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Forum: Stones Forum
Moderated by : Andy B , TimPrevett , coldrum , Klingon , MickM , TheCaptain , bat400 , davidmorgan , Runemage , SolarMegalith , sem
Respond to: A History of Ancient Britain 9pm BBC2 9th February.
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TheCaptain
Joined:
30-10-2003
Messages: 1483
from near Bristol
 ON-Line
|  New Message Posted!2011-03-05 00:38
Just seen the prog, and it was indeed Kestor Settlement where Neil and his neighbour were.
That was in the early days of digital cameras when I was up there, so didn't take many pictures, and don't seem to have any of the round houses within the field systems.
The Round Pound may well have been where they were discussing the different usage of different parts of the same building.
Slightly surprised / disappointed that they didn't mention any connection between the bronze age settlement, and all the (I guess earlier) monumental structures of Shovel Down right next door.
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davidmorgan
Joined:
23-11-2006
Messages: 1604
from The New Forest
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| New Message Posted!2011-03-03 10:36
I thought that latest programme was very good. Nice to get the chronological context of that era.
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AngieLake
Joined:
12-03-2004
Messages: 550
from Newton Abbot, Devon
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|  New Message Posted!2011-03-03 01:09
Hi Andy
I think one of the views towards the end was from the summit of Kes Tor rock, looking down towards Batworthy corner (where my friend Jackie lives, and where I'm fortunate enough to stay sometimes!). There are numerous reaves and round houses in the Kestor settlement near the rock, and a few on Shovel Down. The final shot looked like Grimspound to me.
I enjoyed this episode, but wished Neil had shown more of the Kilmartin Glen sites, which were really wonderful. However, the tomb with the axe-heads carved on its capstone was a good choice, I guess, to link in with the arrival of metal. (I went in that one and it was quite a weird feeling when the hatch shut over me.)
Will try to remember other items tomorrow.
I'm going to have withdrawal symptoms now .... nothing much on TV next Wednesday night!!! 
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Andy B
Joined:
13-02-2001
Messages: 7001
from Surrey, UK
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| New Message Posted!2011-03-02 22:18
Thanks, some good site descriptions there, you need an accessible version however! (I would suggest good old text links below the map)
On to episode four, what did you think of the programme?
For my site visit log, can anyone spot exactly where Neil visited on Dartmoor? For now I've put White Tor as a good example of a mixed prehistoric landscape.
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bbc_gloucestershire
Joined:
01-03-2011
Messages: 1
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| New Message Posted!2011-03-01 14:17
Hi,
Just thought I'd let you know that the BBC Gloucestershire and BBC Wiltshire websites both have spin-off features from this series - a virtual tour of some of the counties' best ancient sites.
The Gloucestershire sites are described by Professor Mark Horton:
Ancient Britain: Gloucestershire Tour
And the Wiltshire ones are described by Phil Harding:
Ancient Britain: Wiltshire Tour
Hopefully it'll be of interest! 
Regards,
David
BBC Gloucestershire
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AngieLake
Joined:
12-03-2004
Messages: 550
from Newton Abbot, Devon
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| New Message Posted!2011-02-26 10:36
This came into my inbox courtesy of the daily Google 'Stonehenge' search. Quite an amusing comparison with Neil Oliver's 'elite travellers' and the way businessmen (or the elite of today) are seen:
http://blogs.reuters.com/business-traveller/2011/02/24/the-travelling-class/
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MikeAitch
Joined:
03-06-2008
Messages: 156
from Par, Cornwall
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| New Message Posted!2011-02-25 21:06
More from BBC Cornwall including a couple of short videos linking in with the Ancient Britain series: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-12564281
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AngieLake
Joined:
12-03-2004
Messages: 550
from Newton Abbot, Devon
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| New Message Posted!2011-02-24 13:46
I agreed with Rune about how wonderfully nostalgic it was and how great the filming was.
I noticed your mention of the Ring of Brodgar and not being able to walk into the centre. When I was there in 2001 I dowsed for the centre and actually walked through some heather to find it. It was all part of a fascinating dowsed processional route I'd picked up, that later set the hairs of my head on end when reviewing what I'd done.
The focus of that dowse was Salt Knowe, which was approached from inside the circle, exiting by the largest (western) stone, and returning in two parallel lines/paths. Too much to describe here, a few diagrams are better for understanding.
After returning to the circle and going into the middle again, the next focus was three or four stones on the south south east arc, next to the set of more southerly ones included in moves before going to Salt Knowe.
There was also another movement later, dowsed leaving Brodgar before heading towards the Comet Stone, then across to Fresh Knowe and back in a parallel path to a point where the mountains to SW seemed to have been important to the movment. (A peak, peeking between two rounded summits was the focus.)
Then the Comet Stone had an intriguing clockwork-like labyrinth movement. (I believe this one is already on Meg P in the Art section under 'Dowsing'.)
I was thinking of all this when he said Brodgar might have been a part of a pathway that was used in a ceremony that then led down to Stenness. I wonder what they'd have made of my findings!
Also dowsed Stenness and the ceremonial house/hall at Barnhouse settlement.
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davidmorgan
Joined:
23-11-2006
Messages: 1604
from The New Forest
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| New Message Posted!2011-02-24 12:15
That's brilliant, Andy. That themed visit list is a great idea.
And a link on the BBC website - great!
[ This message was edited by: davidmorgan on 2011-02-24 12:23 ]
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Runemage
Joined:
15-07-2005
Messages: 2412
from UK
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| New Message Posted!2011-02-24 12:05
I loved it because I'd been to most of the sites he featured.
A few things I noticed - apart from the Newgrange Spiral discussed on a separate thread http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=Forum&file=viewtopic&topic=4420&forum=1
At Brodgar, there seems to be a path through the heather in the centre. When I visited, there were signs asking visitors to only walk in one direction around the circle and not under any circumstances to walk on the heather or go into the centre etc. Is that still the case?
Also, the causeway with Watchstone wasn't shown in an aerial shot to link Brodgar and Stenness and as Angie said, Barnhouse should have had a mention - maybe we should make our own series 
Knowth, he never mentioned the Equinox alignments and he called the carvings on the kerbstones "abstract art" It was interesting to see George Eoghan, no wonder they won't allow visitors into either of the two passages there, (did anyone say there were two?) did you see the state it's been left in, stones leaning so closely together, timber props and voids just below the corbelled roof, I was horrified.
Newgrange, I think it's usually O'Kelly that takes the credit for today's appearance but it's been excavated over such a long period and there were others whose names I can't find. I'd be surprised if he and Eoghan weren't at least swapping notes. http://www.knowth.com/excavation.htm
But apart from my nitpicking, I thoroughly enjoyed the programme, the photography was superb, the presentation was fine if you're not as into stones as we are and I was hit with wave after wave of nostalgia for the breathtaking sites I've already been to and a desire to rush to both Ireland and Orkney again.
Rune
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