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<< News >> Unearthing history at 'prehistoric Glastonbury' (In County Durham)

Submitted by coldrum on Thursday, 12 July 2007  Page Views: 3458

DiscoveriesCountry: England County: County Durham
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Stone Age Britons from across the North-East flocked to a prehistoric "Glastonbury festival" marked by mysterious rituals, a major archaeological discovery suggests.

Experts believe tools, pottery and timber stakes unearthed near Durham City show a site within view of Durham Cathedral was a place of mass worship as far back as 3,000 BC.

What the Neolithic-era North-Easterners did during the meetings is still buried in history, but possible activities include ceremonial cremations and burials.

Steve Speak, senior keeper of field archaeology for Tyne and Wear Museums, said: "There is a whole range of different techniques here and finding out what it was used for takes a bit of Sherlock Holmes work.

"We know it's not defensive, and it's not a settlement. So you are left with one alternative - it had a spiritual use.

"It would have been a focus for people - like a prehistoric Glastonbury."

Archaeologists made the discovery while excavating the site ahead of the construction of a £3.5m drinking water reservoir.

Three man-made trenches, three raised henges and several wooden stakes, which may have been used to hold back soil, have been found.

Lee White, assistant archaeological officer at Durham County Council, said: "This is a very significant site. We have very few sites from this period in County Durham."

Mr Speak said: "Just to hold a piece of wood from 1500 BC that somebody made and used is amazing."

Archaeologists will remain on the site until October. They hope there will be public access to the site and information displayed to explain its importance.

Items unearthed will be offered to museums in the area.

Northumbrian Water says the reservoir will be used from next spring.

thenorthernecho.
Contributor Bio for coldrum: Based in Milkyway, contributing since 2002. Favourite site: Avebury.

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"Unearthing history at 'prehistoric Glastonbury' (In County Durham)" | Login/Create an Account | 1 comment
  
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Stone Age descendents of Durham City discovered by coldrum on Friday, 13 July 2007
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Water works have uncovered the most significant archaeological site of ancient Britons in County Durham dating back 5,000 years. Northumbrian Water are building a new £3.5 million drinking water reservoir on the outskirts with views overlooking Durham City Cathedral and Castle. Before work began extensive archaeology investigations were undertaken.

Experts from Tyne and Wear Museums found evidence of continuous settlement on the site from 3,000BC to 300BC by stone age, bronze age and iron age man. Pottery remains and flint knives and skin scrapers were unearthed. Digging also uncovered very well preserved timbers used to shore up ditches and shaped by bronze age tools and elsewhere traces of iron age fields were found.

Samples have been sent to specialists in Florida for carbon dating. Geophysical surveys using ultrasound on the ground and trenching began on site in 2003 but findings have been kept a closely guarded secret until now.

Dr Colin Price, Northumbrian Water's Technical Director, said: "We have been able to secure the supply and quality of drinking water for future generations while discovering and protecting the ancient history of Durham's past. We are proud to have played our part in finding and protecting this very significant archaeological site. The new reservoir is being built in the area chosen for the least impact and everything has been carefully documented."

Steve Speak, Senior Keeper of Field Archaeology for Tyne and Wear Museums, said: "Trying to make sense of all the various dates from the same site is a bit of a puzzle – it seems the spot was reoccupied almost continuously throughout the prehistoric period. What isn't clear is what it was actually used for – it's not well enough preserved for us to say that it was a farmstead, a defensive site, a settlement or something more spiritual in nature. "It is the earliest site of its kind in Durham by a long way, and with material from 3,000BC it is the earliest settled site in the City."

http://www.bdaily.info/story/view/4768
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