ThechamberedtombatBrynCelliDdu.PhotographbyBob · tomb complex at Knowth. It is sub-D-shaped and measures at least 100m north-south by 110m east-west, and possibly extends beyond

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At Erw Wen and Moel Goedog, we saw a number ofBronze Age ring cairns. One of the monuments atMoel Goedog has been excavated, and yieldedcremated bone, charcoal and pottery; the inclusionof foreign soil in one cremation deposit suggests thatit had been burnt elsewhere and brought here,possibly as a votive offering. These features all lie ona route marked by standing stones that linkedtogether settlements comprising cairns, field systemsand roundhouses.

Our last site for the day was the Early Bronze Agecairn circle at Bryn Cader Faner. Upon reaching thecairn it was clear that it held a commanding view ofthe overall landscape. It was situated on a false crestso that on-lookers from the other side would nothave been able to view the cairn. However, from thetop the views were outstanding. The cairn also hasan interesting recent history. It was used as targetpractice by the British Army in the Second WorldWar. Luckily, however, the damage caused by theseactivities seems to have been minimal and the cairnhas been restored.

The final day of the tour focused on the north coastand started off with a guided tour by John Ll.Williams to Graiglwyd Neolithic axe outcrop andassociated quarry. Here, we saw a small trenchexcavated by Williams which yielded a Neolithicaxe. Williams also showed the students some fineexamples of other polished Neolithic stone axesfrom the local area. We then made our penultimatewalk to rendezvous with Francis Lynch whointroduced us to the archaeology of the headland ofPenmaenmawr. Sites visited included a number ofring cairns and an impressive cairn circle known asthe Druid’s Circle. This monument has beenexcavated, and the artefacts unearthed includepottery, bronze, flint and stone. A primary cistcontaining a cremation was situated in the centre ofthe circle and a number of secondary cremationswere also found. One of the orthostats displayedsigns of possible stone sanding and polishing.

Our final site visit was to the Great Orme BronzeAge copper mines. Several seasons of excavationhave taken place here since their discovery in 1967,and these have demonstrated that the oldest part ofthe mines date to c. 2000 BC. It has also been shownthat beach pebbles and worked bone - both found inlarge quantities in the mines - were used to extractthe copper ore.

We were fortunate that the sun shone for themajority of the tour. The students all got on verywell and a great deal was learnt from one another; inaddition, everyone we met was particularlywelcoming and hospitable.

AcknowledgementsFirstly, the authors would like to thank Dr BobJohnston and Dr Bob Bewley for organising a greatweekend and furthermore Frances Lynch, John Ll.Williams and John Roberts, the Snowdonia NationalPark archaeologist, for their remarkable knowledgeand tours of the sites. Secondly, a big thank you goesto the students who participated for their enthusiasmand interest throughout the weekend.

Harry Robson, University of Bradford and ResearchAssistant, University of York; James Sugrue,University of Bournemouth

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The authors, Harry (left) and Jim (right). Photograph by BobBewley.

The chambered tomb at Bryn Celli Ddu. Photograph by BobBewley.

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The goal of this project was a preliminaryarchaeological examination of the indigenousterritory Rio Negro Ocaia, inhabited by theAmazonian group known as Pacaas Novos, or Wari’as they call themselves, in the state of Rondônia,western Brazil. This group is now widely known inanthropological works as the best documented caseof both endo- and exo-cannibalism thanks to thework of anthropologists Aparecida Vilaça (MuseuNacional, Rio de Janeiro) and Beth Conklin(Vanderbilt University). The current project wasundertaken in collaboration with Aparecida Vilaçaas the principal investigator on the FUNAI(Fundação Nacional do Índio)-supported project forredefining the current boundaries of the indigenousterritory Pacaas Novos. This was deemed an idealopportunity to examine the archaeological potentialof this region by collecting information aboutabandoned sites and collecting surface materialwhere available in order to determine potential forfuture work.

Archaeologically, this territory has remainedcompletely unexplored. Although there has recentlybeen extensive archaeological work in the centraland southern areas of the Amazon Basin, the westernfringes of Amazonia remain practically untouchedarchaeologically. Despite previous reluctance to

recognize the possibility of significant time depths inthe occupation of the Amazon Basin, several recentprojects have shown respectable chronologicaldepths for human occupation across this vastterritory. Areas known as terra preta de índio (Indianblack soil) provide records of human habitation insuch spots for the past several thousand years. Thistype of soil is a probable consequence of subsistenceintensification in the occupation of particular localesdating to around 450 BC to AD 950. There is a needto expand this work into other areas of the AmazonBasin for which there is presently very littleinformation about human habitation and no firmchronological anchoring. The only archaeologicalwork that treats the region of Rondônia (238,512.8m2) in more detail was undertaken by Enrico T.Miller, who collected data on archaeological remainsin this Brazilian state back in the 1970s and 1980sfor the purpose of his Masters thesis.

NUMBER 62 July 2009

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PREHISTORIC SOCIETY Registered Office University College London, Institute of Archaeology, 31–34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY

http://www.prehistoricsociety.org/

The copy date for PAST 63 is 1 October 2009. Contributions to Joanna Brück, School of Archaeology, NewmanBuilding, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Email: [email protected] Contributions on disc oras e-mail attachments are preferred (either word 6 or rtf files) but hardcopy is also accepted. Illustrations can be sentas drawings, slides, prints, tif or jpeg files. The book reviews editor is Dr Mike Allen, Wessex Archaeology, PortwayHouse, Old Sarum Park, Salisbury, Wilts, SP4 6EB. Email: [email protected] Queries over subscriptions and

membership should go to the Society administrator Tessa Machling at the London address above.

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The group of Wari’ hunters who led us to the abandoned site of Kit;between them lies one of the test pits previously excavated by Maria

Dulce Gaspar (photo: D. Borić).


We know very little about human habitations andtheir antiquity in the river valley of the Rio PacaásNovos, a tributary of the Mamoré river. The rivervalley is characterized by typical Amazonian várzea(floodplain) soils and elevated terra firme (non-floodplain) soils that commonly house humansettlements across Amazonia. No terra preta soils,which characterize areas where one finds traces ofhuman occupation across the rest of the AmazonBasin, are found in this region. Although the siteswith terra preta soils are considered to be the mostfertile and organic-rich lands in the Amazon Basin,soils and human-affected plant communities foundat some of the abandoned sites in the studied region(e.g. the site of Kit, see below) indicate very fertilegrounds of visibly-altered soils. The lack of sites onterra preta soils in this region could perhaps be dueeither to the different pedological andgeomorphological character of this particular area orto differences in the intensity of human occupationin the past. Further, more extensive archaeologicalwork could potentially contribute to solving thisimportant question. In the north, this drainage basin is bordered by the Serra dos Pacaas Novosmountain chain. This area is characterized byfeatures such as waterfalls, caves and rockshelters.Future archaeological work in this region may find well-preserved traces of human habitations,which might be of substantial antiquity, in some ofthe caves and rockshelters.

