Stonehenge dig 2008 day 11

From BBC History.

Environmental archaeologist Dr Mike Allen likes to see the big picture, so he uses the latest scientific techniques to reconstruct Stonehenge's ancient setting. Likening the prehistoric scene to a landscape painting, "my colleagues paint the detail in the middle, and I paint the rest", he explained.

Masters of rock, geologists Rob Ixer and Jason Allen, were also at the dig today, scrutinising all the stones from the trench. They confirmed that some of the bluestone was spotted-dolerite from Preseli, in southwest Wales. Other highlights included chunks of non-local greensand and hematite, a piece of worked sarsen, and a fossil sea-lily.

Most of the material from the trench is taken off-site to the 'engine-room' of the dig (a humble portacabin). There, research assistant Debra Costen supervises the wet-sieving, sorting and recording of every single trowel-full. It's a demanding task as over two tonnes of spoil have been processed so far (some kind of record?).

An archaeological excavation is necessarily methodical, but patience and vigilance are richly rewarded. Forget needles in haystacks: Debra found an ancient grain buried in the bucket-loads - the only one of the dig so far. In today's video (above) Dr Allen explains how by studying the small - he's on the trail of tiny snails - we can understand the large.

Full story here.

Stonehenge dig 2008 day 10

From BBC History.

It seems that Sir Christopher Wren, the famous 17th century architect, also left his mark on Stonehenge - but in a quite unexpected way. His name is skillfully chiselled into one of the 40-tonne sarcens that watches over the dig.

Wren, if it was him, wasn't the first or only one to deface the stones. The carvings that Professor Wainwright was so taken by on Day 3 look like Latin characters, though the meaning of the message is unknown. And there's prehistoric graffiti too, in the form of dagger and axe shapes.

A few other characters were also all over the monument today. It was 'academics day' - a chance for the team's colleagues and peers to view and discuss the excavation so far. Presumably they didn't sign the stones.

The find of the day was more Beaker pottery, dating from the time that the monument was built. The quest is now on to find organic material from the stone holes that can be used to date when the bluestones were set.

If found, the material will be carbon dated in the lab. Dr Mike Allen, the team's environmental archaeologist, will also employ this technique on the snail shells that have been found. It's thought that the Romans introduced this particular species, though our dating could challenge that.

Watch the video (above) to see how people's enjoyment of the monument hasn't always been good for the stones. But there is a flip side - finds coordinator Yvette Staelens has "a hundred stories" on her desk.

Published: April 2008

Full story and video here.

Roman altar found in Manchester

From the Manchester Evening News.

David Ottewell
10/ 4/2008

HE was many miles from home - a Roman soldier posted to Manchester, perhaps feeling cold and lonely, longing for loved ones left behind.

He was called Aelius Victor. And now after 2,000 years an altar he built to keep a promise to the goddesses he prayed to has been unearthed in the middle of the city.

The altar - described by experts as being in 'fantastic' condition - was discovered during an archaeological dig at a site on Greater Jackson Street earmarked for development.

Aelius Victor had dedicated it to two minor goddesses.

A Latin inscription on the altar says: "To the mother goddesses Hananeftis and Ollototis, Aelius Victor willingly and deservedly fulfils a vow."

The find marks the first time in nearly 400 years that archaeologists have been able to put a name to a Mancunian Roman solider.

In 1612 another altar was found by the River Medlock, dedicated by Lucius Seniacianius Martius, a centurion - an officer - with the 20th Legion from York.

Commander

It is believed that Aelius Victor may have been a centurion commander posted from Germany - where worship of Hananeftis and Ollototis originates.

Norman Redhead, Greater Manchester's county archaeologist, said: "This is the first Roman stone inscription we have found for 150 years. It is a very, very valuable find and it is in fantastic condition, considering it has been in the ground for 2,000 years."

The altar was discovered during a pre-development dig at the site at the junction of Great Jackson Street and Chester Road.

Latter

Evidence suggests it may have been constructed in the latter part of the first century AD and later discarded, as it was found on top of an ancient rubbish pit.

The existence of a number of pits and ditches in the area suggest it was cleared for farming use.

The site is only hundreds of yards from a known fort and civilian settlement of Roman Manchester, dropping down to a ford across the River Medlock.

Mr Redhead said that, traditionally, that was the kind of area where places of worship were located. The altar will go on display at Manchester Museum.

General Julius Agricola (40-93AD), the commander of the invading legions, first founded a Roman settlement at the meeting point of the Rivers Irwell and Medlock. He called the place Mamuciam - meaning 'breast-shaped hill' because of the shape of the outcrop.

Archaeologists will be holding an open day at the dig site on Saturday between 10am to 3pm.

Full sotry here.

Stonehenge 2008 dig day 9 - Roman presence detected. . .

From BBC History.


