Neolithic site discovered in Wrehxam quarry

From the Wrexham Leader.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS have begun excavating a quarry near Wrexham after evidence of a Neolithic settlement was uncovered.

The exciting discovery was made at Tarmac's Borras Quarry, off Holt Road, near Wrexham and archaeologists have begun to uncover the remains of the settlement, believed to be about 4,000 years old.

The archaeologists noticed dark areas resembling cooking pits appearing as topsoil and subsoil was being removed in preparation for sand and gravel extraction.

Tarmac has now suspended soil removal in the area of the discovery whilst archaeologists from Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT) excavate the remains.

Project manager Nigel Jones of CPAT, said: "This is an important discovery as we currently have very little evidence of Neolithic settlement in this part of Wales."

A team of archaeologists started excavating the site yesterday and although at present the full extent of the remains is not known, the excavation is likely to continue for several weeks.

Mr Jones added: "We are hoping to find more evidence of occupation, possibly including the remains of timber houses."

The findings will be fully recorded and sent for radiocarbon dating and environmental assessment.

"The results will then be studied at CPAT headquarters in Welshpool."

Tarmac's estates and geology manager Richard Hulse said: "It appears that these are cooking pits typically used to heat water in order to prepare food. As a result we have ceased topsoil removal in the immediate vicinity in order to retrieve any further artefacts which may be present."

CPAT is one of four Welsh archaeological trusts working closely with other national, regional and local bodies, to help protect, record and interpret all aspects of the historic environment for the whole of Wales.

The Evening Leader will be following the work carried out on the site and the discoveries made in the coming weeks.

Full story here.

Amatuer archaeologist writes Amazon.co.uk best seller

From the Malton Mercury.

A NEW book by a local amateur archaeologist is racing up the national best seller charts.

Alan Walker, director of Fersina North Yorkshire Ltd, Horsemarket Road, Malton, has seen Rock Art and Ritual reach number eight in the prehistoric archaeology category on Amazon – the online book seller. It is also top of the pile in the chart dedicated to pre-historic rock art.

The book, jointly written by Brian Smith, focuses on the North York Moors and where and why early hunters and farmers from the Neolithic and Bronze age placed rock art and cairns – small piles of stones – in the landscape.

Aimed mainly at academics and archaeologists, Alan also believes it is ideal for people who want to discover more about the North York Moors and how they once were.

An official launch will be held at Whitby Museum on Saturday in front of a 70-strong audience of academics, those who have helped with the book, family and friends.

Full story here.

Kent man charged with illegal digging

From This is London.

A TRAIN driver has been the first person in Kent to be charged under a 29-year-old act.

Mark Staples, of Herbert Road, Swanley, is accused of illegally digging at Thurnham Castle and Lympne Castle in Kent.

The two charges have been brought under the 1979 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act.

He is also accused of stealing a mosaic from Spoonley Wood Roman villa in Gloucestershire.

Staples, aged 38, is due to appear at Dartford Magistrates' Court on June 25.

Full story here.

An exploration of hillforts in Denbighshire

From Denbighshire Free Press.

On Saturday, June 21 visitors are invited to hear presentations from three national archaeologists about the Iron Age, combined with a two-mile site visit to the spectacular hillfort of Caer Drewyn.

The day will include presentations from Dr Toby Driver, aerial archaeologist for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, and Kenneth Brassil, learning officer for Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales.

They will discuss the function, history and elements of hillforts and roundhouses in the Iron Age (800BC to 43AD).

George Smith, of Gwynedd Archaeological Trust, will talk about the hillforts and settlements of North Wales.
The event will include a site visit to the magnificent hillfort of Caer Drewyn, built around 2500 years ago.

Unlike other hillforts in the area, Caer Drewyn does not have earthen banks or ditches (ramparts) but a large dry-stone wall, the remains of which can still be seen today.

Dr Driver said: "This Iron Age day should really challenge everybody's view about what hillforts were.

