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21st
September 2006 Fell Ponies Face Extinction A rare breed of pony in Cumbria's Lake District is under threat, a scientist has claimed. David Murray, a conservation scientist who studies Britain's native ponies, said the fell herds were facing extinction as more breeders retire. There are only about 400 fell pony mares in Britain, and Mr Murray said it would only take the demise of two herds to put the breed in jeopardy. He said more breeders were needed to recognise the value of the ponies. He said: "Basically we have around 400 or so fell breeding females registered in and around Cumbria and one or two other parts of Britain. "Due to the gradual erosion of blood lines these ponies are now regarded as rare and vulnerable. It is really important we find a way of protecting these herds in the next century or so. They have been around for 2,000 years plus before the Romans, yet we could see their gradual demise." Fell ponies are usually 13 to 14 hands high, with a stocky build, a full mane and tail and feathering on the legs. The ponies are predominantly black, but can also be bay, brown and grey. Mr Murray added: "They are good for grazing, they don't eat wild flowers or heather and are a bit more selective in what they eat. "They are often preferred to sheep as grazers on the fells, yet many people do not recognise their worth for helping to maintain biodiversity." 29th
August 2006 Historians
claim to have found fabled lost city WELSH historians believe they have uncovered the site of a 2,000-year-old city which they say is the most important location in ancient British history. The Ancient British Historical Association (ABHA) claims that a field at Mynydd y Gaer near Pencoed is the fabled fortress city of King Caradoc I, or Caractacus, who fought the Romans between 42-51 AD. The Roman leader at that time was the Emperor Claudius, immortalised by Derek Jacobi in the TV series and film I, Claudius, alongside Welsh actress Sian Phillips as his aunt Livia. Historians Alan Wilson and Baram Blackett used old manuscripts to narrow their field of search and aerial photos obtained from Google Earth, which provides maps and satellite imagery, to find the exact spot. Their findings have yet to be verified but the team are positive they have found the long lost site. More at icWales 29th
August 2006
The circular structure was built by Edward III in the 14th century to house the round table intended to seat the original 300 Knights of the Garter. Archaeological proof of the building was uncovered by members of Channel 4's Time Team in the castle's quadrangle. Although the stones have been removed, rubble in-fill where they were originally located remained in place. The show's presenter, Tony Robinson, said the discovery could help settle years of debate among historians over the existence of the building. "The round table building is one of our most significant ever archaeological finds. It is something that helped to establish Arthurian legends of the knights of the round table. "We set out to uncover the walls of the building, and they are just where we hoped. Experts have speculated about the structure for centuries, but they have never been able to find the actual building." It was one of several remarkable finds made by archaeologists given unprecedented access to three Royal residences. At Buckingham Palace, finds ranged from a small piece of pre-Roman flint to a gold earring or piece of necklace, possibly from the Victorian era. Experts also found a stoneware beer mug probably thrown away by workmen landscaping the gardens in about 1700. At Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official Scottish residence, a 17th or 18th century seal, probably used to stamp wax on documents, was uncovered. The digs were allowed to go after months of negotiations with representatives of the Royal family. A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said all the findings will be catalogued and the survey results will be added to the Royal archive at Windsor. Evidence of a building linked to the myth of King Arthur and the knights of the round table has been found at Windsor Castle. The circular structure was built by Edward III in the 14th century to house the round table intended to seat the original 300 Knights of the Garter. Archaeological proof of the building was uncovered by members of Channel 4's Time Team in the castle's quadrangle. Although the stones have been removed, rubble in-fill where they were originally located remained in place. The show's presenter, Tony Robinson, said the discovery could help settle years of debate among historians over the existence of the building. "The round table building is one of our most significant ever archaeological finds. It is something that helped to establish Arthurian legends of the knights of the round table. "We
set out to uncover the walls of the building, and they are just where
we hoped. Experts have speculated about the structure for centuries, but
