

The gateway to hell? Hundreds of anti-witch marks found in Midlands cave Medieval vandalism? If there is a gateway to hell, a portal from the underworld used by demons and witches to wreak their evil havoc on humanity, then it could be in a small east Midlands cave handy for both the M1 and A60. Heritage experts have revealed what is thought to be the biggest concentration of apotropaic marks, or symbols to ward off evil or misfortune, ever found in the UK. The markings, at Creswell Crags, a limestone gorge on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border, include hundreds of letters, symbols and patterns carved, at a time when belief in witchcraft was widespread. The scale and variety of the marks made on the limestone walls and ceiling of a cave which has at its centre a deep, dark, hole, is unprecedented.... https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/feb/15/nottinghamshire-cave-carvings-marks-scare-witches Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by moss 15th February 2019ce

Stonehenge and its Environs

The battle for the future of Stonehenge Britain’s favourite monument is stuck in the middle of a bad-tempered row over road traffic. By Charlotte Higgins Published: 06:00 Friday, 08 February 2019 Stonehenge, with the possible exception of Big Ben, is Britain’s most recognisable monument. As a symbol of the nation’s antiquity, it is our Parthenon, our pyramids – although, admittedly, less impressive. Neil MacGregor, the former director of the British Museum, recalls that when he took a group of Egyptian archaeologists to see it, they were baffled by our national devotion to the stones, which, compared to the refined surfaces of the pyramids, seemed to them like something hastily thrown up over a weekend. More: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/feb/08/the-battle-for-the-future-of-stonehenge?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Comments (1)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by ryaner 8th February 2019ce

Kirkheads (Round Barrow(s))

Ancient Carved 'Drums' Give Exact Stonehenge Measurements, Say Archaeologists A set of highly decorated chalk cylinders, carved in Britain more than 4,000 years ago and known as the Folkton drums, could be ancient replicas of measuring devices used for laying out prehistoric monuments like Stonehenge, archaeologists say... https://www.livescience.com/64603-ancient-carved-drums-measure-stonehenge.html Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by moss 4th February 2019ce

Eire

Sixty Bronze Age bodies found on land owned by former Taoiseach https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/sixty-bodies-from-bronze-age-found-on-taoiseach-liam-cosgraves-former-land-37770727.html?fbclid=IwAR3IALIxE1XruFkHw4-BeQ3g_7d67fTdssUvkBGw2s38pQ2N3r7XW9FayQw "The bodies of an estimated 60 people from the Bronze Age have been found during an archaeological dig on land in Templeogue where former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave lived. The land, which is earmarked for housing development, is also believed to have evidence of Iron Age occupation and a ring fort and is being looked on as a very significant historical find. Last week Independent.ie reported how the excavations being carried out on the land were a mystery to locals since work began last October. South Dublin County Council would not comment on the dig, and local councillors could not get answers to their questions on the project. But sources have now revealed that the site, on the Scholarstown Road close to Knocklyon, is of major significance. “It is believed this was a Bronze Age burial site, and that people from the Iron Age used the site as a shrine or place of some sort of place of gathering,” the source said. Evidence of a ring fort was also uncovered by archaeologists, the source added. The Bronze Age in Ireland lasted from about 2000BC to 500BC. The Iron Age followed, lasting until around 400AD.Former Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave lived in a humble bungalow called Beech Park on the 16 acres of prime residential zoned land until his death in 2017 at the age of 97 .... " Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by tjj 31st January 2019ce

Holmhead (Stone Circle)

‘Amazing’ stone circle was actually built in 1990s by farmer, admit archaeologists Apparently, the Holmhead RSC was actually built by a previous tenant of the land during the 1990s. Read about it in this Daily Telegraph report.... ... and on the BBC website. Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by LesHamilton 21st January 2019ce

North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist

'Incredibly rare' find in Western Isles prehistoric forest Archaeologists have found evidence of early human activity at a submerged prehistoric forest in the Western Isles. More info : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-46890793 Comments (4)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by drewbhoy 16th January 2019ce

Highland (Mainland)

Bid to build replica Iron Age tower in Caithness An archaeological charity is pushing ahead with an ambitious plan to construct a full-size replica of an Iron Age broch. More info : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-46757696 Comments (1)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by drewbhoy 7th January 2019ce

News

Recumbent stone circle discovered at north-east farm A stone circle has been discovered on a farm in the north-east. The stone circle was found near Leochel-Cushnie and had been unknown to archaeologists until now. Read the Evening Express report. Adam Welfare from Historic Environment Scotland said: “In numbering 10 stones it fits the average, but its diameter is about three metres smaller than any known hitherto and it is unusual in that all the stones are proportionately small.” More information on the Aberdeenshire Council website See also Aberdeenshire Archaeology Service Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) for more details. Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by LesHamilton 17th December 2018ce Edited 19th January 2019ce

Wiltshire

Long Barrow business rates for storage You couldn't really make this up. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/29/uks-first-pagan-burial-tomb-5000-years-hit-business-rates-bill/ Comments (0)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by Howburn Digger 12th December 2018ce

Vespasian's Camp and Blick Mead (Hillfort)

Ancient platform 'damaged' during Stonehenge tunnel work Archaeologists have accused Highways England of accidentally drilling a large hole through a 6,000-year-old structure near Stonehenge during preparatory work for a tunnel. The drilling, which is alleged to have taken place at Blick Mead, around a mile and a half from the world-famous neolithic ring of stones, has enraged archaeologists, who say engineers have dug a three-metre-deep hole (10ft) through a man-made platform of flint and animal bone. Highways England have said they are not aware of any damage to archaeological layers on the site caused by their work and will meet with the archaeological team on Thursday, led by David Jacques, a senior research fellow at the University of Buckingham....... https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/06/ancient-platform-damaged-during-stonehenge-tunnel-work Comments (1)  |  Add a comment  |  Permalink

Posted by moss 7th December 2018ce