“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.”
— Albert Einstein
The Northern Antiquarian (TNA) is an amateur educational group which engages people of all social backgrounds on the rich diversity of prehistoric and early Christian remains in the British Isles, from Mesolithic times (c.7000 BC) until the coming of the written word in the Dark Ages (5th -15th century).
TNA was founded by author and prehistorian Paul Bennett in 2008, and was established to encourage the study of our ancient history as a rewarding leisure pursuit and an academic discipline, for both individuals and groups. TNA is a platform where amateurs and professionals can meet and work together, exploring enigmatic monuments such as stone circles, standing stones, prehistoric tombs and other ancient remains that were constructed long before records began, in an age when our ancestors learned through oral tradition – much of which has died out.
Our key activities include:
- Expanding an on-line database of ancient sites, highlighting primarily their archaeology, folklore and ethnological traditions
- Providing educational field tours of standing stones and ancient landscapes
- Delivering workshops and talks on sites of archaeological and cultural importance
- Supporting the publication of information, academic research and education packs
- Campaigning to preserve ancient sites and their environments
In these ever-changing times, TNA believes that it is important to preserve our ancient heritage for future generations, and to work with organizations around the world to find out how our little piece of history links in with other ancient monuments and cultures across the globe.
The Northern Antiquarian 