Megaliths, Monuments & Tombs of Wessex & Brittany
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Concrete Prehistories: the Making of Megalithic Modernism 1901-1939
Concrete Prehistories: The Making of Megalithic Modernism Abstract After water, concrete is the most consumed substance on earth. Every year enough cement is produced to manufacture around six billion cubic metres of concrete1. This paper investigates how concrete has been built into the construction of modern prehistories. We present an archaeology of concrete in the prehistoric landscapes of Stonehenge and Avebury, where concrete is a major component of megalithic sites restored between 1901 and 1964. We explore how concreting changed between 1901 and the Second World War, and the implications of this for constructions of prehistory. We discuss the role of concrete in debates surrounding restoration, analyze the semiotics of concrete equivalents for the megaliths, and investigate the significance of concreting to interpretations of prehistoric building. A technology that mixes ancient and modern, concrete helped build the modern archaeological imagination. Concrete is the substance of the modern –”Talking about concrete means talking about modernity” (Forty 2012:14). It is the material most closely associated with the origins and development of modern architecture, but in the modern era, concrete has also been widely deployed in the preservation and display of heritage. In fact its ubiquity means that concrete can justifiably claim to be the single most dominant substance of heritage conservation practice between 1900 and 1945. This paper investigates how concrete has been built into the construction of modern pasts, and in particular, modern prehistories. As the pre-eminent marker of modernity, concrete was used to separate ancient from modern, but efforts to preserve and display prehistoric megaliths saw concrete and megaliths become entangled. -
The Lives of Prehistoric Monuments in Iron Age, Roman, and Medieval Europe by Marta Díaz-Guardamino, Leonardo García Sanjuán and David Wheatley (Eds)
The Prehistoric Society Book Reviews THE LIVES OF PREHISTORIC MONUMENTS IN IRON AGE, ROMAN, AND MEDIEVAL EUROPE BY MARTA DÍAZ-GUARDAMINO, LEONARDO GARCÍA SANJUÁN AND DAVID WHEATLEY (EDS) Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2015. 356pp, 50 figs, 32 B/W plates, 6 tables. ISBN 978-0-19-872460-5, hb, £85 This handsome book is the outcome of a session at the 2013 European Association of Archaeologists in Pilsen, organised by the editors on the cultural biographies of monuments. It is divided into three sections, with the main part comprising 13 detailed case-studies, framed on either side by shorter introduction and discussion pieces. There is variety in the chronologies, subject matters and geographical scopes addressed; in short there is something for almost everyone! In their Introduction, the editors advocate that archaeologists require a more reflexive conceptual toolkit to deal with the complex issues of monument continuity, transformation, re-use and abandonment, and the significance of the speed and the timing of changes. They also critique the loaded term ‘afterlife’ as this separates the unfolding biography of a monument, and unwittingly relegates later activities to lesser importance than its original function. In the following chapter, Joyce Salisbury explores how the veneration of natural places in the landscape, such as caves and mountains, was shifted to man-made monumental features over time. The bulk of the book focuses on the specific case-studies which span Denmark in the north to Tunisia in the south and from Ireland in the west to Serbia and Crete in the east. In Chapter 3, Steen Hvass’s account of the history of research at the monument complex of King’s Jelling in Denmark is fascinating, but a little heavy on stratigraphic narrative, and light on theory and discussion. -
Standing Stones: Stonehenge, Carnac and the World of Megaliths Free
FREE STANDING STONES: STONEHENGE, CARNAC AND THE WORLD OF MEGALITHS PDF Jean-Pierre Mohem,Dorie B. Baker | 176 pages | 29 Mar 1999 | Thames & Hudson Ltd | 9780500300909 | English | London, United Kingdom Standing Stones : Stonehenge, Carnac and the World of Megaliths Dorie B. Baker | eBay AIA Tours: land. Tour Dates: May June 5, 12 days. Tour Leader s : Paul G. Bahn. Amidst beautiful landscapes see world renowned, as well as lesser known, Neolithic and Bronze Age megaliths and monuments such as enigmatic rings of giant standing stones and remarkable chambered tombs. Explore medieval churches, charming villages, museum collections, and more. One of the best tours I Carnac and the World of Megaliths ever taken part Carnac and the World of Megaliths. Single room supplement will be charged when requested or required. With fewer than 10 participants, a small group surcharge may be Standing Stones: Stonehenge. This afternoon, take a guided walking tour of Salisbury, including a tour of the Salisbury Museum with its Director. In the evening, enjoy a welcome drink and dinner at our hotel. Overnight at the 4-star Legacy Rose and Crown Hotel for three nights. Its archaeological collections span the Neolithic through medieval periods, and include finds from Stonehenge and Avebury which we visit on May 28 th and May 29 threspectively. After an independent lunch in Devizes we return to Salisbury. The balance of the day is at leisure. After an independent lunch, we drive to Durrington Walls, site of a henge circular structure and the largest Neolithic settlement in northern Europe, where a local expert will join us for Carnac and the World of Megaliths rest of the day. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
