Young archaeologists discover new sites in Cornwall
A group of young people on an archaeological holiday in Cornwall (England) with the Young Archaeologists' Club (YAC) have discovered two previously unrecorded oblong, grave-shaped stone mounds on Minions Moor, part of Bodmin Moor. Since this discovery in June, experts have examined the sites, which could date back to the Bronze Age. Local archaeologists had no idea these stone cairns were there and are planning to undertake further research in November, when summer vegetation has died down.
As Holiday Leader Tony Blackman explained, "The group literally stumbled over these finds and were quick to assess their context within the ancient prehistoric landscape of this area." These are not the first Prehistoric monuments discovered by youngsters on a YAC holiday on Bodmin Moor. The Director of the Council for British Archaeology, George Lambrick said, "Young people are sharp-eyed and open-minded - key attributes for making interesting new discoveries."
Source: Young Archaeologists' Club Press Release (21 August 2003)
Ancient Welsh farm discovered
One of Wales' oldest farms dating back thousands of years is believed to have been discovered in a field in Ceredigion. Archaeologists were called in to investigate the site near Llandysul after workmen clearing farmland for a new Welsh Development Agency industrial estate noticed dark circles in the soil.
Cambria Archaeology workers then identified several large circular graves from the Bronze Age. And about 200 yards away they found the foundations of a farmyard wall which could have been built 5,000 years ago. The WDA suspended clearance work for five weeks to allow archaeologists to excavate the site and see if they can uncover any more finds.
"These finds are staggeringly exciting and of extraordinary importance," said Gwilym Hughes of Cambria Archaeological Trust, which is now two weeks into the dig. This farm is a missing link in the pre-history of west Wales. Although a number of hill forts date from this period, non-defended domestic settlements are extremely rare."
The remains of the burial mounds consist of three rings, each about 12 metres in diameter. They are typical of burial mounds of about 2,000 BCe where the cremated remains of the community's elders would have been buried. But according to Mr Hughes, the second excavation is even more exciting.
Within the pear-shaped stone enclosure are post-holes belonging to Bronze Age or early Iron Age huts. The settlement is big enough to have contained two or three houses. "Carbon dating should confirm that the burial mound dates to about 2,000 BCe," said Mr Hughes. This means the Bronze Age graveyard dates back to the time the Preseli Bluestones were raised at Stonehenge.
An extra 10 archaeologists have been taken on to find artefacts that will help to date the site accurately. They have already found a piece of pottery containing the remains of burnt hazelnut shells. "It is possible that the enclosure could date as far back as 3,000 BCe," said Mr Hughes. "But we need to find more pottery that has decoration so we can provide a more accurate date to the site." The results of the dig, including carbon dating tests, are expected to take two months to complete.
Source: BBC News (22 August 2003)
Important Bronze Age finds in Ulster
As bulldozers prepared the ground for the new £1.9m Mid-Ulster Sport Academy at Tullywiggan Road (Loughry, Northern Ireland), a team of archaeologists were delving deep into Mid-Ulster's past on the edge of the site. Mr Chapple, site director of excavations for Northern Archaeological Consultancy, said that the amount of material uncovered is 'phenomenal'.
There are two sites being investigated and Mr Chapple said he was hoping that one of these - to the north - could turn out to show evidence of a Bronze Age (2,000-1,500 BCe) house. The majority of the artefacts found in the latest dig were uncovered on the more southerly of the two drumlins being investigated.
Under what appeared to be the natural subsoil was a layer of charcoal-like material which was rich with flint and bone. "Throughout the Bronze Age they had different burial rites - three of them recorded within a couple of hundred yards of each other here." Mr Chapple said the three in the Loughry area are a megalithic tomb (found in the 1860s), a cist burial (excavated in 1941), and a barrow (4m wide, 1.5 metres deep with an internal diameter of 34m) which has been uncovered in the latest excavation.
"Barrows are usually a lot smaller, about 10-12m in diameter," said Mr Chapple. "This is at the very large end of the scale. In my experience it's almost unique, I have never seen anything this size, also in terms of the artefacts that come out of it, it's incredible. The site is incredibly significant for a number of reasons. It's not an isolated site, as we have three of the major types of Bronze Age burial all happening within a couple of hundred yards of each other which shows this is part of a vibrant Bronze Age culture."
"The very best of the material we have here is like this type of artefact called a scraper" added Mr Chapple. "But we have bagged and checked more than 2,400 artefacts with the majority of these coming from the barrow area." The artefacts include flint, bone and pieces of pottery. "My feeling is that there has to be some ritual significance to the deposition of this material," said Mr Chapple. "The pottery seems to have been smashed into the ground and in some places bones were put into an urn and smashed into the ground."
The majority of the bone pieces found by the archaeologists are tiny flecks. "Certainly some of the bones are human," said Mr Chapple. "Possibly some of it will turn out to be animal bone as well. We have a portion of animal teeth, specifically pig. This could be connected with feasting going on as part of the funeral ritual or this could be as an animal sacrifice on a pyre that goes to the afterlife with you. Somewhere is this vicinity a cremation pyre was set up," said the archaeologist, "Bone and charcoal was all swept up then brought here and deposited. The likelihood is that it built up over decades if not centuries."
While excited at the finds made already, Mr Chapple anxiously awaits to see what may turn up on the more northerly site. "Up on the other hill we have a small enclosure," he said. "That seems to be composed of two concentric circles that possibly are from another form of barrow or, what I’m hoping for, is they're part of a Bronze Age house. We won't know for quite some time." The archaeologist praised Cookstown District Council for its decision to leave the drumlins intact at Loughry. Council chief executive Michael McGuckin said some 'modest redesign' of the £1.9m scheme had been necessary to avoid upsetting the drumlins where the historical artefacts have been found.
Source: The Mid-Ulster Mail (22 August 2003)