they have never been able to find the actual building." At Buckingham Palace, finds ranged from a small piece of pre-Roman flint to a gold earring or piece of necklace, possibly from the Victorian era. Experts also found a stoneware beer mug probably thrown away by workmen landscaping the gardens in about 1700. At Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official Scottish residence, a 17th or 18th century seal, probably used to stamp wax on documents, was uncovered. The digs were allowed to go after months of negotiations with representatives of the Royal family. A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said all the findings will be catalogued and the survey results will be added to the Royal archive at Windsor. Story from the Independent Online 19th
July 2006 The haunt of witches for centuries, and a site shrouded in mystery, the Rollright Stones near Long Compton may have some secrets revealed this weekend and next weekend as part of National Archaeology Week. Visitors on both weekends will enjoy free admission and guided tours by archaeologists including the chairman of the Rollright Trust, George Lambick, formerly director of the Council of British Archaeology, and Dr Gill Hey of Oxford Archaeology. This weekend will also include a storyteller and next weekend a dowser will be giving lessons in the ancient art of water divining. "This is an ideal opportunity to find out about the history and legends of one of Oxfordshire's oldest monuments," said trust spokesman Dohn Prout. The stones, including a stone circle, a group of stones and a solitary rock, are said to date back to 3,800BC, making them older than Stonehenge. Legend has it that a witch turned a king and his men into the stones and herself into a tree, and the site has been a meeting place for witches since the Tudor times. Visitors will also be allowed to see the ghostly images on an inside wall of the site hut that left by a fire earlier this year. 23rd
June 2006 Professor Leslie Alcock will be most widely remembered for his book Arthur’s Britain, which made a lasting impact on the scholarly community and was hugely popular, and for his excavations at the hill fort of South Cadbury-Camelot, Somerset, which attracted worldwide attention. These were the popular highlights of a career that had a profound influence on the practice of archaeology in Britain and on the study of early medieval Britain in particular. As a native Mancunian Alcock counted himself among the Gwr y Gogledd, “men of the North” and consequently developed a lifelong interest in the Celtic history and archaeology, which he pursued in Cardiff and later in Glasgow. Much more at Times Online 19th
June 2006 An archaeologist has discovered that the passage into a burial mound on Anglesey was built to catch the rising sun on the summer solstice. Steve Burrow said he was "elated" when the sun filtered in through trees as he sat in the Bryn Celli Ddu chamber. Carbon dating on the site has also revealed it may contain the oldest building in Wales. Mr Burrow, the curator of Neolithic archaeology at the National Museum of Wales, said he had to visit the site twice before his discovery. On the last day of his second visit he said he was "absolutely elated" when the sun filtered through nearby trees and entered the chamber along the five metre-long entrance passage. "The emotion of seeing something that was put there deliberately 5,000 years ago was amazing," he said. "I was the first person to be recording the event so I was trying to record it with stills and digital cameras as well as on a video camera, but I was jumping up and down." Testing has discovered that post holes outside the entrance to the chamber are 3,000 years older than the tomb itself. This could point to the site having the remains of the oldest building in Wales, added Mr Burrow. A video of the sun rising and entering the Bryn Celli Ddu chamber can be viewed as part of an exhibition called Death in Wales 3,000-4,000 BC, at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff until 24 September. Story from BBC News 16th
June 2006 A geology team has contradicted claims that bluestones were dug by Bronze Age man from a west Wales quarry and carried 240 miles to build Stonehenge. In a new twist, Open University geologists say the stones were in fact moved to Salisbury Plain by glaciers. Geologists from the Open University first claimed in 1991 that the bluestones at one of Britain's best-known historic landmarks had not come from a quarry, but from different sources in the Preseli area. The recent work was conducted by a team headed by Professor Olwen Williams-Thorpe, who said she and her colleagues had used geochemical analysis to trace the origins of axe heads found at Stonehenge and this backed up the original work. "We concluded that the small number of axes that are actually bluestone derive from several different outcrops within Preseli," she said. "Axes found at or near Stonehenge are very likely to be from the same outcrops as the monoliths, and could even be made of left-over bits of the monoliths." Dr Brian John, a geomorphologist living in Pembrokeshire, said he always thought the idea that Bronze Age man had quarried the stones and then taken them so far "stretched credibility". But he said the debate would go on until someone was able to prove beyond doubt what happened one way or the other. "This is very exciting, and it moves the bluestone debate on from the fanciful and unscientific assertions of the past," he said. "Much of the archaeology in recent years has been based upon the assumption that Bronze Age man had a reason for transporting bluestones all the way from west Wales to Stonehenge and the technical capacity to do it. "That has been the ruling hypothesis, and there has been a great reluctance to allow facts to interfere with a good story. " Glaciers may move very slowly, but they have an excellent record when it comes to the transport of large stones from one part of the country to another." Story from BBC News 26th
