UK archaeologyThe latest news and views relating to archaeology across the United Kingdom, provided by the Council for British Archaeology.National Trust plans for 2004 unveiled- February 13, 2004 Fiona Reynolds, the National Trust's Director-General, has highlighted the enormous range of innovative cultural and natural heritage projects opening to the public during 2004. "There are literally hundreds of areas in which the Trust is embarking on ambitious projects that will benefit people at all levels and that build on unprecedented levels of public support" she said. "It is a pity that the Government seems reluctant to take a lead in celebrating the contribution a thriving heritage...http://www.britarch.ac.uk/archaeoblog/2004_02_08_archive.html#107671153796341371 Views on the Stonehenge roads proposals- February 13, 2004 "English Heritage supports the Highways Agency's proposal for the A303 at Stonehenge, which will bring a number of major benefits to the Stonehenge World Heritage Site (WHS) by removing the roads and traffic from the immediate vicinity of the Stone Circle. This will improve the visitor experience as well as achieving major objectives of the WHS management plan. The route of the new road and its associated structures have been deliberately planned to minimise archaeological disturbance. We are...http://www.britarch.ac.uk/archaeoblog/2004_02_08_archive.html#107671107874164888 Rare medieval silver ring declared Treasure- February 13, 2004 A 13th or early 14th century silver ring, faceted to form 16 concave panels each containing a single letter of the inscription Ave Maria Gracia V - Hail Mary (full of) Grace - a religious inscription commonly found on medieval rings, which was found with the aid of a metal detector on the Isle of Wight has been declared to be Treasure by the local Coroner.http://www.britarch.ac.uk/archaeoblog/2004_02_08_archive.html#107671080551708324 The Amesbury Archer was a settler from the Alps- February 13, 2004 The man who may have helped organise the building of Stonehenge was a settler from continental Europe. The latest tests on the Amesbury Archer show he was originally from the Alps region, probably Switzerland, Austria or Germany. The tests also show that the gold hair tresses found in the grave are the earliest gold objects found in Britain. The grave of the Archer, who lived around 2,300BC, contained about 100 items, more than ten times as many objects as any other burial site from this time.http://www.britarch.ac.uk/archaeoblog/2004_02_08_archive.html#107671048513418484 Roman water mains still flowing- February 13, 2004 Archaeologists on a Roman fort dig at Vindolanda in Northumberland have unearthed 30 yards of wooden mains which fed the fort with water from nearby springs. Amazingly, the mains were still working and carrying water - almost 2,000 years after they were first installed. "The fact that they were still working is quite incredible but it was also a nuisance because they flooded the excavation trenches which had to be pumped out every day," said Robin Birley, director of excavations at Vindolanda...http://www.britarch.ac.uk/archaeoblog/2004_02_08_archive.html#107671028137646410 |