megalithix
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This is the place where reports of brand new archaeological discoveries (not southern ones…soz…), up-and-coming surveys, forthcoming books of worth, meetings and conferences, will be listed. If you want me to include your own forthcoming event, or pass on info about new archaeological finds in your area (north of the Derbyshire region) from between the neolithic up to Romano-British period, or the re-location of old stone crosses or holy wells, please send us the info and we’ll mention it here.
The history of Pendle Hill (Lancashire, England) is to be pieced together for the first time with the help of archaeologists. Pendle Forest History Group is teaming up with staff from Lancaster-based Oxford Archaeology North, who will provide training in research and field-surveying techniques. But the archaeologists are leaving their excavating tools at home as the team aim to uncover secrets without digging a single hole. They are using old records, maps and aerial photographs to identify historic sites around the villages of Barley, Newchurch and Roughlee and are calling for help from people who have ever found anything unusual in the area.
Work has already started on the legendary hill, where it is believed people have lived since the Stone Age, as part of The Landscape Stories project. Only a limited amount of physical investigation has been carried out in the and the information collected by the group will be a valuable addition to Lancashire’s Historic Environment Record, the definitive record of all the historic monuments.
Joan Parsons, chairman of Pendle Forest History Group, said the area was ‘littered’ with possible finds. “From our house in Spen Brook you can see where a very big stone circle has been moved which has previously been recorded on the old maps. We’re hoping to look at things like burial grounds. Flint arrowheads, stone axeheads, bronze barbs for spears have been found and recorded in little brochures but not further afield and it has just got lost. English Heritage do maps of interest but it is a bit bare around here.” The work is part of a wider project being co-ordinated by Pendle Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty team.
Source: Lancashire Telegraph (31 July 2009)
June 12, 2009: More New Rock Art Carvings found North of Keighley
Following the discovery by Michala Douglas of a previously unrecorded piece of prehistoric rock art near Rivock Edge on June 9th (see below), another foray into the same area earlier today has resulted in the finding of at least another six cup-and-ring carvings, by Michala Douglas and myself. These include the following, with their own curious titles:
Buttock Stone, Holden, Silsden, West Yorkshire
Dump Stone, Holden, Silsden, West Yorkshire
Holden Cup Stone, Silsden, West Yorkshire
Pathway Stone, Rough Holden, Silsden, West Yorkshire
Robin Hood’s Wood Stone, Silsden, West Yorkshire
Rough Holden Stone, Silsden, West Yorkshire
None of the finds were overly extravagent in design, with only one of the carvings having a defined ‘ring’ around a cup (the Rough Holden Stone). Photos and descriptions of each carving will appear on TNA in the next few days.
June 9, 2009: New Cup-Marked ‘Baldwin Stone‘ Found near Rivock Edge
An archaeological amble on June 9, 2009, to explore some of the known rock-art sites between Keighley and the well-known Rivock Edge sites on the southwestern edge of Rombald’s Moor, brought a previously unrecorded carving to light by Michala Douglas of Keighley, West Yorkshire. She first noticed a small cluster of cup-markings near the edge of a small earthfast rock (about 3ft x 3ft), but when she turned over some of the turf to see if there was any more, a total of at least 17 cup-markings were uncovered.
Many of the cups are in a fine state of preservation – particularly those that had been covered by the soil. When asked if she would like to give the carving a title, she decided to give it the name of ‘Baldwin Stone‘, commemorating the late great, well-known Yorkshire character who “knew everything!”
To read more about the carving and see images of the design, click here.
Pendle Witch Camp, Lancashire, 2009
To any of you heathen folk out there, the following forthcoming event is happening near the great hallowed hill of Pendle. Check it out, here:
http://www.penwitchcamp.co.uk/
Now I know it sez that I’m gonna be doing summat there, but it’s yet to be confirmed. We’ll have that sorted out one way or t’other in the next fortnight. So if you’re up for a heathen solstice, but not quite sure where to go, give this a bash!
megalithix said
New Finds on Haworth Moor
Exploration on the moors near Haworth has brought to light seemingly unrecognised prehistoric remains. Weather conditions yesterday and today (after we’d slept rough on the tops) weren’t good enough to allow a decent exploration; but initial finds seem to show what may be the remains of a small settlement, with hut circles, walling and a circular monument between 30-35 feet across (very much like the ring immediately east of the Great Skirtful of Stones giant cairn on Ilkley Moor). We intend to visit the place and explore it in greater depth when better weather conditions allow.
WATCH THIS SPACE!
lowergate said
LANCASHIRE’S SACRED LANDSCAPE: FROM PREHISTORY TO THE VIKING AGE
EDITED BY LINDA SEVER
A HISTORY PRESS PUBLICATION
CONTAINS:
- THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE GAZETTEER OF PREHISTORIC SITES IN LANCASHIRE TO DATE, INCLUDING DETAILS OF ACCESS
- A DETAILED LISTING OF PRE-CHRISTIAN PLACE-NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS;
- INFORMATION OF ANGLO-SAXON AND VIKING AGE STONE SCULPTURE AND THEIR LOCATIONS;
- A TOUR AROUND THE FAIRY AND BOGGART SITES OF THE COUNTY.
CONTENTS:
Chapter 1 – Lancashire’s Prehistoric Past and Gazetteer of Prehistoric Sites – John Lamb
Chapter 2 – Place Names and the Sacred in the Lancashire Landscape – Sara Vernon
Chapter 3 – Ribchester (Roman Bremetenacum Veteranorum): Place of the Roaring Water – Nick Ford
Chapter 4 – Fairy and boggart sites in Lancashire – Aidan Turner-Bishop
Chapter 5 – Churches On the Landscape: Parish Boundaries and Early Church Sites as Evidence of Continuity
– Listing of Stone Sculpture sites in South East Lancashire/Greater Manchester – Linda Sever
Chapter 6 – Wilfrid’s Lands? The Lune Valley in Its Anglian Context: Anglo- Saxon Crosses in the Lune Valley – Dr Felicity Clark
Chapter 7 – Sacred and Profane: Contextualising Mixed Messages on the Urswick Cross: Norse Mythology and Christian Iconography – Heather Rawlin-Cushing
Chapter 8 – Norse Myths Written in Stone: Norse Mythology Carvings in Lancashire and Cumbria – Derek Berryman
To register interest in the book email: sales@thehistorypress.co.uk
For further information email Linda Sever at: lsever@uclan.ac.uk
PUBLICATION DATE: 2009
lowergate said
Wigan to Ribchester Roman road
Today I found a standing stone on a line between Causeway Farm, Riley Green & Causway Farm at Mellor Brook. The stone stands 5ft AGL and is NOT a gatepost or cattle ‘rubbing stone’ . On one face (much worn) is a boss with arms radiating from it like a cross. It is 1 forearm wide and a hand’s deep. I have looked on the OS maps back to 1850 & find no field or other division there.
The stone stands above Alum Scar & below Close Farm at SD 633 279.
SEE: LANCASHIRE ROMAN ROADS site for more details.