May 2006 A group of scientists are preparing themselves for the first ever comprehensive search for the mythical land of Cantre'r Gwaelod. Preparations are underway for a group of marine biologists to dive off the coast of Borth who will amongst other things, try and discover remains of the supposedly fortified settlement that is said to have existed over 1,000 years ago. "There is a lot of evidence to suggest that Cantre'r Gwaelod existed, the most obvious are the tree stumps that poke out of the water at low tide. This is not an archaeological dive, as we are a purely scientific team, but this site has never been examined properly so who knows what we might find." The legend of a lost civilisation off the coast of Cardigan Bay has been told for nearly 1500 years but has only been known as Cantre Gwaelod since the 17th century. Before then the mythical land was known as Maes Gwyddno. Local legend speaks of bells ringing out at sea whenever a storm approaches off the coast between Aberdyfi and Borth. Ancient woodland can also be seen poking out of the water, giving strength to the idea that the land was once above sea level. Dylan Davies, Cambrian News. 26th
May 2006 The burial ground of Queen Boudicca could be next to a burger restaurant in Birmingham, it has been claimed. An excavation is to take place at the site in Kings Norton after evidence it has Roman remains buried there. Queen Boudicca, who led ancient tribes in battle against the Romans, died in 62 AD, possibly in the Midlands. It would be a "world-shattering" find, said Councillor Peter Douglas Osborn. But experts warned there is no evidence the site is linked to Boudicca. "We are hoping that there will be an archaeological exercise next to the McDonalds site in Kings Norton in order to uncover the possible last battle of Queen Boudicca and Seutonius Paulinus," said Mr Douglas Osborn, a member of Birmingham City Council. More at
BBC
News 21st
May 2006 A 'spectacular' small brooch has been uncovered at a Roman fort that may reveal secrets about the men that built Hadrian's Wall. The discovery of the legionary soldier's expensive and prestigious cloak brooch has excited archaeologists in Northumberland. Experts have discovered that the brooch belonged to soldier Quintus Sollonius who would have been stationed at the forefront of the Roman empire 2,000 years ago. Historians are continuing to examine the artefact and believe it could reveal more secrets behind the men who helped build Hadrian's Wall. It was found at the Vindolanda Roman settlement, near Bardon Mill in Northumberland. Quintus Sollonius painstakingly cut a set of small incised dots to make up his name. Next to the name was the inscription CUPI. It is believed that those four letters refer to Cupius, the centurion in command of the soldiers sent by the Second Legion Augusta to help build the wall in AD122. The brooch, which is just under 2in in diameter, incorporates the figure of Mars, the Roman god of war, wearing body armour and sandals, standing alongside two wide shields. These shields could mean Quintus Sollonius was a veteran of campaigns against the Dacians in what is now Romania conducted by the emperor Hadrian's predecessor Trajan. More at 24dash.com 21st
May 2006 A dig near Malmesbury town walls has uncovered a substantial stone-fronted defensive rampart and a deep ditch which could date to the Iron Age. Archaeologists believe the prehistoric hill fort would have had impressive multiple defences rising above the valley of the River Avon. English Heritage said the results were very exciting and showed how important the town's defences were. The work was said to bring a new dimension to the story of Malmesbury. A project spokesman said it was the first time that the area outside of the line of defences has been examined archaeologically. The finds add to discoveries recorded during the previous investigation carried out during November 2005 during restoration work on the walls, that revealed new evidence about the nature of the town's defences. When the collapsing stone of the wall was removed, substantial clay deposits almost 3m (10ft) high were found. Archaeologists identified these as the upper rampart of the Iron Age hill fort on which Malmesbury was later built. It is believed the whole of the Eastgate Bastion is an artificially constructed fortified gate (barbican) built to extend the area of the former hill fort and to provide substantial and impressive stone-built defences. Investigations revealed evidence of a further rampart against the outer face of the lower levels of the town wall. This consisted of burnt material including a large quantity of slag. Archaeologists consider that this burnt material is probably Late Saxon and may date from the 8th or 9th Centuries AD. If confirmed, it would add support to Malmesbury's claim to be the oldest borough in England. Story from BBC News 14th
