Introduction
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Magazine Summer 2011 Plan Your Walk
magazine summer 2011 magazine summer 2011 Southern England Southern England 09 Land’s End Peninsula, Cornwall 10 Avebury, Wiltshire 12/05/2011 16:30 l Distance 22½km/14 miles l Time 7hrs l Type Coast l Distance 18km/11 miles l Time 6½hrs l Type Countryside NAVIGATION FITNESS NAVIGATION FITNESS 1 LEVEL 1 2/3 LEVEL 2/3 2 LEVEL 2 2 LEVEL 2 feature p61 Plan your walk Plan your walk SEE Newquay l Cheltenham Redruth Gloucester Oxford St Ives l l CORNWALL Swindon l Penzance P Bristol Reading Falmouth N l TRO L Bath AVEBURY ORGA AR LAND’S END B A PENINSULA N EVE M O Landewednack T Salisbury HY: S HY: HY: FI HY: P P WHERE: Linear walk from WHERE: Circular walk from Gurnard’s Head to Sennen To find great accommodation, visit Avebury, Wiltshire. Cove via Cape Cornwall. www.ramblers.org.uk/accommodation START/END: The Red Lion, PHOTOGRA PHOTOGRA START: Gurnard’s Head Avebury (SU103699). (SW436376). Of all Cornwall’s wonderful sides of the peninsula, taking in TERRAIN: Unmarked but Taking in the first section of the cloak optional). At the end of END: Sennen Cove coastline, stretches of the north rugged cliffs, mining relics, splendid straightforward footpaths Great Stones Way, this ‘taster’ the field, cross two stiles and (SW355263). coast and the Land’s End headlands and beautiful coves. over open, chalky farmland route starts and ends inside continue beside the road, TERRAIN: Rugged coastal Peninsula must share first prize with plenty of historic the prehistoric stone circle at keeping to the L of the field. -
November 2019
November 2019 Published by Fyfield, West Overton and East Kennett View from the Rectory Parochial Church Council for By the time you read this, one and young people. Our schools and the Upper Kennet Benefice way or another, the issue that has churches can be a place of balance dominated the news, parliament and and sanctuary for our children, who politics for over 3 years will be may be feeling upset and anxious. resolved and the future relationship The Mental Health Foundation has Please note the Upper Kennet between the UK and the wider excellent advice on talking to Benefice now has a new website world set on one particular course of children about scary world news. access link www.kennet8.org.uk action. Whatever our personal Think about the needs of political viewpoint, these changes particular groups in your area. A new email address for the Benefice will impact all of us, and are likely What are the local challenges for us Office: to have the greatest impact on the in the countryside? How are the [email protected] vulnerable, as new trading farmers and local business feeling? arrangements come into force. We Shop local, spend a few minutes have been given some indications of listening to those on the checkouts what to expect and there will be or at the markets. Kennet Valley Lottery Club more government guidance in due Have a Forward Together meal course - there might be a temptation or coffee morning - encouraging draw winners for some to ‘batten down the endless discussion about the rights £100 Number 47 Jeremy Horder hatches’ and adopt a ‘me first’ and wrongs of Brexit is unlikely to £75 Number 87 Caro & James Simper stance. -
A Pilgrimage to Avebury Stone Circles in Wiltshire
BEST OF BRITAIN A pilgrimage to Avebury stone circles in Wiltshire ere are famous religious pilgrimages, there are also the pilgrimages that one does for oneself. It doesn't have to be on foot or by any particular mode of transport. It is nothing more than the journey of getting to the desired destination, in any way or form. For me, that desired destination was the stone circles of Avebury in Wiltshire, for years I’ve been yearning to sit in stone circles and visit the sacred sites of Europe. So, why visit Avebury, a place that is often sold to us as the poor cousin of the ever-famous Stonehenge? In real - ity, it is not less but much more. Why Avebury? is sacred Neolithic site is the largest set of stone circles out of the thousands in the United Kingdom and in the world. It is older than other sites, although the dating is sketchy. I've heard everything from 2600BC to 4500BC and it’s still up for discussion. Despite being a World Heritage site, Avebury is fully open to the public. Unlike Stonehenge, you can walk in and around the stones. It is accessible by public transport, buses stop in the middle of the village, and the entrance is free. As well as the stone cir - cles, there is also an avenue of stones that take you down to the West Kennet Long Barrow and Silbury Hill. Onsite for a small fee you can visit the museum and manor that are run by the National Trust. -
Section II: Summary of the Periodic Report on the State of Conservation