One of the sites examined in February 2008 is alsopromising for future archaeological work. The localeis known as Kit (‘knife’ in the Wari’ language; 11°00’ 23” S, 064° 26’ 06” W, c. 213 m a.s.l), andpreliminary archaeological test trenches have beenexcavated at the site by Maria Dulce Gaspar (MuseuNacional, Rio de Janeiro). This site was animportant settlement of the Wari’ inhabitants of theregion. After the contact period, imported diseaseswiped out its inhabitants while the remainingpopulation moved to various sites within the currentterritory of the reservation. Yet, the site featuresprominently in Wari’ mythology and has been

recognized as the only stone outcrop in the widerregion from which raw material for stone axes wascollected in the pre-contact period.

Charcoal found in a test pit at this site provided aradiocarbon date of 2430±70 BP (c. 766 to 397 cal.BC at 95 per cent probability; Beta Lab). Thisindicates significant prehistoric depths present at thislocation. The use of stone axes for forest clearance inAmazonia is directly related to the adoption ofagriculture. In February 2008, our team revisited thesite of Kit to assess logistical aspects of developing afield project that would further examine theantiquity of this important locale. Pottery and stoneaxes were lying all over the surface of this large sitewhose fertile soil enables the growth of wild cacao.Surface material was collected and analysed at thisand a number of other abandoned sites, providingenough background information for thedevelopment of a larger field project in this region,which is the next step in our research agenda.

Dušan Borić, Dept. of Archaeology, University ofCambridge

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IntroductionA dramatic new discovery has come to light duringrecent ongoing geophysical investigations of lithicscatter sites in the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Sitein County Meath, Ireland. The Rossnaree enclosureis in a very significant location on the southern bankof the River Boyne in the corner of the river at thewestern end of the well-known ‘Bend of the Boyne’.The site is located on the edge of the first gravelterrace above the river floodplain and is directlyopposite, and indeed is overlooked by, the passagetomb complex at Knowth. It is sub-D-shaped andmeasures at least 100m north-south by 110m east-west, and possibly extends beyond the area ofsurvey. A Neolithic date is suggested for thisenclosure on the basis of the associated lithic scatterevidence although its complexity points to activityover a prolonged period.

BackgroundIn the present project, previously mapped lithicscatters combined with topographic andreconnaissance geophysical survey are being used todefine areas for targeted follow-up using moredetailed geophysical methods. This additionalgeophysical data, where it exists, represents animportant additional strand of information greatlyassisting and facilitating more detailed interpretation

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A stone axe found lying on the surface along with pottery fragmentsat the site of Kit (photo: D. Borić).


of the activities represented by the lithic scatters.Additionally, it opens up a new dimension to ourunderstanding of settlement and landuse in Brú naBóinne during prehistory.

The survey was carried out in a field where asubstantial well-defined lithic scatter had beencollected. The retouched material in this assemblagewas broadly indicative of a Neolithic date. Like anumber of other scatters recorded in the Brú naBóinne area, the scatter is focused on a low stonyknoll rising approximately 1.5m above the level ofthe surrounding field surface. The soil in the area ofthe knoll is significantly darker in appearancecompared to that of the rest of the field. Additionalfinds were recovered from the field surface duringthe course of the magnetic gradiometry survey andincluded a porcellanite axe and a possible humantooth indicating a possible funerary element to theactivities carried out at this location. Quantities ofanimal bone were also noted on the surface of thefield especially in the area of the knoll.

A reconnaissance magnetic susceptibility andtopographic survey on a 10m x 10m grid werecarried out over the northern half of the field,completely covering the area of the scatter.

Significantly enhanced magnetic susceptibility valueswere recorded in the area of the lithic scatter and the knoll. This area seems to correspond well withthe area of blacker soil mentioned above and may be due to high levels of charcoal that have becomeincorporated into the ploughsoil. The topographicsurvey further defined the nature of the knoll and revealed that it is separated from the rest of thefield by a natural ‘gully’-like depression trendingfrom the northwest towards the southeast, furtherdefining this area.

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Site location in relation to River Boyne, Knowth and Newgrange (Google Earth)

Lithics distribution


The 2008 geophysical surveyThe recent geophysical survey primarily involvedmagnetic gradiometry covering approximately 2haof ground along with more limited coverage earthresistance over a 60m x 40m panel, electricalresistance tomography along one 90m long radialtransect and ground penetrating radar surveys oversix 90m long radial transects. The magneticgradiometry and earth resistance surveys providetwo dimensional data while the electrical resistancetomography and ground penetrating radar provide a3-D element through depth or sectional information.The magnetic gradiometry revealed a complex seriesof features the most substantial of which was a set ofthree or possibly four roughly concentric ditches.

Ditch 1 has a radius of approximately 110m andwhile the signature is strong for most of its length, itis weaker and almost disappears at its northern end.The northern edge of the field (north edge of survey)lies within 3m of a distinct break in slope separatingthe field surface from the level of the riverfloodplain. It would thus seem that this is close tothe original terminus of the ditch althoughindications from the recent LiDAR surveycommissioned by Meath County Council and theHeritage Council in partnership with the DiscoveryProgramme suggests that there are low banksrunning at right angles down the face of this slopesome of which may be associated with the enclosure.The line of Ditch 1 is not completely curvilinear as

there are slight ‘kinks’ at intervals, perhapsindicating that segments of the ditch were initiallydug separately and later joined. The line of this ditchcontinues beyond the area of the survey in thesoutheast corner and continues into the adjacentfield to the east.

Ditch 2 has a broader magnetic signature in placesand appears to be cut or joined to by other features.Ditch 3 has a sharper curve and is very distinct overmuch of its course. Ditches 2 and 3 appear to followthe topography of the site and maintain a clear focuson the knoll. The response of Ditch 4 (if indeed it is aditch) is intermittent in nature as it is cut and obscuredby a number of other features. At the eastern end, thisfeature may continue as a section of linear wallingrunning south-southwest-north-northeast.

