May/June 2007 issue of British Archaeology is out now

Submitted by Andy B on Friday, 06 April 2007 Page Views: 2287

Unique jet plaque matches Stonehenge gold. A small jet lozenge, probably worn as a dress ornament around 1900–1700BC, is matched only by three gold plaques found in the 19th century. It was excavated in South Lowestoft, and was found in a small pit with a flint knife. The plaque, made of Whitby jet from Yorkshire, is uniquely decorated in concentric lines and rings engraved with a “rocker”.

Two comparable gold lozenges were found in a grave close to Stonehenge known as Bush Barrow, with many other rich artefacts, in 1808; a third gold plaque was found in Dorset in 1882. The jet lozenge has a domed front, matching the shape given to the larger Bush Barrow lozenge in a controversial British Museum restoration in the 1980s

On the cover: Slave Wrecks

What do NMR877411, NMR1033598 and NMR75395 have in common? They are wrecked slave ships off the English coast From trade beads to docks the material remains of the slave trade are everywhere. There are at least 10 active slaving ships in British waters, all unexplored, including the Joanna and Mary of Bristol, wrecked Bideford 1735; the Quester of Liverpool, wrecked Liverpool 1757; and the Elizabeth of London, wrecked Thames estuary 1762. They may not have their cargo on board, but their study could open new perspectives on this terrible trade

* Maps found in Dundee key to early American settlement

Two detailed maps of the new settlement of Smyrnea, Florida, have been found amongst letters in the Dundee City Archives. Dating from 1770–71, the maps help interpretation of archaeological remains of the settlement founded by the single largest group of colonists sent by Britain, led by Scottish physician Andrew Turnbull

* Do churches face their saints
Retired local government officer Ian Hinton, armed with a compass fixed to a piece of wood with brass screws, has measured the axis of nearly 1,750 churches in England and Wales. Most face roughly east, but it is often said that a church’s precise alignment is on the rising sun on its saint’s day. Hinton found no correlation with saints’ days at all. But he discovered a new mystery: the further west a church is, the further north it is likely to be facing. This pattern, which extends east into Scandinavia, is completely unexplained

* David Lammy responds to criticism
Following criticism of the DCMS in the magazine about threats to heritage spending, not least from the 2012 Olympics, culture minister David Lammy writes that English Heritage is “sufficiently funded to enable it to carry out its statutory duties”. This claim, with no promise of new heritage funding, comes at the launch of the white paper, Heritage Protection fro the 21st century. If implemented, the recommendations would add considerably to the work of English Heritage and local authorities. Archaeologists welcome the paper’s proposals, but are concerned about funding

* Discovering Dover’s medieval seafarers
Excavations at Townwall Street, Dover have uncovered living and working quarters of the medieval port’s fishing folk. Fish remains show a dominance of herring, with cod, whiting, conger eel, thornback ray and mackerel also common, and many other species fished. Archaeologists think the industry was probably based on winter fishing in the English Channel. Finds include fish hooks, bone needles, net weights and bone gaming counters, and clay ovens for malting grain for beer

* New community archaeology website
The Community Archaeology Forum is an exciting new website, constructed as a wiki, for use by community groups reporting on their archaeological activities

* World heritage art
Artists Sara Bowler and Alison Sharkey describe a project at a Cornish tin mine made part of a world heritage site last year, and archaeologist Adam Sharpe considers how art can help bring fresh understanding to heritage

* Heritage from Trent valley quarries
A review of some spectacular finds made in gravel quarries in the Trent valley, from ice age rhinos to a log jam full of prehistoric human skulls

* Mick’s travels
In his regular feature, Time Team’s Mick Aston returns to his home ground of Halesowen, west Birmingham, and traces the history of a now heavily industrialised area back to Anglo-Saxon times

* Starting young
In a unique project, teachers and community archaeology groups in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire are finding archaeology a productive theme at primary schools

* Archaeology and global warming
Global warming poses major new threats to our archaeological heritage. We consider what they are and how they might be responded to. Climate change may be the greatest opportunity yet offered to community and amateur archaeologists.

Contributor Bio for Andy B: Megalithic Portal Founding Editor.

<< Aspects of Prehistoric Cumbria with the Burlster!

Events

Megalithic Portal Spring Photo Competition 2007 >>