State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II thus defined on the basis of criteria I and III and UNITED KINGDOM ultimately criterion II. In this connection ICOMOS would like to recall that already in the 12th century Stonehenge, Avebury and Stonehenge was considered as one of the wonders of the world by the chroniclers Henry de Huntington Associated Sites and Geoffrey de Monmouth and that in the 17th century, Stonehenge was the focus of a study by Brief description the great architect Inigo Jones. Stonehenge and Avebury, in Wiltshire, are among The early and unwavering interest for this the most famous groups of megaliths in the world. megalithic ensemble which serves as a benchmark, The two sanctuaries consist of circles of menhirs has left its mark upon historiography, the evolution arranged in a pattern whose astronomical of architectural theories and the progress of significance is still being explored. These holy prehistoric sciences. places and the nearby Neolithic sites are an incomparable testimony to prehistoric times. Committee Decision Bureau (1986): The Bureau requested the United 1. Introduction Kingdom authorities to study possible solution to the problem of the A 344 main road crossing the Year(s) of Inscription 1986 avenue at Stonehenge (detour, digging of a tunnel, Agency responsible for site management etc.). It would be desirable for the Committee to be informed of the progress of these studies at its next • Mailing Address(es) meeting. English Heritage - Stonehenge The Close 65 Committee (1986): The Committee noted with SP1 2EN Salisbury satisfaction the assurances provided by the Wiltshire authorities of the United Kingdom that the closure United Kingdom of the road which crosses the avenue at e-mail: [email protected] Stonehenge was receiving serious consideration as part of the overall plans for the future management website: www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge of the site. -
Stonehenge WHS Committee Minutes September 2015
Stonehenge World Heritage Site Committee Meeting on Thursday 24 September 2015 at St Barbara’s Hall, Larkhill Minutes 1. Introductions and apologies Present: Roger Fisher (Chair/Amesbury TC), Colin Shell (ASAHRG), Philip Miles (CLA), Kate Davies (English Heritage), Phil McMahon (Historic England), Rachel Sandy (Highways England), Richard Crook (NFU/Amesbury TC), Jan Tomlin (National Trust), Nick Snashall (National Trust), Patrick Cashman (RSPB), Carole Slater (Shrewton PC), Clare King (Wiltshire Council), David Dawson (Wiltshire Museum), Ian West (Winterbourne Stoke PC) Apologies: Fred Westmoreland (Amesbury Community Area Board), John Mills (Durrington TC), Henry Owen John (Historic England), Stephanie Payne (Natural England), David Andrews (VisitWiltshire), Peter Bailey (Wilsford cum Lake/WHS landowners), Melanie Pomeroy‐Kellinger (Wiltshire Council), Ariane Crampton (Wiltshire Council), Andrew Shuttleworth (Winterbourne Stoke PC), Alistair Sommerlad (WHS Partnership Panel) 2.0 Agree minutes of last meeting & matters arising Version 3 of the minutes of the last meeting was approved. 3.0 Stonehenge and Avebury WHS Management Plan Endorsing the Plan The following organisations have endorsed the plan so far: Highways England, English Heritage, Amesbury PC, Wilsford cum Lake PC, Durrington TC, Wiltshire Museum, and Salisbury Museum. Other organisations: Natural England, RSPB, Historic England and National Trust are in the process of going through their organisation’s approval process. The WHS Coordination Unit (WHSCU) would be grateful for written endorsements by the end of 2015. The WHSCU are very happy to meet with any partner organisation to explain the Management Plan to their members. WHSCU Action Plan BT circulated a table which outlined how SS and BT will cover both local and thematic responsibilities. -
Stonehenge and Avebury WHS Management Plan 2015 Summary
Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site Management Plan Summary 2015 Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site Management Plan Summary 2015 1 Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site Vision The Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site is universally important for its unique and dense concentration of outstanding prehistoric monuments and sites which together form a landscape without parallel. We will work together to care for and safeguard this special area and provide a tranquil, rural and ecologically diverse setting for it and its archaeology. This will allow present and future generations to explore and enjoy the monuments and their landscape setting more fully. We will also ensure that the special qualities of the World Heritage Site are presented, interpreted and enhanced where appropriate, so that visitors, the local community and the whole world can better understand and value the extraordinary achievements © K020791 Historic England © K020791 Historic of the prehistoric people who left us this rich legacy. Avebury Stone Circle We will realise the cultural, scientific and educational potential of the World Heritage Site as well as its social and economic benefits for the community. © N060499 Historic England © N060499 Historic Stonehenge in summer 2 Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site Management Plan Summary 2015 Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site Management Plan Summary 2015 1 World Heritage Sites © K930754 Historic England © K930754 Historic Arable farming in the WHS below the Ridgeway, Avebury The Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site is internationally important for its complexes of outstanding prehistoric monuments. Stonehenge is the most architecturally sophisticated prehistoric stone circle in the world, while Avebury is Stonehenge and Avebury were inscribed as a single World Heritage Site in 1986 for their outstanding prehistoric monuments the largest. -