Other features in the data include a series of linearfeatures at the southeast side of the survey area. Theeasternmost of these features intersects the easternfield boundary (east edge of survey area) betweenDitches 1 and 2 and runs in a north-northwestdirection and possibly continues to intersect with thenorthern field boundary (north edge of survey area).The nature of the magnetic signature changes along its length: the southern section may be a ditch and the northern section may be a wall. There is a small D-shaped ditched enclosure c. 18m x 11m overlyingDitch 2 at its northern end. There is a short linearsection of ditch connecting Ditches 2 and 3 on the

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Magnetic gradiometry plot


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southwest side with a possible gap in its centre. Thereis a large ovoid enclosure focused on the knoll andmeasuring c. 45m x 30m. The southwest side of this enclosure is contiguous with Ditch 3 and there is also a possible entrance gap on this side. This smallenclosure intersects Ditch 4. Within this enclosure,there are a number of features including a short linear ditch running northeast-southwest which cuts Ditch 4, and a possible ditched circular feature8m in diameter.

The earth resistance survey was located on the top ofthe knoll and examined Ditches 2, 3 and 4. The surveybroadly complemented the magnetic gradiometersurvey identifying and clarifying some of the featuresoutlined above. An additional feature identified was apossible rectangular platform-like area measuring c.22m x 13m and orientated west-southwest-east-southeast which was located over Ditch 3.

ConclusionNo similar site is currently known within the Brú naBóinne area, and assuming a possible Neolithic datefor the site, there are no exact parallels for this siteelsewhere in Ireland. Initial possibilities includeDonegore Hill and Lyle’s Hill, County Antrim, but thesite partially excavated at Thornhill, County Derry,may be a better comparison, especially in terms of itslandscape setting. Work on processing the electricalresistance tomography and ground penetrating radardata is ongoing and may reveal further significantdetail. Completion of the geophysical survey toestablish the full extent of the site, and further moredetailed geophysical survey followed by excavation,would help to confirm the date of the site andunderstand the nature of the activities represented bythe lithics and these features.

The discovery of this site clearly demonstrates thecontinuing importance of surface collection surveyas a large-scale prospection technique. It is clear thata multi-technique approach with scope for flexibilityin the design of the field methodology wherebyinvestigations can be tailored to specific fieldconditions is the approach that is most likely toproduce the best results, even in landscapes where itis assumed that intensive agriculture has destroyedmuch archaeological evidence.

AcknowledgementsThis work was generously funded by a HeritageCouncil Archaeology Grant. Access to the LiDARimage was courtesy of Meath County Council andthe Heritage Council. Special thanks to thelandowner, Aisling Law.

Conor Brady, Dundalk Institute of Technology(email [email protected]); Kevin Barton,Landscape & Geophysical Services ([email protected])

CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEESS

From Volcanoes to Vineyards: Living with DynamicLandscapes Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon, 18-21 October 2009

This year’s meeting of the Geological Society ofAmerica will include sessions on geoarchaeology;thermoluminescent, optically stimulated luminescent,and ESR dating methods; and Holocene alluvialrecords, among others. Abstract deadline 11August; registration deadline 14 September. For further information seehttp://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/

Transformations or Continuities? UnderstandingBritain from 1600-1400 BC British Museum, London, 26 October 2009

Recent decades have seen the Early-Middle BronzeAge transition in Britain (c. 1600-1400 BC)characterised as a major period of change. However,with the partial exceptions of areas such as Wessex,there has been relatively little research actuallyconcentrating on the crucial centuries in question.This conference will therefore examine the extent towhich the period 1600-1400 BC can be understoodas a period of transformation for the communitiesliving throughout Britain. For further detailsconcerning speakers and registration (cost £10),email [email protected]

Mesolithic and Neolithic Cultures of EasternEurope: Interaction and ChronologySt.Petersburg, 23-25 November 2009

The Institute for the Material Culture History is gladto invite all interested scholars to attend thisconference to mark the hundredth anniversary of thebirth of Professor Nina N. Gurina (1909-1990), anoutstanding explorer of the Stone Age in the arcticand forest zones of Eastern Europe. Englishtranslations of the conference papers will beprovided, although the organizing committee cannotcover accommodation fees or travelling expenses.For further information, please contact Dr. Sergey A.Vasil’ev, Head, Paleolithic Department, Institute forthe Material Culture History, 18 Dvortsovaia emb.,191186 St.Petersburg, Russia; tel (812) 3121484;fax. (812) 5716271; e-mail: [email protected]


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IntroductionThe annual Quaternary Research Association (QRA)field meeting for 2009 - held jointly with thePrehistoric Society (PS) - took place from the 4-8April and was based at the University ofSouthampton. It was organised and led by RebeccaBriant (Birkbeck College), Martin Bates (Universityof Wales Lampeter), Robert Hosfield (University ofReading) and Francis Wenban-Smith (University ofSouthampton). The meeting examined theQuaternary of the Solent Basin and the West Sussexraised beaches, focusing on the Palaeolithicarchaeology and geology of the region.

Saturday 4 AprilOn the Saturday evening, the 40 or so participantsmet to register and collect their QRA field guides(the first colour edition) in the Junior CommonRoom of Highfield Hall, University of Southampton.The introductory evening talk, given by BeckyBriant, Ceri James (British Geological Survey),Martin Bates, Robert Hosfield and Francis Wenban-Smith, set the background scene for investigationsinto the Solent river system and the West Sussexcoastal plain, and laid out the broad plan for thedays ahead.

Sunday 5 AprilOur first site visit was Warblington, Hampshire,where Martin Bates discussed work conducted aspart of the Aggregates Levy-funded projectPalaeolithic Archaeology of the Sussex/HampshireCoastal Corridor (PASHCC). At Selsey, West Street,Martin Bates once again stepped up to discuss thehistorical and recent investigations focused on theWest Street Channel, Selsey foreshore, followed by aleisurely lunch on the beach. The group thentravelled to the National Trust reserve at SlindonPark where Mark Roberts and Matthew Pope, bothfrom the Institute of Archaeology, University CollegeLondon, met the group to discuss the archaeologicaland sedimentary records from Boxgrove (visitednext) and the National Trust reserve at Slindon.Roberts and Pope had opened five sections as part ofa QRA outreach programme, and for the QRA/PSvisit to the site, and one of these sections producedtwo bifaces knapped on beach pebbles (atypical inthe Boxgrove context). On arriving at the Boxgrovequarry site Q1/B, Roberts explained about theexcellent site management and preservation that wascurrently being conducted and allowed the groupaccess to a number of sections and artefacts from theoriginal excavations.

