Out Now, the November/December issue of British Archaeology

Submitted by Andy B on Monday, 10 October 2005 Page Views: 8315

The latest issue of British Archaeology Magazine (November/December 2005) featuring an article on our own Megalithic Portal is now available in the shops.

Covering the most wide-ranging subjects in the field of archaeology: From ashes to dust: who cares about sports heritage? * Last days of the Somerset Levels * Bid to list nuclear power station as historic buildings * New roads massive challenge to Ireland’s archaeology * Government energy study is threat to historic buildings * Out with the tide * Disappearing first world war land art (Military Badges etc)

Cover Feature: From ashes to dust: who cares about sports heritage?
The historic environment is losing out to sport in government spending, a situation likely to worsen as the London Olympics approach. But sports has its own fascinating history and rich, often overlooked, heritage. Jason Wood argues for an archaeology of sport

* Last days of the Somerset Levels
Unique history and ecology preserved in Somerset peat were mostly sacrificed in the 20th century to the needs of British gardeners. The peat industry has declined: but, says a new study, there is now a threat that may destroy all that remains of an internationally important heritage. English Heritage, the Environment Agency and Somerset county council assessed 13 of the most important prehistoric and Roman sites and found all but two to be destroyed or seriously damaged

* Bid to list nuclear power station as historic building
Archaeologist and former British Nuclear Fuels buildings manager Clifford Jones has asked English Heritage to list Calder Hall at Sellafield, the world’s first commercial nuclear power station. Connected to the national grid in 1956, Calder Hall was passed to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in April, with plans to case the reactors in concrete and demolish the rest. Jones wants to preserve a reactor, a heat exchanger building, a cooling tower and a turbine hall, saying otherwise in five years there will be no surviving Magnox power stations

* New roads massive challenge to Ireland’s archaeology
Ireland’s road network is experiencing an astonishing development, with sometimes controversial implications for the country’s rich and unexplored rural heritage. Dàire O’Rourke says this is Ireland’s “second industrial revolution” and presents a huge challenge to archaeologists, now conducting major field projects in advance of roadworks across the country. New discoveries include rectangular neolithic buildings at Monanny, Co Monaghan (4000-3700BC), a 100m long neolithic wall with stone axe heads in its fabric (Caltragh, So Sligo), an important group of bronze age/iron age burials at Ballydavis, Co Kildare (finds include plaited human hair), Viking settlement at Waterford and 181 graves in a burial ground for unbaptised children at Tonybaum, Co Mayo (AD1560-1800)

* Government energy study is threat to historic buildings
A recent Defra-funded report says that many houses built before 1919 are energy-inefficient, can not be adapted and should be demolished. Sebastian Payne says the likely effect is that many older houses in the country could be targeted for demolition within 20 years. He questions the study’s assumptions. Are historic buildings really so uncomfortable and inefficient? Would the proposals deliver the claimed energy savings? At what loss?

* COAST SURVEY SPECIAL: Out with the tide
After the success of BBC2’s Coast, we feature two new archaeological coast surveys, on the Isle of Wight and in Norfolk. They reveal major loss of historic sites and finds through erosion

* Disappearing first world war land art
Chancellor Gordon Brown recently backed extension to memorials of the Listed Places of Worship Scheme, allowing charities to reclaim VAT on maintenance. At Fovant, Wiltshire, says Mike Pitts, military badges cut into the turf are disappearing, only a select few being saved at great cost. They are unique landscape art, and should be recognised as a memorial to the men who created them – the soldiers of the first world war

* The meticulous Miss Layard
Nina Layard, cousin of famed Nineveh and Nimrud excavator Sir Austen Henry Layard, was the first woman to address the British Association. A new study of her unpublished records of a 1903–4 dig at Foxhall Road, Ipswich has revealed an exceptionally well-preserved early human site where hunters paused briefly beside an ancient river 400,000 years ago

* Megalithic web extravaganza
The Megalithic Portal is a website created by enthusiasts and volunteers that is growing into a huge resource. One contributor left his job and sold his house to tour Europe visiting ancient sites

* Feel only glass
American students record their experience of visits to Stonehenge and the Uffington White Horse, Oxfordshire

* Stately views
Curator John Curtis says the British Museum’s exhibition, Forgotten Empire: the World of Ancient Persia, has messages for today

REGULARS
* My archaeology
Former Ministry of Works ancient monument custodian Peter Tate reflects on changing attitudes to the visiting public
* On the web
Tours virtual museums
* In view
Asks if webcasting is the future for archaeology in film?
* Spoilheap
Visits Persia at the British Museum
* News
Archaeologist finds Roman trowel and other dig stories
* Books
Human evolution and Britain’s tribes, with books to give away
* Opinion
Historical re-enactment should focus on quality, not quantity
* Briefing
The comprehensive listing of archaeological activities, with exhibition news
* Letters
The best informed archaeological forum
* Council for British Archaeology News
New CBA director Nick Merriman

British Archaeology magazine
The largest, brightest, most forward-looking and talked about UK archaeology magazine ever published. Available bimonthly in larger WH Smith stores, Borders and the best independent newsagents, and by subscription.

For more information see the Brit Arch website

Note: Hello to all British Archaeology readers from the "Megalithic Extravaganza"! Welcome, have a good look around and join in our unique take on the world of prehistoric archaeology

Contributor Bio for Andy B: Megalithic Portal Founding Editor.

<< Dowload the July/August issue of British Archaeology

Books/Products

The Monumental Cemeteries of Prehistoric Europe – Magdalena S. Midgley. >>