The Origins of Avebury 2 1,* 2 2 Q13 Q2mark Gillings , Joshua Pollard & Kris Strutt 4 5 6 the Avebury Henge Is One of the Famous Mega
1 The origins of Avebury 2 1,* 2 2 Q13 Q2Mark Gillings , Joshua Pollard & Kris Strutt 4 5 6 The Avebury henge is one of the famous mega- 7 lithic monuments of the European Neolithic, Research 8 yet much remains unknown about the detail 9 and chronology of its construction. Here, the 10 results of a new geophysical survey and 11 re-examination of earlier excavation records 12 illuminate the earliest beginnings of the 13 monument. The authors suggest that Ave- ’ 14 bury s Southern Inner Circle was constructed 15 to memorialise and monumentalise the site ‘ ’ 16 of a much earlier foundational house. The fi 17 signi cance here resides in the way that traces 18 of dwelling may take on special social and his- 19 torical value, leading to their marking and 20 commemoration through major acts of monu- 21 ment building. 22 23 Keywords: Britain, Avebury, Neolithic, megalithic, memory 24 25 26 Introduction 27 28 Alongside Stonehenge, the passage graves of the Boyne Valley and the Carnac alignments, the 29 Avebury henge is one of the pre-eminent megalithic monuments of the European Neolithic. ’ 30 Its 420m-diameter earthwork encloses the world s largest stone circle. This in turn encloses — — 31 two smaller yet still vast megalithic circles each approximately 100m in diameter and 32 complex internal stone settings (Figure 1). Avenues of paired standing stones lead from 33 two of its four entrances, together extending for approximately 3.5km and linking with 34 other monumental constructions. Avebury sits within the centre of a landscape rich in 35 later Neolithic monuments, including Silbury Hill and the West Kennet palisade enclosures 36 (Smith 1965; Pollard & Reynolds 2002; Gillings & Pollard 2004). -
How to Tell a Cromlech from a Quoit ©
How to tell a cromlech from a quoit © As you might have guessed from the title, this article looks at different types of Neolithic or early Bronze Age megaliths and burial mounds, with particular reference to some well-known examples in the UK. It’s also a quick overview of some of the terms used when describing certain types of megaliths, standing stones and tombs. The definitions below serve to illustrate that there is little general agreement over what we could classify as burial mounds. Burial mounds, cairns, tumuli and barrows can all refer to man- made hills of earth or stone, are located globally and may include all types of standing stones. A barrow is a mound of earth that covers a burial. Sometimes, burials were dug into the original ground surface, but some are found placed in the mound itself. The term, barrow, can be used for British burial mounds of any period. However, round barrows can be dated to either the Early Bronze Age or the Saxon period before the conversion to Christianity, whereas long barrows are usually Neolithic in origin. So, what is a megalith? A megalith is a large stone structure or a group of standing stones - the term, megalith means great stone, from two Greek words, megas (meaning: great) and lithos (meaning: stone). However, the general meaning of megaliths includes any structure composed of large stones, which include tombs and circular standing structures. Such structures have been found in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, North and South America and may have had religious significance. Megaliths tend to be put into two general categories, ie dolmens or menhirs. -
Silbury Hill – А Case Study with LANDSCAPE ARCHAEOLOGY: SILBURY HILL – a CASE STUDY LIONEL LIONEL SIMS LIONEL SIMS
VI. LANDSCAPE ARCHAEOLOGY AND ARCHAEOASTRONOMY INTEGRATING ARCHAEOASTRONOMY Integrating Archaeology: with Landscape ArchaeoastronomySilbury Hill – а Case Study WITH LANDSCAPE ARCHAEOLOGY: SILBURY HILL – A CASE STUDY LIONEL LIONEL SIMS LIONEL SIMS Abstract Weaknesses in both archaeoastronomy and landscape archaeology can be overcome by their combination. This is demonstrat- ed through a new interpretation of Silbury Hill in Avebury, Wiltshire. If monuments in their local landscape are considered as one choice in a system of alternatives, tests can be devised to intepret the prehistoric builders‘ intentions. This exercise finds that the builders chose a prescriptive arrangement of views of Silbury Hill to simulate a facsimile of the moon entering and returning from the underworld. Key words: dark moon, crescent moon, paired alignments, Silbury Hill, West Kennet Avenue, Beckhampton Avenue, Ave- bury, underworld. Introduction with a level circular summit platform.To date, no con- vincing explanation as to its meaning has been offered. Archaeoastronomy has to move on from the legacy of Archaeologists have long expected that excavating the the Thom paradigm if it is to prove its relevance to sci- interior of the hill would reveal burials or deposited ar- ence (Sims 2006). Over the last three decades the dis- tefacts that would provide the clues to its decoding. In cipline has established robust field methods procedures spite of the many tunnels that have been dug, so much and, in so doing, falsified Thom‘s claim for a prehis- so that the Hill has now to be rescued from imminent toric precision astronomy (Thom 1971; Ruggles 1999; collapse, no burials have been found nor interpretive Hoskin 2001, Belmonte 2006; Schaefer 1993; North breakthroughs made. -