Stonehenge and Ancient Astronomy Tonehenge Is One of the Most Impressive and Best Known Prehistoric Stone Monuments in the World
Stonehenge and Ancient Astronomy tonehenge is one of the most impressive and best known prehistoric stone monuments in the world. Ever since antiquarians’ accounts began to bring the site to wider attention inS the 17th century, there has been endless speculation about its likely purpose and meaning, and a recurring theme has been its possible connections with astronomy and the skies. was it a Neolithic calendar? A solar temple? A lunar observatory? A calculating device for predicting eclipses? Or perhaps a combination of more than one of these? In recent years Stonehenge has become the very icon of ancient astronomy, featuring in nearly every discussion on the subject. And yet there are those who persist in believing that it actually had little or no connection with astronomy at all. A more informed picture has been obtained in recent years by combining evidence from archaeology and astronomy within the new interdiscipline of archaeoastronomy – the study of beliefs and practices concerning the sky in the past and the uses to which people’s knowledge of the skies were put. This leaflet attempts to summarize the evidence that the Stonehenge monument was constructed by communities with a clear interest in the sky above them. Photograph: Stonehenge in the snow. (Skyscan/english heritagE) This leaflet is one of a series produced by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS). An electronic version is available for download at www.ras.org.uk. It has been written by the following members of the RAS Astronomical Heritage Committee: Clive Ruggles, Bill Burton, David Hughes, Andrew lawson and Derek McNally. -
THE SINCEREST FORM of FLATTERY: an ANALYSIS of FULL-SCALE, EX SITU REPLICAS of WORLD HERITAGE SITES by REBECCA LEIGH MCMANUS
THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY: AN ANALYSIS OF FULL-SCALE, EX SITU REPLICAS OF WORLD HERITAGE SITES by REBECCA LEIGH MCMANUS (Under the Direction of WAYDE BROWN) ABSTRACT Full-scale, ex situ replicas of UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be found in five countries and their constructions predate even the World Heritage Convention itself. Clearly, the desire of humans to copy the architectural wonders of the world has a long and enduring history. This thesis will attempt to answer three related questions. First, what is the intent behind constructing these replicas? Second, how do the public and cultural heritage professionals receive these replicas? And third, how do these replicas fit into the ongoing discussions on authenticity and interpretation in historic preservation? INDEX WORDS: Replica, Full-Scale, Ex Situ, World Heritage Convention, World Heritage Sites, Stonehenge, Maryhill Stonehenge, Foamhenge, Parthenon, Nashville Parthenon, Hallstatt Village, Luoyang Hallstatt, Great Sphinx at Giza, Chuzhou Sphinx, Duplitecture, Nara Document, Venice Charter, Postmodernism, Forgeries, Umberto Eco, Jean Baudrillard, Richard Handler, Albert Lessing, Biana Bosker. THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY: AN ANALYSIS OF FULL-SCALE, EX SITU REPLICAS OF WORLD HERITAGE SITES by REBECCA LEIGH MCMANUS BA, Emory University, 2013 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION ATHENS, GEORGIA 2016 © 2016 Rebecca Leigh McManus All Rights Reserved THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY: AN ANALYSIS OF FULL-SCALE, EX SITU REPLICAS OF WORLD HERITAGE SITES by REBECCA LEIGH MCMANUS Major Professor: Wayde Brown Committee: Scott Nesbit Akela Reason Taylor Davis Electronic Version Approved: Suzanne Barbour Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia May 2016 iv DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my parents, who encouraged me to keep pursuing knowledge, and to Alex Green, Sophia Latz, and Lesa Miller for their support and editorial advice. -
Report on the Joint World Heritage Centre / Icomos Advisory Mission to Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites 27-30 October 20
REPORT ON THE JOINT WORLD HERITAGE CENTRE / ICOMOS ADVISORY MISSION TO STONEHENGE, AVEBURY AND ASSOCIATED SITES Stonehenge October 2015 copyright UNESCO 27-30 OCTOBER 2015 Chris Barker, Civil Engineer, ICOMOS Nathan Schlanger, Archaeologist, ICOMOS Marie-Noël Tournoux, Project Officer Europe and North America Unit, World Heritage Centre Stonehenge October 2015 copyright UNESCO 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ……………………………………………………………….…… 4 1 INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………..… 5 2 MISSION REPORT ……………………………………………………………………….. 7 3 MISSION CONCLUSIONS ………………………………………………………………. 24 4 MISSION RECOMMENDATIONS ………………………………………………...…...... 24 5 REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………... 28 6 ANNEXES…………....……………………………………………………………………... 29 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The joint World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS mission thanks the State Party for the arrangements for the Advisory Mission and the preparation of all the necessary relevant materials, together with the good will in its advancement. Particular thanks are due to DCMS and Historic England and more specifically to Keith Nichol and Hannah Jones from DCMS and Henry Owen-John and Phil McMahon from Historic England, our main focal points. The mission would like to acknowledge and to commend the investment and professionalism of our hosts in addition to logistics and hospitality. The assistance gladly provided by Historic England, English Heritage Trust, the National Trust, and their representatives, be it at organizational level or on the ground, including notably Chris Smith, Historic England, and Heather Sebire, Properties Curator West English Heritage Trust, Kate Davies, Stonehenge General Manager, English Heritage Trust, Beth Thomas & Sarah Simmonds, World Heritage site Coordinator, Nicola Snashall, National Trust WHS archaeologist for Stonehenge & Avebury, Cassandra Genn, Senior project and Stakeholder Manager, Ian Wilson, Assistant Director of Operations, Ingrid Samuel, Historic Environment Director, Janet Tomlin, National Trust, as well as the Wiltshire Council. -
