This year's excavation report / talk for the enlightenment of the locals is at Moylegrove on 18th Sept. That will probably mark the end of the 2013 dig. Apparently they are still "in search
of the quarries and sites that may be the start of the longest journey
for megaliths anywhere in prehistoric Europe." Do I read into all of that a slight admission that they haven't yet found them.....? If they had, I suspect that we would long since have had lots of radiocarbon dates in the public domain, as well as a series of spectacular press revelations.
Activity details
Venue: Moylegrove Old School Hall, Moylegrove
Activity: Mike Parker Pearson: Rhosyfelin and the Stonehenge bluestones
When: One-off event 19:30 - 22:00 on 18th Sept 2013
Details
How did the bluestone megaliths of Stonehenge get to Salisbury Plain? Were they moved from the Preseli Hills by human agency or by a glacier?
Professor Mike Parker Pearson, an archaeologist from University College London, is leading a collaborative project involving universities from across the UK in looking at the connection between Preseli and Stonehenge. Their work brings them back this year in search of the quarries and sites that may be the start of the longest journey for megaliths anywhere in prehistoric Europe.
I see Mike is leading a "collaborative" project "involving universities". But how inter-disciplinary across subjects is the project these days?
ReplyDeleteAre they still the equivalent of early 19th Century Antiquarians with labourers from their own estates, all ignoring the new science of Geology in preference to an obsequious, overly - literal, Bible - based, 4004 B.C. origin of the Earth approach?
A plea for Geomorphology and Glaciology to be taken properly seriously and on an equal footing to those disciplines they are already using. Otherwise, why DO we have Universities in the Twenty-First Century?
Myself, I blame the Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
ReplyDeleteBeing opposite F and Ms or is it Harrods? distorts the view. Cream teas to die for!!
M
here's the latest EH Spin
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/sep/08/stonehenge-ice-age-solstice-axis
Fails to say it's only on a small part of the avenue and dismisses everything but MPP's pet theories.
PeteG
Too much cholesterol from Devonshire cream teas in the arteries may also affect the flow of blood to the brain, and may be over-stimulating the more imaginative zones as well as those responsible for deep sleep and dreams. I sense a nighmtare or too in store at the end of the Wild Goose Chase [see discussion below Monet illustation Post on this Blog, autumn 2012]
ReplyDeleteI see the Society of Antiquaries has recently celebrated its tercentenary, then, Myris of Alexandia FSA. Any gems to impart from that august body? How are they finding life in the 21st Century with all its challenges e.g. Glaciology?
ReplyDeleteI have just noticed to my astonishment that the Moylegrove Advance Notice includes the question "Were they [the bluestones] moved from the Preseli hills by human agency or by a glacier?"
I suppose that's something, but I shan't be holding my breath...........
Here's an interesting book title.
ReplyDelete"Building the Great Stone Circles of the North", edited by Colin Richards. Windgather Books, Nov 2013.
Available via Oxbow Books, Oxford at the knock-down price of £32.
The blurb I have says....."the volume looks in detail at the context of the circles and cairns from Orkney and the Outer Hebrides - from QUARRYING THE RAW MATERIAL to their symbolic role within the landscape........"
Colin, of course, is MPP's main man when it comes to promoting the notion of quarries in Preseli as well as N Scotland, the two having worked in tandem up there as well for many years.
Now we're back to Quarries and Wild Geese Hunts.....
Are you listening, Our Man in Scotland, George Cur?
Thanks Tony -- useful info. I don't propose to shell out that vast sum of money, so will have to go on what others report. But in the author's defence I suppose that the term "quarrying" could also refer to the process of picking up erratics from one spot and putting them up nearby. There -- isn't that generous of me?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the event is now advertised as "fully booked". I had not understood that I needed to book and I hope somebody is going who can make a report.
ReplyDeleteChris
Chris and anybody else -- the talk has not been advertised very effectively. The event is free, but because the hall is very small there is a limitation on space. They are taking "bookings" for seats -- contact Alan Wills as follows:
ReplyDeleteAlan Wills
and ask him to reserve a seat. 110 are booked in so far -- I imagine many of those will be volunteer diggers!!
Another update -- the event is not free -- they are charging £3 per head. And it looks as if there are now no seats left......
ReplyDeleteWhere did Alan's Email address go to? Here it is again...
ReplyDeleteAlan.Wills@microsoft.com