May 2006 By Paul Rincon A survey of British skulls from the early part of the New Stone Age, or Neolithic, shows societies then were more violent than was supposed. Early Neolithic Britons had a one in 20 chance of suffering a skull fracture at the hands of someone else and a one in 50 chance of dying from their injuries. Details were presented at a meeting of the Society for American Archaeology and reported in New Scientist magazine. Blunt instruments such as clubs were responsible for most of the traumas. This is not the first time human-induced injuries have been identified in Neolithic people; but the authors say it is the first study to give some idea of the overall frequency of such traumas. Rick Schulting of Queen's University Belfast and Michael Wysocki from the University of Central Lancashire looked at 350 skulls spanning the period from 4000 BC to 3200 BC. "We generally think of Neolithic people as living peaceful lives - they were busy looking after cereal crops and rearing livestock," Mr Wysocki told the BBC News website. "But it was a much more violent society." More at BBC News 14th
May 2006 A ghost called the White Lady is being turned into a tourist attraction at a local resort. It is hoped she will be one of the stars of this year's Prestatyn Walking Festival from May 19-21. The apparition, thought to be a nun, is one of the spooky characters to be featured in a Ghost Walk, researched and developed by historian Harry Thomas. This year the festival is benefiting from marketing and promotional expertise provided by Tourism Partnership North Wales. It will last three days and features a total of 16 walks, ranging from a leisurely 45 minute stroll to a 20-mile marathon along the Offa's Dyke long-distance path from Moel Famau to Prestatyn. And Harry is hoping that some uninvited guests will join the throng during the 90-minute walk, called "Dead Time Stories", on the evening of May 19. He said: "The White Lady is the most familiar apparition and has been seen most often." More at News Wales 13th
March 2006 A 2000-year-old carving of a so-called "northern god", adopted by the Romans for protection and good luck, has been uncovered in Northumberland. The 40cm high figure, holding a shield in one hand and spear or sword in the other, was discovered near Chesters Fort on Hadrian's Wall. Experts say the find is exciting as it helps shed light on how people used local idols for protection. The carving is thought to be that of Cocidius, a Romano-British warrior god. Rock art expert Tertia Barnett said: "This is a completely unexpected discovery. "It shows how much there is still to discover about Northumberland's ancient past." The carving was uncovered by a team of volunteers looking for prehistoric rock art as part of the Northumberland and Durham rock art project. The rock has now been covered again to protect it. Research by the volunteers is on-going. Story from BBC News 1st March
2006 For centuries, he has remained in the shadow of his famous wife, the warrior Queen of East Anglia's Iceni tribe. But while Boudica outshines him in history, new research shows that Prasutagus was not quite the down-trodden husband previously suggested. For it was he, and not his wife, who graced the coinage of the period. Until now, Prasutagus has only existed in historical conjecture and myth as King of the Iceni, the tribe occupying East Anglia, which was ruled with Boudica under Roman authority. However, new studies on a batch of silver coins found at Joist Fen in Suffolk more than 40 years ago have provided the first archaeological evidence that he existed, and was a man of some importance. The coins, which would have been buried in the first century AD, bear the words SVB Ri Prasto and Esico Fecit and show a Romanised head on one face with a horse on the other. It is believed the wording was a mixture of Celtic and Latin - to be translated as “under King Prasto, Esico made me”, with Esico the local metal worker who made the coin. This conclusion fits in with earlier work by the 19th century antiquarian Sir John Evans who, with great foresight, had suggested that if any coins were discovered of Prasutagus - whom he described as “a mere creature of the Romans” - they would probably look Romanised. Following Sir John's writings, similar coins from the neighbouring Corieltauvi tribe, bearing very similar writing, were discovered in south west Norfolk that cast doubt on the suggestion that the figure on the original hoard was Prasutagus. However, extensive new research by Iceni expert Amanda Chadburn, featured in the latest edition of British Archaeology magazine, affirms the original theory of historians - that the portrait on the Suffolk coins found in 1960 is that of Boudica's husband. John Davies, chief curator at the Norwich Castle Museum, said: “This research is reclaiming this coinage as archaeological evidence to link with the known historical figure who was the husband of Boudica. To find archaeological knowledge of a known historical figure is so very rare. It helps to confirm a part of the very exciting and compelling Boudica story. “The Iceni didn't write, so we have nothing before that has had a name on it; so to get something which ties in with both an individual and that time is almost unique and very