Visited 24th August 2003: More of a drive-by than a visit. I planned to come back later on our holiday to climb Cronk Sumark, but access to the hill from the southern end of the island is hindered by the TT course, and with races on we ran out of time.
Kammer
Taken 24th August 2003: Cronk Sumark from the road to the north.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Visited 24th August 2003: We approached the stone from the north west(ish). It’s just about visible from the footpath, but I made a slight deviation to get a closer look at it (not a very accessible site).
Magher ny Clogh Mooar is a beautiful and strangely shaped monolith. Strikingly it has a large bulbous protuberance at its base. On the south side are diagonal stripes, which appear to be the natural strata of the stone. Magher ny Clogh Mooar stands on relatively flat land in the shadow of Slieau Curn between it and the sea. Not far from the standing stone lies a smaller flat rounded stone, severely damaged by ploughing. Whether or not this bears any relation to its neighbour I don’t know.
Ancient Man 'Used Tooth Picks'
From an article on BBC News web site:
Our human ancestors may have taken a close interest in dental hygiene.
Palaeontologist Dr Leslea Hlusko, of the University of Illinois, claims to have evidence ancient man used rudimentary tooth picks.She has shown that curved grooves found on fossil teeth dating back 1.8 million years could be the result of erosion caused by repeated rubbing with grass stalks.
Sceptics argue today’s toothpicks leave no such marks, but Dr Hlusko said grass is more abrasive.
Indigenous People Win Bone Battle
From an article on the BBC News web site:
UK museums and universities could soon have to repatriate many of the human remains in their collections to indigenous peoples around the world.
MPs were told on Tuesday that a working group that has been looking into the issue will recommend a panel be set up to oversee the return of collections.
Campaigners have pressurised curators to hand over old bones so that they can be buried in their tribal homelands.
Some scientists have resisted the calls because they still study some material.
They have argued that this research has provided invaluable information about human origins and evolution.
Taken 24th August 2003: Magher ny Clogh Mooar from the north east with Slieau Curn behind it.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 24th August 2003: The plough damaged outlying stone (possibly of no significance whatsoever) with Magher ny Clogh Mooar behind it.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 24th August 2003: The stone from the north. Not a great photograph really, but it does show the stripes on this side of the stone, and the ‘bulbous root’ of the stone (very weird).
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 24th August 2003: Magher ny Clogh Mooar from the south east, with it’s strange bulbous root clearly visible.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Visited 23rd August 2003: We stopped off at Ballalough on our way back from Douglas. The cairn’s on private land, but there’s a track running relatively close to it and you can a good view of it from there. This is one for enthusiasts only.
Taken 23rd August 2003: Viewed from the track to the south of the cairn.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Visited 23rd August 2003: I’m still not sure whether this lump is what I was supposed to be looking for. Like its neighbour it looks relatively natural, but based on the view from the road I guess it may have been artificially re-shaped.
Visited 23rd August 2003: Approaching from the direction of Bride village, we came across a large hill next to the road. I decided it could reasonably be interpreted as one of the Bride Mounds, but I’m still not certain I found the right thing.
This lump doesn’t look very artificial, but as the mound stands on private ground I didn’t get a good look at it close up. I know very little about the Bride mounds, so the visit left me a bit perplexed. More research required I think.
Taken 23rd August 2003: What I believe to be the southern mound, viewed from the road to the east.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 23rd August 2003: The lump that I chose to interpret as the northern mound, viewed from the east.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 23rd August 2003: The northern mound (I think) viewed from the south.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Mavis Grind is a narrow strip of land that joins the north western part of Mainland Shetland with the larger southern part. It’s now approximately 100 meters wide, but according to the Modern Antiquarian it was about half a mile wide during the Neolithic period. On nearby Virdins Hill, on the north west cliff overlooking Mavis Grind, walls and foundations were found (Neolithic?). Julian lists the numerous prehistoric finds have been made on the Grind itself:
...saddle querns made of granite, potlids of micaceous sandstone, whetstones, and small polishers made of softer rocks, grinders, pestles, hammerstones and pounders, all made of tougher igneous and metamorphic rocks.
The evidence seems to point towards the importance of Mavis Grind as a routeway between the two parts of the island, in use for thousands of years.