Monday 6 AprilMonday saw the group heading over to the Isle ofWight for the day. At Priory Bay, Francis Wenban-Smith led the discussions on the prolific artefact-bearing gravel deposits at the cliff top that haveproduced both abraded and fresh assemblages, theformer perhaps pre-Anglian, the latter now OSL-dated to MIS 10-9. After a pause for lunch, thegroup went onto the second site visit of the day atWatcombe Bottom, near Ventnor, where RichardPreece (University of Cambridge) led the discussionregarding the Holocene deposits found there (one ofthe last places in Britain where the Allerød soil can beobserved in an open section). The final site visit on theIsle of Wight was located at St George’s Down (aBardon Vectis quarry), where Peter Hopson andAndrew Farrant, both of the British Geological Survey(BGS), spoke of the ongoing work of the BGS toremap the Isle of Wight’s geology at the 1:10 000 scalehighlighting a number of interesting features whichmay have directly influenced the Solent’s course.

Tuesday 7 AprilThe first site visit of the day was to Barton-on-Sea,to view a cliff section of sands and gravels commonlyreferred to as the Old Milton Gravel. Becky Briantled the group discussion regarding the site,explaining the importance of the site to the westernSolent terrace sequence, and elaborated on datingwork conducted by the PASHCC project. The secondsite visit was to Lepe Country Park (a SSSI), whereone section had been opened up by Martin Bates. Atthis first section, supplementary guides (forming partof the QRA outreach programme at Lepe) detailedthe context of the Solent River as a whole, and thenmore specifically the sequence present at LepeCountry Park in relation to work conducted duringthe PASHCC project. The final site visit was toBadminston Farm Quarry to view the gravels present

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The dorsal face of a rare beach pebble handaxe found by MatthewPope at Slindon moments before the group arrived. Photographcourtesy of David Underhill, scale courtesy of Laura Basell.


there known as the Tom’s Down Gravel. BeckyBriant led the group in the discussion of the recentPASHCC project work carried out on the site,especially in relation to the OSL dating whichsuggests that the Tom’s Down Gravel was depositedbetween MIS 9-8.

Wednesday 8 AprilThe final day of the field meeting moved into therealm of the Holocene. Michael Grant (WessexArchaeology) and Keith Barber (University ofSouthampton) led a very interesting and informativefield trip. The first stop of the morning was to a sitecalled Cranes Moor situated within the New Forest,one of the largest mire systems in southern England.Along the way, the group explored a very interestingsection showing the presence of a podsol unusuallynear the surface, saw basking adders and RobHosfield found a Neolithic/Early Bronze Age scraper(any form of Neolithic evidence from the New Forestis exceptionally scarce). Michael Grant led thediscussion at Cranes Moor, an important site as itprovides one of the few stratigraphically completeprofiles covering the early to mid-Holocene. RichardPreece spoke up to thank the organizers of the fieldmeeting, applauding how well the meeting had beenrun. Preece also thanked the contributors and editorsof the field guide and the discussion leaders at eachsite. A special mention was made in regard to KeithBarber’s retirement. The group then went on to havelunch in Lyndhurst. The final site visit for both theday and the field meeting was to Mark Ash Woodwhere the group called upon two moors, ChurchMoor and Barrow Moor, which span the majority ofthe Holocene. Grant explained that based on theevidence from these moors, it is thought thatwoodland had been present within this part of theNew Forest continuously since the beginning of theearly Holocene.

Concluding remarksAll in all, the QRA/PS field meeting was a tremendoussuccess, with informative discussion and friendlydebate encountered at each site visited. This meetinghas certainly highlighted that there is still a hugeamount of work to be done concerning the SolentBasin, especially with regard to defining thestratigraphy of the Solent terraces. The field guideaccompanying the meeting offers an excellentgrounding in the current state of academic research inthis area, and an excellent point of reference indirecting future research. Particular thanks once againgo to the organisers and the participants for creatingsuch a well rounded and stimulating field meeting.

James Cole, PhD Research Student, British AcademyCentenary Research Project Lucy to Language: TheArchaeology of the Social Brain & Centre for theArchaeology of Human Origins, Archaeology,Avenue Campus, University of Southampton SO171BF

MMEEEETTIINNGGSS PPRROOGGRRAAMMMMEE22000099--22001100

The programme for next year’s lectures and meetingsis coming together. However, details for a number ofevents have yet to be finalised - these will be postedon our website, together with contact informationand booking forms as applicable, as soon as theybecome available. Booking forms will also beincluded in later editions of PAST.

We are planning some special events to mark our75th anniversary in 2010, a programme for whichwill be sent out with the next edition of PAST, butplease keep checking the website. If you would liketo be kept updated by email, please contact TessaMachling on [email protected] (see front page).

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The 9th Sara Champion Memorial Lecture:‘Fancy Objects in the British Iron Age: WhyDecorate?’ by Dr. Jody Joy (British Museum) (freeto members, £3 on the door for non-members)

The Bronze Age in the Thames ValleyFollowing on from last year’s very successfulmeeting on the Neolithic, this day conference willexplore themes and landscape of the Thames Valleyin the Bronze Age, based on the results of recentmajor programmes of fieldwork and analysis.

‘Introduction to the Moundbuilders’ by Pete ToppingA special lecture to introduce the subject of the2010 Study Tour (see below), open to all, whethercoming on the tour or not.

Wed 21 Oct5pm

Sat 6 Feb

Wed 24 Feb TBC

LectureVenue: Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, Piccadilly,London

Day conferenceVenue: Society of Antiquaries, Burlington House, Piccadilly,London

LectureVenue: London


In the planning stages:

Lectures:• Joint lecture with the Society of Antiquaries ofScotland - Prof. Rüdiger Krause (University ofFrankfurt) will speak on Fϋrstensitze

• Joint lecture with Cambridge Antiquarian Society• Joint lecture with the Devon ArchaeologicalSociety (venue: Exeter)

• Joint lecture with Norfolk & NorwichArchaeological Society (Sat 9 Jan)

• Joint lecture with Sussex Archaeological Society

Conferences:• Climate Change in Prehistory• Rethinking the Late Iron Age• Launching the English Heritage Research Strategyfor Prehistory

• Recent Investigations in the Stonehenge andAvebury World Heritage Site

Study Tours (for 2011):• Cornwall• Monmouth and the Gwent Levels

Plus a series of 75th anniversary events in 2010!