exciting.” He said that he had always believed that the Joist Fen coins were evidence of Prasutagus. “Of course spellings change as language develops over time but it is so close that is has to be Prasutagus.” The findings brought colour and life to the legendary story, which saw Queen Boudica lead the revolt against the Romans after Prasutagus died. “The study of Boudica is very, very dear to the people of this area and this gives real flesh on the bones. It tells us something very interesting about him as a person because on the coin he is depicted as a Romanised individual who has embraced Roman dress and culture. Although the Iceni lived in simple terms, he is shown as far more than an agricultural man. “It shows the wider influence that the Romans had at that time in this region, when previously it was felt that this area was a bit of a backwater, away from the influence. This was in fact quite a Romanised area and these coins are very important evidence for that. It shows the royal family of the Iceni was very Roman.” One of the coins is in the Boudica gallery of the Castle Museum in Norwich. Story from EDP News 22nd
February 2006 New research on an excavated Bronze Age burial mound in south Wales has revealed links to funeral sites as far away as the Orkney Islands. The burial mound on the Black Mountain in Carmarthenshire was unearthed by Cambria Archaeology in 2004 after it was feared that the weather and visitors to the area were causing permanent damage to the site. Archaeologists discovered a large rectangular stone cist at the centre of the mound containing the cremated bones of a young child, a pottery urn, a bone pin and several flint tools. The cist also contained the cremated bones of two pigs and what is though to be a dog. Research revealed that second later burial took place at the site, which was added to the side of the mound. New analysis on the soil surrounding the site, undertaken by the University of Lampeter, has identified microscopic pollen grains, indicating that the burial was accompanied by a floral tribute of meadowsweet. The same burial rituals, with cremated bone, pottery and meadowsweet flowers in a stone cist, have been found as far away as Orkney and Perthshire in Scotland. More information and pictures at 24 Hour Museum 21st
February 2006 Campaigners have won a battle against plans to increase quarrying near an ancient monument in North Yorkshire. They argued the area is of national archaeological importance. Councillors agreed and rejected the plans. Tarmac said it would appeal against a decision to refuse its plans to quarry tonnes of sand and gravel at Ladybridge Farm, near Thornborough Henges. The land could cope with the quarrying said Tarmac, adding it hoped factual evidence would prevail at its appeal. North Yorkshire County councillors voted 6 to 3 to reject the application at a planning meeting on Tuesday. Tarmac's estate manager Bob Nicholson said the decision threatened the livelihoods of more than 50 people and had serious implications for the supply of sand and gravel to the construction industry. He said excavations on the site had found limited evidence of prehistoric activity and it did not meet the criteria to qualify as being of national importance. "Our proposal for Ladybridge, which actually moves quarrying further away from the henges than our current operation, poses absolutely no threat to the ancient monument, which is protected by law. "Yet throughout this anti-quarrying campaign, protestors have, through misleading statements and images, claimed that the monument is threatened. "We maintain that our application is both justified and reasonable and we will mount a robust case for its approval at appeal, when we hope that factual evidence will prevail over mythical invention." The henges are believed to be one of Britain's largest ritual gathering places from the Neolithic period. Local campaign group Timewatch collected more than 10,000 signatures for a petition against the scheme, which it said would contribute to the permanent loss of nationally important archaeology. US-based conservation group the Landmarks Foundation also voiced its concern at the quarry proposals, describing them as a tragedy. Councillor John Fletcher, who chaired the planning meeting, said: "Because of the well articulated arguments from all sides it was a very hard decision to make. "However, the right decision was made." Story from BBC News 28th
January 2006 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". He told the BBC News website: "I'm slowly getting over it, we've had a lot of bad luck because we had the paint attack too. "What's the matter with people - we don't harm anybody, the public enjoys coming here." He said the future of the hut would be decided at a meeting of the Rollright Trust on Saturday. In the meantime, he said its absence was being felt. "At this time of year we have people there on Saturdays and Sundays and dowsing rods, guides and t-shirts would be sold from the hut. "You've seen the weather - would you want to be outside in it for hours?" To make donations to the Rollright Trust, visit their website From BBC News 13th
