The March/April 2012 issue of British Archaeology is out now
Submitted by Andy B on Monday, 13 February 2012 Page Views: 2495
EnglandOn the cover: Mick Aston is leaving Time Team. He announces his “reluctant” decision in a letter to British Archaeology, and explains in more detail in an exclusive interview. What lies behind this development? How will it affect the future of one of the country’s longest running television documentary series? [More on this in our forum, and all over the tabloid press last week! - MegP Ed]Amongst other stories
STONE ROW FOUND AS WINDFARM GETS UNDER WAY
Objectors to a windfarm in south Wales believe they have identified a prehistoric monument that could stop construction. Archaeologist Sandy Gerrard says a line of small stones found after development of the Mynydd y Betws Windfarm began is comparable to ancient rows on Dartmoor. This would be a significant discovery in Wales, where such rows are relatively rare. Other archaeologists caution that the feature is undated. Excavation of the part at risk was taking place as we went to press [Again more details of this in our forum - MegP Ed]
MUST FARM AND BRADLEY FEN
If someone wished to champion development against archaeology, as councillor Alan Melton did last year in Cambridgeshire, he might have chosen a region without Fenland’s astonishingly rich heritage. Large scale archaeological excavation has been taking place at the Hanson brick pits near Peterborough for two decades. The breath-taking preservation is one reason why this is one of the great sites of prehistoric Britain. There are other reasons, too, as Mark Knight and Kerry Murrell explain. [More on the Bronze Age boats that were uncovered - MegP Ed]
HAM HILL
The prehistoric hillfort on Ham Hill, Somerset is the largest in Britain. A new quarry will open soon, bringing the opportunity for major excavation which began last year. The team behind it report on a project to waken the sleeping giant [At the risk of sounding repetitious, we have more on Ham Hill here]
STONEHENGE: NEW VISIONS
Artist Peter Dunn has been depicting the ancient Stonehenge landscape, or imagined parts of it, for much of his career. Working with archaeologists on illustrating the latest version of the monument’s history, he came up with his own ideas
A VALLEY OF DRY BONES
The British abolished the slave trade in 1807, yet in 1840 found it necessary to open a court on St Helena to try slavers. Andrew Pearson, who co-directed an excavation there, describes the moving record of some of those who never left this remote Atlantic island
LONDON AD43–2012: AT THE THREE TUNS HOLBORN VIADUCT
In the last issue we began a series about archaeology in London, with a feature that proposed the city was founded in AD43, the year of the Roman invasion. Between then and now, the history, culture and politics of London and the nation – even the world – have been reflected in the lives of the people who lived and worked there, and the places they knew. Here David Saxby describes how new excavation has thrown light into one small corner, before and after the Great Fire of 1666
REGULARS INCLUDE
* Mick’s travels - Mick Aston visits the site of a major medieval town lost to the sea in Suffolk
* Spoilheap - What did Christopher Hitchens say about the Parthenon?
* Greg Bailey on TV - Climbing Great Buildings scaled new heights
* Letters - Television is good for archaeology
* My archaeology - English Heritage chief executive Simon Thurley remembers his youth
* Science - The trowel from outer space
* Books - The Archaeology textbook, education and St Peter’s church
* Briefing - The UK's only archaeological events listing, with exhibition reviews
* CBA Correspondent - Gill Chitty considers the new Localism Act
* Requiem - In tribute to their contributions to the story of our origins and history, we bring together the names of some of the archaeologists and lovers of antiquity who died in the past year
British Archaeology is a bimonthly members' magazine that is also available in larger WH Smith stores and the best independent newsagents, and by subscription