Introducing the March/April 2008 issue of British Archaeology

Submitted by Andy B on Sunday, 10 February 2008 Page Views: 2504

Prehistoric grave of a Dutchman in Scotland?
Unprecedented finds excavated at Upper Largie, near Kilmartin, Argyll & Bute suggest Scottish contact with Holland, Ireland and Yorkshire in the copper and early bronze ages. One grave (radiocarbon dated to 2570–2280BC) contained three Beakers pots, in styles usually found in the Netherlands; they had been placed in a wooden coffin beneath a layer of flat stones, and a ring of posts stood inside an enclosing ditch – all typically Dutch.

A second grave contained a unique Food Vessel pot: its upper part is of Irish style (c 2150BC), but it has four Yorkshire-style feet. Bronze age specialist Stuart Needham says the Beakers “perfectly represent the skein of long-distance connections that was rapidly established in the pioneering Beaker phase, across sea and land to the continental mainland”. This was an era of great social change, when the first gold and copper was being cast in Britain. Many other ceremonial structures have been excavated in the area.

ON THE COVER: The tragedy of the SS Mendi
The SS Mendi sank in 1917 with the loss of 649 lives, most of them black South African labourers en route to the battle front in France. She lies more or less complete on the sea bed off the Isle of Wight. Divers have been removing fittings since she was identified in 1974 – she has no legal protection, and is not designated a war grave. South African archaeologist John Gribble is on a mission to raise awareness of the Mendi’s story, and that of the 300,000 overlooked foreign labourers employed by Britain during the first world war.

OTHER STORIES INCLUDE

* Stanway: a Druid’s grave
Between 1987 and 2003, archaeologists excavated a series of unique graves in a gravel quarry at Stanway, near Colchester, Essex. Study of the finds is now finished, revealing a story of powerful, rich people who would have seen emperor Claudius invade Britain, and some of whom may have been close relatives of Cunobelin and his famous sons Togodumnus and Caratacus. One grave, containing a unique game board with pieces in place, divining rods and a set of medical equipment, is thought to have been that of a Druid

* Stonehenge: what next?
We asked people who should know what will happen to Stonehenge now that the road tunnel and visitor scheme has been dropped. The result? Everyone says they want to work together, but though the government has promised it will all be ready in time for the 2012 Olympics, few practical ideas are forthcoming

* Portable Antiquities Scheme still threatened
In our last issue we revealed that the Museums, Libraries & Archives council, funding body for the PAS, was thinking of shedding the scheme’s central British Museum-based unit to save costs. The MLA immediately denied this, but it soon emerged that its promise to maintain funding levels was not what it seemed. Supporters mounted a major campaign, attracting praise for the PAS from around the world, an early day motion (currently signed by 187 MPs) and debate in parliament, and high-level academic lobbying. Meanwhile, in a book published in November, the MLA’s head of museum policy expressed what seem to be prejudicial views of the PAS, based on misconceptions. The scheme’s future is still uncertain.

* The mystery of ancient stone balls
Over four thousand years ago people in Scotland carved stone balls, often decorating them – more than 400 have been found. The balls look sophisticated and meaningful, yet their purpose is entirely unexplained. Andy Young, who has been making some of his own, thinks they were designed with an understanding of Platonic solids – over 2,000 years before Plato.

and much more!

REGULARS

* Spoilheap
The sad tale of the Guimet Museum’s cancelled Bangladeshi exhibition
* Mick’s travels
Mick Aston visits Anglo-Saxon north Mercia – Staffs, Derbs, Notts and Leics
* On the web
Major new Welsh radiocarbon database, and free publications on the web
* In view
Archaeology under fire: an interview with producer Basil Comely
* Books
15 new books reviewed. We have two copies of this issue’s Editor’s choice to give away, Andrew Lawson’s authoritative Chalkland: an Archaeology of Stonehenge and its Region. See magazine for details
* Letters
Human remains, Montserrat and early iron working remains
* CBA correspondent
A new initiative to promote community archaeology
* Briefing
The comprehensive events listing, with exhibition news
* My Archaeology
Neil Oliver on his career that mixes archaeology and journalism

British Archaeology is a bimonthly members’ magazine that is also available in larger WH Smith stores, Borders, some independent newsagents, and by subscription.

Contributor Bio for Andy B: Megalithic Portal Founding Editor.

<< Book Review: The Lost Civilization of Homo Supersapiens, by Jos Rogiers

Books/Products

Out now, Standing with Stones the new feature length documentary on DVD >>