"Do we imagine angry Celts holding back the Roman armies from their hillforts with spears and chariots, or a more peaceful way of life focussed on farming and families?

"Caer Drewyn is a great place to explore these issues."

Welcome to the Iron Age will run from 10am until 4.30pm, meeting at Corwen Sports Pavilion and participants are asked to wear suitable clothing and bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided on arrival.

The event has been organised by the Heather and Hillforts Project. To book a place or for further information phone 01824 708257 or email helen.mrowiec@denbighshire.gov.uk

*There will be another chance to see Caer Drewyn next month. A four-mile tour will start at Caer Drewyn before travelling by minibus to Pen y Cloddiau, one of the largest hillforts in Wales with massive earth ramparts.

The tour will be staged on July 18 (10am to 4.30pm).

Interested participants are asked to take along a packed lunch or book a pub lunch on the day. Corwen Leisure Centre car park will be the meeting point and the cost to go on the tour is £2.50.


Full story here.

Major dig at Caerleon (Isca) hopes to uncover camp supply depot

From BBC News.

Dig blog here.

Archaeologists hope to find out more about what could be a 2,000-year-old warehouse over the next few weeks.

A team of 50 are taking part in the excavation of a corner of a Roman fortress in Caerleon near Newport.

The dig will open a large trench over the building, which is believed to have supplied the Roman legion.

Dr Peter Guest, of Cardiff University, said: "Store buildings are a largely unknown feature of legionary fortresses."

The experts from Cardiff and University College London will also keeping a blog updated of their progress in excavating the remains of a monumental courtyard building in the south-western corner of the fortress, which was known as Isca.

'Archaeology in action'

The building's existence was found during geophysical surveys and trial excavations last year.

It is hoped that this summer's dig will provide a wealth of new information about the storage facilities, provisioning, and supply of Roman soldiers in Britain.

Dr Guest, of Cardiff's school of history and archaeology said: "Our work is the first research excavation conducted on a military store in Britain.

"We hope that our findings will not only improve our knowledge of the fortress and its inhabitants, but also tell us more about the history of the fortress and Roman Britain.

"This is real archaeology in action and we are looking forward to an exciting summer in Caerleon."

As well as keeping in touch online, the public will invited to join twice-daily tours of the site, where they can see the latest archaeological finds.

Caerleon is one of the most important Roman sites in Britain, was one of three permanent garrisons, and was home to the second Augustan legion.

But excavations at the other sites in Chester and York are difficult, which makes the work at Caerleon unique.

By 74 AD, Caerleon had become the main administrative centre for the Roman army in Wales, and the site includes a bathhouse and an amphitheatre, which had a capacity for 6,000 spectators.

The project is supported by Cadw and the National Roman Legion Museum.

Site tours will run at 1100 and 1430 BST daily (except Saturdays) and special events are being organised for Caerleon's Roman Spectacular Military Weekend (28-29 June) and National Archaeology Week (12-20 July).

Full story here.

Glastonbury Abbey celebrates Bligh Bond contribution

From the 24 Hour Museum.

"He is the oddest little gentleman; he sits and talks about archaeology, the fourth dimension and the mathematical relation of form to colour, till you don't know if you are on your head or your heels."

So said novelist Dorothy L Sayers about her contemporary, the eccentric archaeologist and architect Frederick Bligh Bond (1864-1945). Bond was Glastonbury Abbey's first official archaeologist, starting work there in 1908. Now a new exhibition at the Somerset landmark unearths the story of this intriguing character and marks the centenary of his appointment to the Abbey.

The exhibition, which looks at Bligh Bond's achievements and discoveries, also coincides with Glastonbury Festival and the Summer Solstice. It's fitting, as Bligh Bond was a psychical researcher and highly spiritual man, and played a key role in establishing Glastonbury as the heart of English spirituality (even employing a medium to aid his research at the Abbey).

He was the first person to carry out a detailed archaeological survey of the site, and used scientific methods that were by no means standard at the time.

Full story here.

Explorator 11.8

Explorator 11.8