January 2006 A society dedicated to the memory of a Welsh princess, daughter of Llewelyn the Last, wants the name of a north Wales mountain changed in her honour. The Princess Gwenllian Society would like to see Carnedd Uchaf in the Ogwen Valley renamed Carnedd Gwenllian. The National Trust, which owns part of the peak, said changing the name might affect the safety of walkers and cause practical problems in updating maps. Walkers in the area also disagreed with altering the centuries-old name. Princess Gwenllian was born in 1282 in Abergwyngregyn, near Bangor. Her mother died in childbirth and just six months later Gwenllian was orphaned when her father Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd was killed in battle with Edward I at Cilmeri near Builth Wells. To stop her becoming a threat, Edward I had Gwenllian snatched and she was taken to a convent in Lincolnshire. She was kept prisoner as a nun for the rest of her life and buried at Sempringham Abbey after her death, aged 54, in 1337. The Gwenllian Society now want a proper memorial for her in Wales. More at BBC News 13th
January 2006 A restoration project at Carmarthen Castle has stalled after the final phase failed to win lottery funding. Since work began at the landmark, the remains of a drawbridge and a network of medieval walls have been uncovered. Over £1m was spent on improved access and structural repairs and it was hoped a visitor centre would complete it. The Heritage Lottery Fund, which had funded most of the work, has rejected a bid for £900,000 but Carmarthenshire Council said the project would proceed. The castle was founded in 1109 by Henry I and became the centre of Norman control in south west Wales. Much of the building was destroyed by the Owain Glyndwr rising in the 15th Century but was subsequently strengthened in the 1600s. More at BBC News 5th December
2005 Rosslyn Chapel's Extraordinary Carvings Explained The doors of Rosslyn Chapel have shut behind the cast and crew of The Da Vinci Code. But grail tourists will continue to travel to this place of 21st century pilgrimage and walk in the footsteps of the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail. Behind all the fantastical nonsense there are lone voices asking us to put aside the hype, look inside the chapel and open our eyes to what it really is. They don't see heretic knights and ancient secrets but an important remnant of medieval architecture deserving of serious study that has been prostituted on the altar of commercialism. Just in case you've been asleep (or abducted by aliens) you may need a quick re-cap on current "theories" re Rosslyn. Revisionist historians consider Rosslyn to be a grail chapel. Built by Sir William Sinclair in 1446 as a copy of the Temple of Solomon, its intricate carvings hint at secrets passed down to the family since the fall of the Templars in 1307. Depending on your inclination the chapel is the final resting-place for Jesus's head, Templar treasure or any number of outlandish ideas. According to the new book Rosslyn and the Grail by Mark Oxbrow and Ian Robertson, it is none of these things. The authors place the chapel firmly in its 15th century context and finally reveal the true meaning of the carvings. In doing so they seek to revisit the history of the Sinclair family and cast doubt on those who paint a 14th century William Sinclair as a Knight Templar. Article
by Diane McLean More at Scotsman.com 17th
November 2005 Campaigners fighting to save Wales' largest ancient wood have bought more than half the forest. The Woodland Trust/Coed Cadw hopes to buy the rest of Wentwood Forest near Newport by the end of the year. It raised £1.5m with "unprecedented support" from 250,000 members, local people, and celebrities such as writer Bill Bryson and actor Dame Judi Dench. Restoration on a site described as Wales' rainforest equivalent, will start within months. More at BBC News Site of pagan well to be restored One of Wales' oldest wells, thought to be a pagan site rededicated by early Christians, is to be restored. Ffynnon Rhedyw in Llanllyfni, near Caernarfon, is believed to be older than nearby St Rhedyw's church, which dates from 600AD. Gwynedd Archaeological Trust hopes the project will set a precedent for similar projects around Wales. More at BBC News 2nd November
2005 We are excited to announce the formation of Comhaltacht Draiocht (pronounced. Ko: lt?xt Dri: ?xt) meaning Druidry Fellowship. We are a religious and spiritual fellowship of people who adhere to a revival of polytheistic Celtic cosmic religion. The official start date of November 5, 2005 will mark the first Samhain celebration by Comhaltacht Draiocht as a fellowship and the culmination of a decade and a half of work in developing this organization based on a combination of vital spirituality informed by the latest research in Celtic and religious studies and nearly three centuries of more general work toward Celtic spiritual revival. We are made up of a group of long established local congregations and individuals who are coming together in a common spiritual journey and we invite all who share our path to join us. Anyone interested
in more information for spiritual or academic reasons may visit us at
comhaltacht-draiocht
or contact us at: Comhaltacht Draiocht Registration 18th
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. It proves there was a walkway between a henge 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. Story from Yorkshire Post 17th