Ancient Carved 'Faces' Found in Italy
From an article by David Whitehouse, published on BBC News web site:
A keen-eyed archaeologist claims to have found some of the oldest artwork ever – carved faces 200,000 years old.
The human images were found in 2001 by Pietro Gaietto on an expedition through the Borzonasca district of Italy.
He claims the rock has been sculpted into faces that look in opposite directions; one is bearded with what Gaietto calls an “expressive face”.
If this is genuine, the artist would have been an extinct human species that died out about 150,000 years ago.
According to Magic these barrows are of a type contemporary to the Roman occupation of Britain, of which only 150 or so remain in the UK. Apparently the earliest accounts of the Six Hills describe them as having surrounding ditches and outer ditches (now gone). Originally they would have been steep sided conical mounds.
As the name suggests, this is the official (contemporary) Bodrifty Iron Age Settlement home page. It includes photos of the reconstructed round house and a plan of the site and links to more info (such as the invaluable Building a Roundhouse page).
A site about the findings of a joint project run by Archaeoptics and Wessex Archaeology who scanned some of the Stonehenge sarcens with lasers to record the known rock art. In the process of the survey they found some new carvings.
From an article by David Prudames, published on www.24hourmuseum.org.uk:
Using laser scanning technology to study Europe’s most famous ancient monument, a team of computer experts and archaeologists has discovered carvings of two axe heads on Stonehenge.
The most hi-tech investigation of the monument to date, the study was carried out between 2002 and earlier this year by a team from Wessex Archaeology and Archaeoptics Ltd.
Although similar carvings were first found at Stonehenge 50 years ago, they have never been fully surveyed or studied.
Visited 23rd August 2003: We dutifully trekked off to St Bride’s to see the 19th Century church where Julian speculates there may have once stood a stone circle. The church itself is interesting, with two early crosses on display inside bearing Ogham inscriptions.
As for the churchyard and it’s orientation with the road junction, I’m afraid I can’t figure out how it indicates any kind of prehistoric link. A leap of faith is what’s required here, but I really can’t oblige. The church is worth a visit, but unless you have a vivid imagination, don’t expect any kind of megalithic satisfaction.
Taken 23rd August 2003: The church at St. Bride’s where Julian speculates there may have once stood a stone circle.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
From an article in the St Albans Observer by Claire Ling:
A rare coin that was made in St Albans 2,000 years ago is expected to fetch up to £1,300 when it goes up for auction in London. The Iron Age coin was struck in Verulamium [sic] between 10BC and 25 BC and horse-riding Celtic warriors are depicted.
* Verlamiom = Pre-Roman Verulamium
Visited 15th August 2003: Even less impressive than neighbouring Crug Cou this barrow is barely discerable. If you’re passing, and you have time on your hands, you might have fun trying to spot it.
Visited 15th August 2003: Looking for round barrows in this area is fairly un-rewarding. Despite having it’s name on the Ordnance Survey map, Crug Cou is not very well defined. Don’t go out of your way to see this barrow!
Taken 15th August 2003: I think I’ve hit rock bottom with this ever so un-exciting photograph of Crug Cou.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Visited 15th August 2003: I’ve not walked up to this fort but I’ve seen it many times from the road. It looks like there’s a distinctive winding path leading up to it on the south side. There were people coming down it when I took the photo, but I’ve no idea whether there’s public access or not.
The site was adapted into a motte and bailey castle during the Middle Ages (Castell Cadwaladr).
Taken 15th August 2003: This photo show Caer Penrhos from the road to the south (on the other side of the Wyre fach valley).
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Visited 8th August 2003: More of a drie-by than a visit. Having been to The Longstone and Parc y Garreg I pursuaded Lou that this barrow was really worth trying to spot from the road. My main interest was it’s name, and that fact that it had a name.
The barrow can be viewed from the road that runs to the south east of it, but not the road to the west. There is also a possible henge just to the south (SN177122) but judging by the map this may now be underneath the road.
Taken 8th August 2003: This shockingly poor photograph shows Crug Swllt from the south east. The grass really was that strange shade of brown, but all the glare and poor contrast are entirely my own doing (I thank you).
Image credit: Simon Marhsall
Visited 8th August 2003: Parc y Garreg is not visible from the road because of an enormous hedgerow. The field it stands in is not directly accessible from the road either, but is adjoined by a field that has a gate onto the road.