TTHHEE EEUURROOPPAA DDAAYYCCOONNFFEERREENNCCEE 22000099 --TTHHEEPPLLEEAASSUURREE OOFF FFIINNDDIINNGGTTHHIINNGGSS OOUUTT:: SSEEAARRCCHHIINNGGFFOORR TTHHEE MMEESSOOLLIITTHHIICC

On Saturday 30 May, Professor Peter Woodman,Emeritus Professor of Archaeology, UniversityCollege Cork, was presented with the PrehistoricSociety’s prestigious Europa Prize in the TempestAnderson Hall, York Museum. The Europa Prize ispresented to individuals in recognition of asubstantial contribution to the study of prehistory.

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The Creation of ‘Homes’ in the Earliest FarmingPeriod in EurasiaJoint Prehistoric Society/Durham UniversityThe conference aims to set the agenda for studies inthe emergence of agriculture, providing a socialcontext for recent innovative bioarchaeologicalresearch by linking the idea of sedentism and ‘homes’to the creation of houses, as well as notions of place,dwelling, land, boundaries, families, and belonging.

5th Student Study Tour - Ireland’s East CoastLed by Dr. Graeme Warren, UCD

The Wessex Culture - Revolution or Evolution?Joint Prehistoric Society/Bournemouth UniversityThe conference will consider the significance ofchanges in burial practice in southern Britain in the2nd millennium BC, when cremation replacedinhumation and new types of artefacts and barrowsappeared. Were these an ‘evolution’ of the Beakerphenomenon or a ‘revolution’ based on Continentalinfluences?

Europa Lecture by Prof. Pierre Petrequin (CNRS)There will be a fee for the conference but theEuropa Lecture will be free to members.

Prehistoric Landcapes - Real or Imagined?Lectures on Friday and Saturday followed by a fieldtrip on Sunday. For details please contact WayneBennett, Dillington House, Ilminster TA19 7DZ.Tel: 01460 52427, email:[email protected]

Moundbuilders TourAnother trip to the USA, following the successful2007 tour to the South-West. For more informationcontact Pete Topping ([email protected]) or Dave McOmish.

‘Budget’ study tourLed by Dr. Alex Lang

Sat 27 Feb

Fri 26-Sun 28March

Sat 17-Sun 18 AprTBC

Sat 8 May

Fri 14-Sun 16 May

Thu 17 June-Sat 3July TBC

July-August TBC

Day conferenceVenue: Durham University

Weekend study tour Venue: Dublin

Weekend conferenceVenue: BournemouthUniversity

Day Conference and EuropaLectureVenue: Cardiff

Weekend Study TourVenue: Dillington House,Ilminster

Overseas study tourVenue: American Mid-West

Weekend study tourVenue: Cotswolds


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This year’s recipient, Professor Woodman, retired in2006 after twenty three years as Professor ofArchaeology at UCC, during which his research andpublications had a major influence on ourunderstanding of the Mesolithic in northwestEurope. A precursor to the meeting took place theprevious day with the Mesolithic PhD forum‘Gathering Our Thoughts’. This took place in theKing’s Manor, University of York, and featuredpresentations by PhD students on various aspects oftheir research. The forum was well attended and it isvery encouraging to see the diversity and depth ofresearch currently being undertaken on theMesolithic period at PhD level.

The Europa conference began when, upon invitationfrom Clive Ruggles, the audience paid tribute in aminute’s silence to the memory of the late IanShepherd, whose support and encouragement havebeen instrumental in many Society initiatives.Following this, Mike Allen announced the launch ofthe new Prehistoric Society Research Papers series.The first of these volumes, From Bann Flakes toBushmills: papers in honour of Professor PeterWoodman, was presented to a very surprisedProfessor Woodman by Sinéad McCartan, NickyMilner and Caroline Wickham-Jones, volume editorsalong with Nyree Finlay. The editors deserve greatcredit for the depth and quality of the publicationand moreover for managing to keep it a secret fromProfessor Woodman!

The conference consisted of seven papers fromvarious invited specialists. Although thechronological focus of these was the Mesolithicperiod in various regions, some lectures coveredother topics such as late Pleistocene faunalassemblages and the transition to agriculture. Ratherfittingly, the range of lecture topics went some waytowards reflecting Professor Woodman’scontributions to our understandings of prehistoryboth within and beyond the Mesolithic period.

The first lecture, entitled ‘Dwelling sites, logisticsand social groups: on the structural relations in thewake of boats in the Scandinavian Early Holocene’,was delivered by Hein Bjerck of the Museum ofNatural History and Archaeology, NTNU,Trondheim, Norway. Hein’s focus in this lecture wasthe early Holocene of the fiord seascapes of coastalScandinavia. The lecture explored the role of boattechnologies in the creation of sites in these areasarguing that the boat, as a site itself, had a centralstructuring role in society, acting as the focus for themovement of materials and the social unit. Thearchaeological evidence presented was illuminatedwith ethnographic parallels from the Yamana peopleof Tierra Del Fuego. The second lecture of the day,‘Moving in and getting settled: the post-glacialcolonisation of Scotland’, was presented by CarolineWickham-Jones of the Department of Archaeology,University of Aberdeen. While acknowledging thegreat strides made in understanding the ScottishMesolithic in recent decades, Caroline focused onsome of the challenges facing the development offurther knowledge of the period. Key challengeshighlighted were the need to figure out the lateglacial archaeology of Scotland, to integratearchaeological and geomorphological informationand to better understand Scotland’s place with thecontext of Doggerland.

After coffee, Roger Jacobi of the British Museumand the Ancient Human Occupation of BritainProject presented his paper, entitled ‘England andWales: the lateglacial return of humans and animals’.Roger’s focus was the presentation andcontextualisation of data arising from the re-datingof faunal material from a number of lateglacial sitesin England and Wales such as Gough’s Cave, KingArthur’s Cave and Creswell Crags. This work hascreated tightly modelled date ranges for theoccupation of these sites in the lateglacial period andprovides an important baseline for future work.