October 2005 Find out whether you have the skills to make fire, bake bread and spin cloth and so survive the Iron Age. Fun quiz and information at BBC History 6th October
2005 Former Royal harpist Catrin Finch is making the instrument "exciting" to play again, claims a manufacturer. Harp maker Allan Shiers said the "Finch effect" was having an impact on sales and those learning to play the traditional Welsh instrument. Ms Finch opened Wales' first large-scale production factory in Llandysul, Ceredigion, on Wednesday. Mr Shiers hopes to make 80 Celtic harps in the first year and then start producing folk and pedal harps too. His project, Telynau Teifi (Teifi harps), already has a workforce of eight and will be run by the community. More at BBC News Trust's £750,000 bid for Skokholm A wildlife trust is launching an appeal to buy a west Wales island that was the first bird observatory in the country. The owners of Skokholm Island have put the 247-acre wildlife haven up for sale and the Wildlife Trust of south and west Wales has been given first option. It has managed the island three miles off the Pembrokeshire coast for 50 years but now needs £750,000 to own it. The charity is looking to a range of funding bodies, businesses, its members and the public for help. The island is home to around 30 different species of breeding birds, migratory birds, seals, rabbits and variety of other animals. More at BBC News 20th
September 2005 Underwater archaeologists in Perthshire have made the incredible discovery of a drowned forest, thought to date from the neolithic period some 5000 years ago. Stunned divers spotted the ancient wooded area as they worked in Loch Tay. The eerie find is sure to excite scientists of all disciplines as it could represent the earliest surviving remains of Scotland’s native woodland. Preliminary surveys in the 14 mile long loch—carried out by the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology (STUA) over the weekend—have identified well preserved fallen oak and elm trees as well as a series of oak upright trunks embedded in layers of gravel and silt. Many of the fallen trees have survived in odd shapes, creating a spooky landscape protruding from the loch bed. Timber samples taken by the STUA dive team yesterday produced radiocarbon dates of 3200BC and 2500BC. More at The Courier 3rd August
2005 The government money is on the table and the political will in Whitehall and Europe is apparently growing to help Cornish speakers turn their native tongue into a viable, living language. But there is one stumbling block: Cornish speakers cannot agree on how their language should be spelt. Three main groups who have driven forward the revival of Cornish are at loggerheads over how the language should be written. The issue has become so divisive that yesterday two of the groups called for an independent panel of linguists to be appointed to referee the row. A conference is being organised in September at which the warring factions will again try to agree on how Cornish - or, depending on your fancy, Kernewek, Kernowek, Kernuak or Curnoack - should be spelt. More at Guardian Unlimited 19th
July 2005 Wentwood Forest once stretched from the Usk to the Wye Valley and is mentioned in texts dating to the Dark Ages. It is still the largest ancient woodland in Wales. 900 acres of Wentwood Forest are now up for sale to the highest bidder and the sales particulars are targeted at the commercial forestry sector. There is an immediate need to ensure the preservation of this ancient woodland before it is lost forever. The Woodland Trust is asking for pledges to help buy the wood in order to protect this irreplaceable habitat. An extra £100,000 is needed to make a successful bid. To make
a pledge or for more information, visit 25th
June 2005 A university professor believes he has solved one of the oldest Stonehenge mysteries - the exact location in Wales where the bluestones were quarried. Tim Darvill has found what he thinks is an ancient quarry at Carn Menyn high in the Preseli Hills of Pembrokeshire. The bluestones - which form the inner circle of Stonehenge - were transported over 240 miles to Salisbury Plain. Local archaeologists say Professor Darvill had made a "convincing and compelling" argument. Gwilym Hughes, Director of Cambria Archaeology, the south west Wales archaeological trust, said Mr Darvill still had some work to do to prove his theory beyond doubt. But he said: "They have put forward a very reasoned argument which I found very convincing and very compelling. More at BBC News 21st
June 2005 A Celtic midsummer myth is being revived at a moorland park in Cornwall on Saturday night. Six giant sculptures will be brought to life with fire as part of an event to celebrate the summer solstice. The organisers of the Midsummer Music and Burning Festival said it is an opportunity for people to get in touch with their 'inner Celt'. The event, at Colliford Lake Park on Bodmin moor, will include a pagan 'beast' dancing round a bonfire. More at BBC News 21st
June 2005 The excavation at Saveock, Cornwall has just finished its fourth season and is situated on the south-facing slope of a sheltered river valley. Its main phases range from a Mesolithic platform to an18th century votive spring. It was into the Mesolithic platform, subsequently covered by marsh rushes, that the feather-lined pits were cut. For a detailed description of the pit contents and some dubious speculation on pagan practices, see Saveock Water Archaeology 23rd