The stone stands close to a hedgerow that runs north-south, and when I visited it was surrounded by cattle. One heifer called 1-93 seemed to be particularly fond of the stone, and was clearly reluctant to budge just because I was there. Making the best of the situation I decided she would provide me with some scale for my photos (after all she did get there first).
Taken 8th August 2003: Parc y Garreg viewed from the north east (or there abouts). At last the cows have moved away a bit, and with some judicious cropping in Photoshop, this is almost a cow-free photo.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 8th August 2003: The stone from the south west(ish). Once again Heifer 1-93 is in the photo. She’s determined that I won’t disturb her grazing.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 8th August 2003: The stone from the west, with Heifer 1-93 refusing to budge. I suppose she gives an idea of scale.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Visited 8th August 2003: The Longstone sits in a field just south of the village. There’s no public footpath to the stone, but when we visited there were no crops in the field, so I wondered in to take a closer look at it.
The stone isn’t enormous, but it’s pale colouration makes it stand out from a distance. The field is surrounded by relatively tall hedges, so it’s almost impossible to spot it from the road. The power lines that run to the north of Longstone village dominate the skyline, and make for a contrasting backdrop to the stone.
Taken 8th August 2003: The stone sits in the middle of a field near the village of Long Stone. Here it is viewed from the south west.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 8th August 2003: The stone viewed from (approximately) the north west.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 8th August 2003: The stone viewed from the south west.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 2nd August 2003: The stones against a late dusk sky, with silhouetted cow in the distance.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Carrig Slic is a lost stone, which I’ve tried on numerous occasions to find. By the time it was engulfed by the forestry plantation (possibly during the 1950s) it had already fallen, and nobody really knows what happened to it after that. Here’s what little I could glean from records at the NMRW:
On the southern side of Mynydd March, approximately 150 yards north of Lluestfach Farmhouse. It stands on land sloping westwards and on the northern side of a col.
Now prostrate, but was standing in living memory. 9’ 6” in length. Has drill marks on it from failed attempt to convert to gate post.
The grid reference that we have for the stone is only approximate (SN71908355). In 2003 the forest in this area was clear felled, but sadly this didn’t reveal the stone. If it lies slightly to the south then it may be buried under a forestry track, or if it’s a bit further south it may still be in remaining forestry. The name Carrig Slic means ‘the slippery stone’, which seems wholly appropriate.
Visited 2nd August 2003: Penrhos Feilw was the last site we visited on our August Ynys Môn day trip, and by the time we arrived the light was fading. I’d had visions of watching the setting sun from here, but a large cloud bank spoiled the view. Still, it was a good place to be.
What beautiful tall things these stones are. They aren’t as isolated as most of the photos suggest. There’s a farm house nearby, and a static caravan by the gate. There are also far too many telegraph and power cables in the area, tainting the views towards the west. I shouldn’t over emphasise these relatively minor intrusions. Penrhos Feilw is well worth a visit.
Visited 2nd August: Went to shop, got key. It’s not difficult you know! I can’t believe how many people are missing the key bit!
Barclodiad-y-Gawres is a strange contradiction of a site. It’s beautiful and it’s ugly. It’s moving, but someone has used the entrance as a urinal. Everyone who comes in while we’re there is amazed by the carvings, but there are T-lights and dead flowers scattered liberally around the place. The damp darkness inside and the salty fresh brightness outside are too much to cope with in quick succession.
After too much time in the cage we ended up on the beach with ice creams (as sold by Wayside General Stores).
Taken 2nd August 2003: OK, so it probably looked nothing like this originally, but the outside of Barclodiad-y-Gawres is almost as distinctive as the inside (in a nasty concrete sort of way). This shot was taken from nearby Port Nobla Cairn.
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 2nd August 2003: The carved upright to the right as you walk in to the concrete dome (on the exclusive side of the metal gates).
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 2nd August 2003: The capstone and supporting orthostats. Why has it taken this long for anyone to put a photo of this up?
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Taken 2nd August 2003: The cist (or the jumble of stones that I’ve chosen to interpret as a cist).
Image credit: Simon Marshall
Gwynedd Archaeological Trust list this site as TUMULUS (REMS. OF), N. OF BARCLODIAD Y GAWRES, so I’ve renamed it Port Nobla Cairn, after the beautiful beach just to the north of it. If there’s a proper name for this tump, I’ll do the gentlemanly thing.