After lunch, Rick Schulting of the Department ofArchaeology, University of Oxford, delivered hislecture, ‘A local place for local people: stable isotopeevidence for regionality in the Mesolithic of AtlanticEurope’. This paper explored the stable isotopevalues of human remains from a number of countriesin Atlantic Europe attempting to create Mesolithicregionalities beyond the broad scale of thosenormally identified through material culture studies.The results of this isotope work, whilst suggestingexciting avenues for future research, alsodemonstrate some key challenges in how best tointegrate diverse data sets for the Mesolithic period.Next, Alison Sheridan of the National Museums ofScotland presented her paper, entitled ‘La vache quine rit pas: Irish Neolithic beginnings and theFerriter’s Cove conundrum’. Alison examined theFerriter’s Cove Late Mesolithic faunal remains

The Europa 2009 speakers, left to right: Hein Bjerck, Roger Jacobi,Doug Price, Alison Sheridan, Peter Woodman, Caroline Wickham-

Jones, Rick Schulting and Alan Saville (chair)


within the context of the Neolithisation of Irelandand Britain. She argued for a Breton source for thisNeolithisation and demonstrated some of the keydating issues with regard to the Ferriter’s Covefaunal material. The final paper of the day before theEuropa lecture, delivered by Doug Price of UW-Madison and the University of Aberdeen, wasentitled ‘The Mesolithic-Neolithic transition seenfrom southern Scandinavia’. Doug examined thetransition to agriculture in this key area with acrucial focus on dating issues. The presentationfinished with a selection of photos looking at PeterWoodman’s life in archaeology and beyond,including his first excavation, and proved a fantasticend to the invited lectures portion of the day.

Professor Woodman’s Europa lecture, entitled ‘Thepleasure of finding things out: living with the IrishMesolithic for fifty years’, examined a number ofaspects of the Irish Mesolithic, from the developmentof Irish Mesolithic studies to the current state ofknowledge and future challenges. The lectureprovided a timely reminder of the diverse range ofarchaeological data there are to investigate theMesolithic period. Essentially the lecture, and indeedthe Europa conference as a whole, provided anexcellent snapshot of much that has been achieved inMesolithic studies in recent decades and indeed ofthe challenges and possibilities in movingunderstandings forward.

Emmett O’Keeffe, Ad Astra Research Scholar,School of Archaeology, University College Dublin

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Please look closely at the top right hand corner ofyour copy of PAST. Do you have a coloured star? Ifso, then you are NOT up-to-date with yoursubscription for the current year. If you have notpaid the FULL amount at one of the following rates,then your subscription will be invalid and you willnot be sent PPS when it is published. Rates for 2009are as follows: £35 ordinary members; £25 retiredwith PPS; £17.50 student members; £12.50 retiredwithout PPS; and £50 for institutional members.Joint membership for any of the above (not includinginstitutional membership) is £5.

If you are in any doubt about the status of yoursubscription, please contact our administrator TessaMachling at the address below, or by email [email protected]. Cheques should be madepayable to ‘The Prehistoric Society’ and sent to: ThePrehistoric Society, Institute of Archaeology, 31-34Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PY. Many thanksfor your support!

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In the Late Neolithic, the Vinča culture encompasseda vast area from south Hungary up to the FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, including Serbia.The Vinča culture is renowned for its finely glazed pottery and anthropomorphic figurines of avery unusual and unnatural appearance. Most of the figurines have a bird-face or sketchily modelledhead with simplified features. Some of them,however, are very realistic with precisely modelledfacial details. These figurines are found in thesouthern part of the Vinča region, namely in Kosovoand particularly within the southern part of theJužna Morava basin. In most cases, only the heads of the figurines are preserved and that is the reasonwhy the accepted typology and chronology forNeolithic figurines is based only on figurine headfinds. These figurines are among the earliest realisticterracotta portraits in Europe.

Of the many figurine heads from this area, theportraits from the Gumnište site in Pavlovac,presented in this article, were chosen because theyportray realistic human features and emotions.Pavlovac is a small village on the bank of the SouthMorava river, 8km south of Vranje, in southeasternSerbia. The site is well known as a multilayerNeolithic settlement containing material from theMiddle Neolithic to the beginning of the Early

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The Europa Day incorporated the Society’s AGM, during whichHarry Fokkens (left) received the Bagueley award for 2008 from thePresident for his co-authored paper with Yvonne Achtercamp andMaikel Kuijpers, Bracers or Bracelets? About the Functionality and

Meaning of Bell Beaker Wrist-guards


Aeneolithic. The figurines are in the privatecollection of Dragoljub Janković, owner of the estatewhere the site is located, who found the heads on thesurface of the site while cultivating the soil. The firsthead is made of sand-tempered clay. It is elongated inform and has a pointed chin. Both cheeks andcheekbones are accentuated and the nose, with itspointed end, is proportionally formed with regard tothe head. The eyes are slanted with coffee-beanshaped eyelids. The right side of the mouth is slightlydamaged. The page-like hairstyle is modelled withhorizontally incised lines above the forehead andvertically incised lines on the temples. There is amoulded band ornamented with oblique incised linesaround the forehead. This may represent a long plait.The head is made of baked clay of a grey-browncolour with a polished surface. The height of thehead is 6.1cm and its width is 3.2cm.

The second anthropomorphic figurine head is alsomade of sand-tempered clay. The head is globular inshape with a thin neck of circular cross-section. Thenose is enlarged and has a pointed end. Thecheekbones are accentuated. The mouth is notshown and the eyes are represented by two narrowcrescent-shaped lines which give the face a smiling

expression. The chin is pointed and conspicuous likethe famous ‘masked’ figurine heads from Vinča. Thepage-like hairstyle is modelled with incised lines.There is a parting of the hair in the middle of thehead and a moulded band ornamented by obliquelines above the forehead, the ends of whichdisappear on the temples. The head is a reddish-brown colour with a semi-polished surface. The headis 4.4cm high and 3.4cm wide.

Judging from similar figurines from contemporarysites in neighbouring areas, those two figurinesbelong to the youngest layer of the Gumnište site.The figurines illustrate the climax of the artistic skillsof the Vinča epoch in southeastern Serbia. This wasa period of prosperity and developed socio-economiclife and was also the time when the settlement inPavlovac was at its largest. Many scholars in theregion assign this period to the Gradac phase of theVinča culture and date it to the middle of the fifthmillennium BC. According to copper finds from sitesof the period in east and south Serbia (such asBelovode near Petrovac and Pločnik near Niš), onecan assume that the population that lived in thesettlement in Pavlovac also used copper tools.

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At the end of the Gradac phase, new settlers enteredthe region probably under pressure from foreignpopulations coming from the north. That populationbrought along pottery of a completely differentstylistic and typological character as well asanthropomorphic figurines of an unnatural andstylized appearance. This period announced the endof the Neolithic era and the beginning of theAeneolithic age in the central Balkans.

Dr Aleksandar Bulatovič, Junior Researcher,Institute of Archaeology, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia; email [email protected]

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Members of the Society will be greatly saddened tohear of the death on 15 May of Ian Shepherd, doyenof local authority archaeologists in Scotland,unrivalled authority on the archaeology andarchitecture of northeast Scotland andinternationally respected Bronze Age specialist.