May 2005 Archaeologists have discovered evidence of Britain’s own miniature Coliseum, it was revealed today. The two-tier stone built structure, in Chester, which dates back to 100AD, hosted gladiatorial contests, floggings and public executions. Experts say the amphitheatre is the only one of its kind in Britain and the new evidence proves that Chester must have been an important site within the Roman Empire. Dan Garner, senior archaeologist for Chester City Council, said: “Previous findings have suggested that the amphitheatre was a two-tier structure, but it was always believed the second tier was made of timber. “We have now discovered the upper level was actually made of stone and stood about ten metres (33ft) high. “It would have looked like a mini Coliseum and had a seating capacity of around 10,000 to 12,000. “The extra tier would have been added as the popularity of the amphitheatre grew, a bit like adding an extra tier at Old Trafford. “It would have been a very impressive structure.” More at Scotsman 15th
May 2005 A shoe thought to be at least 2,000 years old, and the oldest in the UK, has been dug up at an English quarry. The Iron Age relic was found in a hollowed tree trunk at Whiteball Quarry, near Wellington, Somerset. Archaeologists say the shoe is the equivalent of a size 10 and is so well preserved that stitch and lace holes are still visible in the leather. It has been sent for conservation to Wiltshire and should be displayed at Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter. A team from Exeter Archaeology, led by Stephen Reed, unearthed the shoe when they were excavating at Town Farm, Burlescombe. As far as we know, this is the oldest shoe ever found in the UK Stephen Reed. "What we have now found is a Bronze Age 'industrial' site consisting of two mounds of burnt stone - dated to 1460 to 1290 BC - and two water-filled troughs," he said. "Close by were two timber-built wells, preserved by waterlogging and probably dating from the early part of the Iron Age." More at BBC News 4th May
2005 Road dig reveals Iron Age remains Archaeologists have discovered iron age remains under the route of a new bypass around the village of Leybourne. In a dig before the construction work, ditches containing pottery, burnt daub, charcoal and animal bone were found. Kent County Council archaeologist, John Williams, said the remains suggested there were Iron Age farming settlements in the area more than 2,000 years ago. The finds, near the A20 and M20, also included an Anglo-Saxon cellar possibly dating back to the sixth century. More at BBC News 11th
April 2005 Archaeologists working on the site of a natural gas terminal in Pembrokeshire have uncovered what they believe may be a medieval metal works. The team was working at the site of the controversial liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Milford Haven when they found the works, which may date from 800AD. Experts said little was known about this period, and the find could be a sign of early industrialisation. Full story at BBC News 21st
March 2005 It was an incongruous sight: 40 hooded Druids staging a fertility ritual next to the Tower of London, while customers from an adjacent fast-food restaurant looked on in bewilderment. Yesterday was the spring equinox, one of two dates each year when day and night are of equal length. Since the earliest times this has been celebrated by pagan festivals, with Druids and others gathering round the bonfire to chant, sing, dance and leap through the flames, while praying for a bountiful harvest. More story and dubious information from Times Online 13th
March 2005 Ancient chariot burial in Yorkshire may have contained leader of national significance, say archaeologists. Buried with full honours in Yorkshire, his final resting place became a shrine to the nation. And the man whose remains and chariot were discovered while digging roadworks in West Yorkshire could have been so revered that thousands visited his grave 400 years after his death to stage a feast in his honour. Archaeologists from Bradford who are now studying the astonishing find of a skeleton buried with an intact chariot believe his grave may have became a focus for national pride still remembered during the Roman colonisation. Story from
Yorkshire
Post - full text also on our articles page Henges Campaigners Hit Out Campaigners have hit back at claims by quarry company Tarmac over the threat of job losses if it is not allowed to expand its operations close to the Thornborough Henges. In a statement last week Tarmac warned the local economy would suffer if quarrying had to cease and said tourism would not compensate for the loss of some £2.3m resulting from its present operations at Nosterfield Quarry. Responding to the claims this week, the Friends of Thornborough campaign group insisted that quarrying did not provide long-term jobs. Tarmac is applying for planning permission to quarry further land close to the henges, at the Ladybridge Farm site. Source: Knaresborough Today 2nd March
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