Ancient Market Towns and Beautiful Villages
Ancient Market Towns and Beautiful Villages Wiltshire is blessed with a fantastic variety of historic market towns and stunning picturesque villages, each one with something to offer. Here are a sample of Wiltshire’s beautiful market towns and villages. Amesbury Nestling within a loop of the River Avon alongside the A303, just 1½ miles from Stonehenge, historic Amesbury is a destination not to be missed. With recent evidence of a large settlement from 8820BC and a breath-taking Mesolithic collection, Amesbury History Centre will amaze visitors with its story of the town where history began. Bradford on Avon The unspoilt market town of Bradford on Avon offers a mix of delightful shops, restaurants, hotels and bed and breakfasts lining the narrow streets, not to mention a weekly market on Thursdays (8am-4pm). Still a natural focus at the centre of the town, the ancient bridge retains two of its 13th century arches and offers a fabulous view of the hillside above the town - dotted with the old weavers' cottages – and the river bank flanked by 19th century former cloth mills. Calne Calne evolved during the 18th and 19th centuries with the wool industry. Blending the old with the new, much of the original Calne is located along the River Marden where some of the historic buildings still remain. There is also the recently restored Castlefields Park with nature trails and cycle path easily accessible from the town centre. Castle Combe Set within the stunning Wiltshire Cotswolds, Castle Combe is a classically quaint English village. Often referred to as the ‘prettiest village in England’, it has even been featured regularly on the big screen – most recently in Hollywood blockbuster ‘The Wolfman’ and Stephen Spielberg’s ‘War Horse’. -
2019-2020 Annual Report and Financial Statements
ANNUAL REPORT and FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - for the year ended 31 MARCH 2020 STATEMENTS REPORT and FINANCIAL ANNUAL The Museum, 41 Long Street, Devizes, Wiltshire. SN10 1NS Telephone: 01380 727369 www.wiltshiremuseum.org.uk Our Audiences Our audiences are essential and work is ongoing, with funding through the Wessex Museums Partnership, to understand our audiences and develop projects and facilities to ensure they remain at the core of our activities. Our audience includes visitors, Society members, school groups, community groups, and researchers. Above: testimonial given in February 2020 by one of our visitors. Below: ‘word cloud’ comprising the three words used to describe the Museum on the audience forms during 2019/20. Cover: ‘Chieftain 1’ by Ann-Marie James© Displayed in ‘Alchemy: Artefacts Reimagined’, an exhibition of contemporary artworks by Ann-Marie James. Displayed at Wiltshire Museum May-August 2020. (A company limited by guarantee) Charity Number 1080096 Company Registration Number 3885649 SUMMARY and OBJECTS The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Researchers. Every year academic researchers Society (the Society) was founded in 1853. The carry out important research on the collection. Society’s first permanent Museum opened in There are over 500,000 items in the collections Long Street in 1874. The Society is a registered and details can be found in our online searchable charity and governed by Articles of Association. database. The collections are ‘Designated’ of national importance and ‘Accreditation’ status Objects. To educate the public by promoting, was first awarded in 2005. Overseen by the fostering interest in, exploration, research and Arts Council the Accreditation Scheme sets publication on the archaeology, art, history and out nationally-agreed standards, which inspire natural history of Wiltshire for the public benefit. -
Land at Manor Farm, West Overton, Wiltshire
T H A M E S V A L L E Y ARCHAEOLOGICAL S E R V I C E S Land at Manor Farm, West Overton, Wiltshire Desk-based Heritage Assessment by Richard Tabor Site Code MOW13/153 (SU 1287 6797) Land at Manor Farm, West Overton, Wiltshire Desk-based Heritage Assessment for Mr. Ted Cartilage by Richard Tabor Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd Site Code MOW13/153 September 2013 Summary Site name: Land at Manor Farm, West Overton, Wiltshire Grid reference: SU 1287 6797 Site activity: Desk-based heritage assessment Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Richard Tabor Site code: MOW 13/153 Area of site: c. 0.9 ha Summary of results: The proposal site lies within 150m of the Avebury World Heritage Site and much of the area elsewhere to its north is of very high archaeological potential., It is also within the hypothetical bounds of a Saxon settlement which has some limited support from geophysical survey and the lack of known deposits close to the site may reflect a lack of investigation rather than a genuine absence of past human settlement. The only known heritage assets on or in the immediate vicinity of the site are the listed Manor Farm house and structures within its curtilage pre-dating 1948. The development is unlikely to affect adversely the settings of several other nearby listed buildings. Given the intensity of prehistoric and Saxon activity in the wider area there is a possibility that archaeological remains of some period might be present which may have survived the construction of the modern farm.