Born in Forres in Moray, Ian attended school inEdinburgh before going on to Edinburgh Universitywhere he initially read Scottish history beforechanging tack to study prehistoric archaeologyunder Professor Stuart Piggott. His 1973 MAdissertation on the V-perforated buttons of Britain

and Ireland showed him to be an exceptionallytalented student, and marked the beginning of alifelong interest in Bronze Age archaeology; anupdated version of that ground-breaking dissertationwill soon be published in the Society’s Proceedings.

Shortly after graduating, in 1975, Ian was appointedas Archaeologist for the newly-formed GrampianRegional Council - the first such post-holder inScotland. There, virtually from scratch, he effectivelyand enthusiastically set about the development of all the components of a local authorityarchaeological service for northeast Scotland. Hewas eventually Principal Archaeologist, managing asmall team of archaeologists located withinAberdeenshire Council but also overseeing culturalheritage matters for the neighbouring local authorityareas of Angus and Moray.

His important work inside the planning system andthe Council was complemented by numerous otheractivities - by programmes of aerial survey, by extra-mural and other lecturing, by fieldwork andexcavation (principally at the technically challengingsite of Sculptor’s Cave, Covesea, on the Moray coast)and by the production of a huge range of literatureranging from leaflets and guide-books to specialiststudies (particularly on Beakers and Bronze Age jetartefacts). Two of his regional surveys have beenrepublished: Aberdeen and North-East Scotland(1996) and Aberdeenshire: Donside and Strathbogie(2006). Both are quiet triumphs, like the unshowybuildings he so admired as an architectural historian.

Many archaeologists benefited from the support andadvice he was able to bring to their projects in theregion, notably Professor Richard Bradley in the

Photpgraph courtesy of Lekky Shepherd


course of his recent work on recumbent stone circlesand at Broomend of Crichie henge. Ian alsocontributed tirelessly and significantly to a diverseseries of cultural heritage initiatives in the northeast,ranging from Archaeolink Prehistory Park to theMuseum of Scottish Lighthouses.

He believed passionately in the importance ofScotland’s archaeology, playing a central role inleaving it in a much healthier state than in the 1970s.He was instrumental in developing networks forlocal authority archaeologists, and was first chair (to1993) of the Association of Regional and IslandsArchaeologists, now ALGAO Scotland.

Ian also had a long and distinguished history ofinvolvement with the Society of Antiquaries ofScotland, in particular serving as Chair of its North-East Section during the 1980s, as Editor of itsProceedings from 1983-90, and as a Vice-Presidentfrom 1995 to 1998. From 1999 until only a fewmonths before his death, he was Convenor of itsResearch Committee. In this capacity he was co-organiser and subsequently co-editor of theproceedings of the highly successful internationalconference Scotland in Ancient Europe, a majorreview of the country’s Neolithic and Earlier BronzeAge record which explored Scotland’s place in awider continental context.

That awareness of Scotland’s place in a Europeansetting was reinforced by Ian’s enthusiasticmembership of the Bronze Age Studies Group, andhe acted as its Secretary for many years. Throughthe contacts and friendships forged through themedium of the group, Ian was able to promote theprehistoric archaeology of Scotland to aninternational audience and conversely was able to apply the insights gained from its annual meetingsto his own research - for example, a memorable visit to the archaeologically rich cave system at Han in theBelgian Ardennes did much to inform hisinterpretation of the Sculptor’s Cave.

Apart from four seasons of excavation on the Beakersettlement at Rosinish in the Outer Hebrides, Ianspent his entire professional life in the northeast ofScotland. In a very real sense, then, the places thatare his monuments are blended into this heartland ofScotland, whose field archaeology, historic buildingsand landscapes he knew intimately and to which hewas devoted. His knowledge of the prehistory,history and personalities of the region wasencyclopaedic, but this was a knowledge lightlyborne and readily shared. In sum, Ian’s loss, at theage of only 58, is a great blow to Scotland’sarchaeology and architectural history - and farbeyond its borders, to the many friends andcolleagues across Europe who enjoyed his friendship,good humour and good sense.

He is survived by his mother, his wife Lekky, andtheir daughters Bryony and Sunniva.

Trevor Cowie and Ian Ralston

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A Cornish charity, the Sustainable Trust, has recentlyacquired 5 acres of farmland on the edge ofCamborne with the help of Heritage Lotteryfunding. On this land sits the collapsed remains ofCarwynnen Quoit. Carwynnen is one of Cornwall’slesser known Neolithic monuments, belonging to adistinctive regional tradition of impressive portaldolmens in southwestern Britain - the oldestupstanding archaeology in the region. The largestCornish concentration lies high on moorland in WestPenwith and includes sites such as Zennor Quoit,Chun Quoit and Mulfra Quoit.

Known also the Giant’s Grave as well as the Devil’sFrying Pan, Carwynnen has an interesting history. Itwas first noted by the Welsh antiquarian EdwardLhuyd on his travels in Cornwall around 1700.Early sketch plans of the site were later penned bythe Cornish antiquarian William Borlase in 1769and these showed a massive capstone supported bythree major uprights which formed an openchamber, very similar to Lanyon Quoit in Madron.At that time, the monument stood in rough ground.The quoit or cromlech is recorded as havingcollapsed around 1840 and was then re-erected bythe wife of landowner Edward Pendarves whoconverted the surrounding landscape into parklandleaving the monument standing in open groundwithin the Pendarves estate. The site is said to havecollapsed again during the mid 1960s - felled by alocal earth tremor! It has since lain as a pile of largestones in a field. The site lies at the head of asecluded valley today surrounded by bluebell woods.

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Caerywnnen Quoit, Camborne, erect in the mid 1930s (© CroftAndrew archive, English Heritage)


Close by is the majestic Copper Hill with largeinteresting boulders strewn across its lower slopesoverlooked by the remains of a prehistoric settlement(including roundhouses and fields) which now lies inan overgrown croft on the upper slopes of the hill.There are a number of old quarries in the immediatearea, and these may have provided a possible sourcefor the stones. Within the woods, a standing stonehas recently been identified.

Measured plans and elevations of Carywnnen Quoitwere undertaken by W. C. Lukis and W. C. Borlase(a relative of the William Borlase who recorded thesite in 1769) when they visited the site in August1879, and a number of photographs were taken inthe early decades of the twentieth century byamateur and professional photographers, includingthe Gibson brothers of Penzance. Alongside detailedand anecdotal descriptions made by other observersin the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, these willbe invaluable sources of information to help informthe Sustainable Trust’s plan to re-erect the stones.