The dig has revealed lots of large, intersecting bluestone sockets that have been carved into the chalk bedrock at different times. The largest of these dominates the centre of the trench, and was cut in Roman times.

We know it's Roman because of the finds it contained, including a 'House of Constantine' coin, from the 4th century (pictured). The emperor and his laurel are clearly visible; he scrubbed-up well after being spotted in the 'washer' (see Day 8) by sharp-eyed undergraduate Steve Bush.

There was other evidence too. Mark Maltby is a zooarchaeologist, meaning he specialises in the study of old bones. He identified pieces of chicken bone from the socket - the Romans enjoyed chicken then as much as we do today.

From the trench as a whole, a host of animal bones or teeth have been dug up. Mark identified the remains of horse, pig, cattle, duck, rabbit, hare and either sheep or goat (not some strange hybrid, just difficult to tell apart in the field).

Find out much more about the bluestone sockets from Professor Tim Darvill in today's video clip (above). He explains the order in which they were created, and why it may show that bluestone was "celebrated and reused many times over".

Tim has also responded to the lively discussion on the Timewatch message board - feel free to join in and have your say.

Full story and video here. . .

Stonehenge 2008 dig day 8

From BBC History.

Direct from the trench, archaeologist Dr Miles Russell speculates on the mind-set of the Neolithic people who built Stonehenge, and why he's finding topsoil packed into the bluestone holes. Was it for "healing the wounds"?

Video here.
Full story here.

Probable Saxon cemetry found at St John's College in Blackhall Road, Oxford

From the Witney Gazette.

By George Hamilton.

Experts now believe a dozen skeletons discovered in a mass grave in the centre of Oxford may have belonged to executed criminals from Saxon times.

A team of three archaeologists have been digging in the quadrangle of St John's College in Blackhall Road, off St Giles, for almost two weeks since the discovery was made.

The bones of 12 or 13 bodies have gradually been uncovered after a body part was discovered 80cm below ground level by diggers excavating the plot before a new quadrangle is built.

City archaeologists have labelled the find the most exciting in Oxford for nearly half a century, and predict more bodies could be found in the area.

But they cannot date the corpses exactly because the bodies were stripped of clothing before they were thrown into the mass grave.

Sean Wallis, project manager for Thames Valley Archaeological Services, said: "We were expecting to find evidence of Medieval activity, but we did not picture to find any bodies.

"I don't think anybody expected that.

"They look as if they were all young men in their late teens, and we are looking at Saxon times.

"We originally thought they could be Roman but now we think it could be more recent, based on the condition of the bodies, which survived very well.

"We have no idea how many we will find - they are still popping up."

The archaeologists' job has been made more difficult by the fact the bodies have been thrown on top of one another, rather than laid out neatly like a Christian burial.

Full story here.

Stonehenge dig 2008 days 6 and 7

From BBC History.

As prehistoric structures are exposed beneath his trowel, Professor Geoff Wainwright is well aware of the "heavy hand of history" on his shoulder. How the team interpret the findings of the dig will shape our understanding of Stonehenge forever.

Over the weekend the team continued to work through the marked-out squares. A timelapse film would show the trench deepening in 5cm layers, called spits. Prehistoric features, such as the edges of a bluestone hole, are excavated as they are found - in this case after the first couple of spits.

There are already a few surprises. How some of the sockets intersect doesn't seem to tally with our current understanding of the building sequence at Stonehenge. They "don't fit into those phases awfully well at all", according Professor Darvill.

As the first week's dig came to a close on Sunday afternoon, a chill descended and the heavens opened. In the warmth of the gift-shop you can find Stonehenge snowstorms. Outside, the real thing. Watch the video (above) for the latest news and views.

Fill story here.

Digital Digging - new content. . . .

Digital Digging new content. . .

Eddie Daughton gives us copper smelting in 45 minutes on a cold day and the origins of metalworking, while the Map room has a new addition in the form of the Hillforts of Wiltshire, and the Projector room is bulging at the seams with timber circle reconstructions.


See you there.

Explorator 10.50

Explorator 10.50.

Stonehenge 2008 dig day 5

From BBC History.

Today's first wave of visitors to the monument were surprised to see a strange craft hovering over the ancient stones. Fortunately, it came in peace. The ingenious device was a remote-controlled 'rotor-cam', providing a bird's-eye view of the dig site.

Watch the video (above) to see exactly where inside the stone circle the excavation is taking place, described by Professor Geoff Wainwright as "the summit of my professional career". Geoff is wearing the black hat, while Professor Tim Darvill sports his favoured blue overalls.

The deeper part of the trench is a partial re-excavation of Richard Atkinson's dig in 1964, the last at Stonehenge. Archaeologist Miles Russell is working in one of the bluestone foundation sockets that has been uncovered, carved out of the chalk bedrock.

Video Diary here.

Full item here.