Team Unearths Ancient Circle
Submitted by coldrum on Monday, 02 July 2007 Page Views: 3074
Neolithic and Bronze AgeCountry: Scotland County: Shetland Type: Stone CircleInternal Links:
A Team of archaeologists from Bath has helped uncover an ancient stone circle in one of Britain's most remote locations.
Members of the Bath and Camerton Archaeological Society (Bacas) have taken part in a two-week excavation on Foula, part of the Shetland Islands.
The team was previously involved in an extensive geophysical survey on the island in May last year.
They were invited back to investigate the possibility that an early Bronze Age ceremonial enclosure, aligned to the midwinter sunrise, had been discovered.
Jayne Lawes, the Bacas director of excavations, said: "This year's excavation has proved conclusively that the stone enclosure is manmade.
"It is similar in construction to others of the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age.
"The actual date of the construction has yet to be established, though one shard of pottery has been found buried under 60cm of peat on the floor of the enclosure.
"That should help to provide evidence of a date when the site was in use."
The team has also taken samples of the peat for further analysis in the hope that pollen samples may give further clues to the date of the site.
Bacas member John Holbourn, who lived for most of his life on Foula before moving to Wiltshire, said: "The alignment of the stone ring to the midwinter sunrise is of real significance.
"While in the summer the island is bathed in light throughout most of the day and night, in the winter daylight lasts for only a few hours.
"The knowledge that the days will lengthen and get warmer is very cheering."
From August 6 to September 14, Bacas members will be continuing to excavate the Iron Age and Roman site at Upper Row Farm near Norton St Philip.
The site has previously featured on Channel 4's Time Team and anyone wishing to participate in this year's excavation is welcome and a training programme is available.
There will also be an open day at the Upper Row Farm site on Saturday, July 21, from 10am to 4pm.
For more information about the Foula excavation, or for details of the local summer excavation or open day, contact Bridget Hetzel on 0117 932 9939 or visit the Bacas website, www.bacas.org.uk .
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We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.