The Sustainable Trust is currently fund-raising sothat their long-term plans for the re-erection of themonument and the creation of an open recreationand education space can be realised. Their plansinclude a full archaeological study includinggeophysical surveys and excavation as well as an oralhistory project collating more recent local memoriesand stories. This multi-stranded project will be thefirst full scientific study of a Neolithic funerarymonument in the county and promises to have greatpotential for increasing our understanding of thesevery ancient sites as well as posing some interestingcreative challenges. The project will be a partnershipof the Sustainable Trust with English Heritage, theCornwall Archaeological Society, the CornwallHeritage Trust, Historic Environment, CornwallCouncil and other local interest groups. For more information on the project contactwww.sustrust.co.uk.

Jacky Nowakowski, Ann Preston-Jones, Pip Richards Historic Environment, English Heritage, theSustainable Trust, Cornwall

NNEEWW MMOONNOOGGRRAAPPHH SSEERRIIEESSLLAAUUNNCCHHEEDD:: TTHHEEPPRREEHHIISSTTOORRIICC SSOOCCIIEETTYYRREESSEEAARRCCHH PPAAPPEERRSSAs reported previously, the Society has been workingon designing, developing and launching a new peer-reviewed monograph series to complement itsrespected Proceedings. The Research Papers willcontain collections of papers on major themes,reports on key landscapes and new examinations ofimportant aspects of prehistory. They will presentthe fruits of the best of prehistoric research,complementing the Proceedings by allowing broadertreatment of key research areas. They will be peer-reviewed and indexed to maintain the high academicstandards of the Society.

After three years of research and development by theSeries Editors, Mike Allen and David McOmish, theseries was launched on 30 May 2009 at the Society’sEuropa day conference, when the first book, afestshrift, was presented to Peter Woodman. It willbe followed by two more this year (currently inpress) and one next year. Cost has been carefullyconsidered, and through subvention from the Societyand in collaboration with our publishing partner,Oxbow Books, the first three volumes are publishedwith a cover price of £35, and offered to Societymembers at a 25% discount.

The seriesFrom Bann Flakes to Bushmills: papers in honour ofProfessor Peter WoodmanResearch Paper 1; edited by Nyree Finlay, SinéadMcCartan, Nicky Milner & Caroline Wickham-JonesPrice £35 (25% discount to Prehistoric Societymembers)224 pages, 94 b/w illustrations, 19 tables

This festschrift in celebration of Peter Woodman’scontribution to archaeology contains a series of 21significant papers largely, but not exclusively, onMesolithic studies in Ireland, Britain and northwestEurope. These reflect the range and breadth ofPeter’s own interests and the international esteem inwhich his work is held. Part 1 presents papers which deal with antiquarians and the material theycollected. Part 2 is concerned with fieldworkprojects, predominantly focusing on the Mesolithicperiod. Part 3 presents papers on the theme of peopleand animals, particularly the topic of the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition from different angles.

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The sorry state of Caerwynnen Quoit today (© Ann Preston-Jones)


In pressLand and People: papers in memory of John G.Evans Research Paper 2; edited by Michael J. Allen, NiallSharples & Terry O’ConnorPrice £35 (25% discount to Prehistoric Societymembers) - pre-publication offer to end of June £25;publication 3-5 September 2009240 pages, 99 b/w illustrations, 13 tables

Materialitas: working stone, carving identity Research Paper 3; edited by Blaze O’Connor, GabrielCooney & John ChapmanPrice £35 (25% discount to Prehistoric Societymembers) – pre-publication offer to end of June £25;publication Nov 2009208 pages, 93 b/w illustrations, 8 pages of colourillustrations

Forthcoming titleThe British Chalcolithic: people, place and polity inthe later third millennium BCResearch Paper 4; edited by Michael J. Allen, JulieGardiner, Alison Sheridan & David McOmishDue 2010

Bann Flakes can be ordered with the form in thisedition of PAST. Other volumes can be orderedusing downloadable forms on our website(www.prehistoricsociety.org) or via Oxbow Books(www.oxbowbooks.com).

Mike Allen, Series Editor

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The first Prehistoric Society student study tour to NorthWales took place this April and offered participants achance to visit an area of rich archaeological interestand to meet like-minded students.

Our first day took in sites on the island of Anglesey,including a number of impressive chambered tombs.These included the site at Barclodiad y Gawres,meaning ‘the giantess’s apronful’. This is the largestNeolithic tomb in Wales and its mound covers acruciform-shaped inner burial chamber. Theentrance to the tomb was via a long, narrow, stone-lined passage which led to a central ceremonial areaopening onto three separate burial chambers, alloriginally covered by large capstones. Five stoneswithin the interior of the tomb are decorated withincised zigzags, lozenges, chevrons and spirals.Upon excavation, two cremated male burials werefound in one chamber and within the central areathere was evidence of a fire used to cook what seemsto have been a stew consisting of wrasse, eel, frog,toad, grass-snake, mouse, shrew and hare.

Later that day, we visited Bryn Celli Ddu, where twophases of ceremonial activity have been identified.The first involved the construction of a henge withditch and stone circle dating to around 3000 BC; thesecond was the building of a chambered tombapproached by a passage and covered by a mound.The entrance to the tomb was flanked by large portalstones and the chamber comprised upright stoneslabs which supported two giant capstones.Unusually, a single rounded pillar is located insidethe chamber itself. The mound covering the tombwas edged with 14 kerbstones set within the ditch ofthe earlier henge. The forecourt around the entranceseems to have provided a focus for ritual. It wasexcavated in 1928 and produced quartz pebbles andhearths as well as an ox burial.

The following day, we visited sites in Merioneth. AtDyffryn Ardudwy, we met with our wonderfullyenthusiastic guide for the day, Frances Lynch.Dyffryn Ardudwy is a Neolithic chambered tombcomprising a multi-phased cairn that originallycovered two portal dolmens (one of which BobBewley had great fun climbing in and out of!). Likemany of the other chambered tombs we visited, itspositioning on the slope of a hill gave it fantasticviews over the landscape. Interestingly, however, theentrances faced upslope in the opposite direction.

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Documents

ThechamberedtombatBrynCelliDdu.PhotographbyBob · tomb complex at Knowth. It is sub-D-shaped and measures at least 100m north-south by 110m east-west, and possibly extends beyond