Stonehenge in Its Wider Context
Proceedings of the British Academy, 92, 319334 Stonehenge in its Wider Context GEORGEEOGAN Introduction DUE TO MANY FACTORS such as a growing environmental awareness, a pride in the past, or commercial potential a new philosophy has been emerging in most countries regarding the archaeological inheritance. In view of its usefulness not only for academic study but for more general purposes also, the need to maintain it is a most relevant factor. People are, therefore, becoming more aware of the importance of the archaeological inheritance but also conscious of the fact that the remains cannot reproduce themselves; they are non-renewable and finite. But what value can we put on archaeological monuments almost at the dawn of the twenty-first century and how can we measure value in this current materialistic context? The term ‘resource’ is often applied to archaeology; I see nothing wrong with that term provided that it embraces all the different strands. Stonehenge and other monuments have many values, such as in the realms of general education and curiosity, but for me the primary one is that they constitute an unerring index to the achievements of past societies and provide documents for understanding them. Stonehenge and its environment constitute a composite archaeological landscape. Therefore, dealing with such a site in its wider and comparative context is not an easy matter. This has of course been made easier4ue to the recent magistral English Heritage publication we now know much more about Stonehenge than ever before. In the evalu- ation of any site many aspects have to be considered; these range from straightforward academic and cultural issues, to the role of scientific interpretation and preservation, and also making the monuments available for study by specialists but also for visiting by the general public. -
June 2016 in France: Chasing the Neolithic - Elly’S Notes
June 2016 in France: chasing the Neolithic - Elly’s notes I had a conference in the middle of June in Caen, Normandy, and another the end of June in Ghent, Belgium. I rented a car in Paris and drove to Caen and then vacationed in Brittany among the spectacular Neolithic monuments that remain from 6500 years ago. I also saw family in The Netherland before going to Gent. The Brexit vote happened during my stay as did real conversations about the E.U., very different from before. One conference participant cancelled because he was ashamed to be British. Map of the first part of my trip, with the arrows pointing to some of the major areas I visited in France Normandy I spent four days in Caen, Normandy, which was a city much beloved by William the Conqueror and his wife Mathilde. Bayoux, with its famous carpet, is not far but I didn’t visit that. Both William and Mathilda built monasteries to convince the pope into ok-ing their marriage. Below are some pictures of Caen. Very little but interesting street art The city of churches A famous recipee from Caen but not for vegans And more street art The parking garage I had trouble getting out Many bookstores… of! After Caen, I visited Mont St Michel; its size is immense. Before the church was built, there had been a pointed rock – pyramid-like. To construct the church, they first built four crypts around the point and then put the church on the plateau formed that way. The building styles vary depending in which ages they were built: Norman, to Gothic, to Classic. -
A303 Stonehenge Amesbury to Berwick Down
A303 Stonehenge Amesbury to Berwick Down Ploughzone Artefact Sampling and Trial Trench Evaluation: Rollestone Corner April 2019 Table of contents Chapter Pages Foreword 4 Executive Summary 5 1 Introduction 6 1.1 Project Background 6 1.2 Scope of the document 6 2 Site Description 8 2.1 Location, topography and geology 8 2.2 Archaeological and historical background 8 2.3 Previous Archaeological Fieldwork 13 3 Aims and Objectives 16 3.1 Introduction 16 3.2 Aims 16 3.3 Specific research objectives 17 4 Methods 18 4.1 Introduction 18 4.2 Ploughsoil artefact sampling 18 4.3 Trial trenching 19 4.4 Recording 19 4.5 Finds and environmental strategies 20 4.6 Monitoring 20 5 Results 21 5.1 Introduction 21 5.2 Soil sequence and natural features 21 5.3 Archaeological features and deposits 22 5.4 Ploughsoil artefact sampling (fieldwalking) and dry sieving of ploughsoil from trial trenches 23 6 Artefactual evidence 25 6.1 Introduction 25 6.2 Pottery 25 6.3 Flint 26 6.4 Other finds 27 7 Environmental evidence 29 7.1 Introduction 29 7.2 Aims and methods 29 7.3 Results 29 8 Archaeological Potential and Significance 30 8.1 Introduction 30 8.2 Stratigraphic 30 8.3 Finds 31 8.4 Environmental 31 1 A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down| HE551506-AMW-HER-Z2_SR_B20_Z-RP-LH-0001 8.5 Concluding remarks 31 9 Storage and curation 32 9.1 Museum 32 9.2 Preparation of the archive 32 9.3 Selection policy 32 9.4 Security copy 32 10 Tables 33 11 Figures 35 Abbreviations List 36 References 37 Appendix A Trench tables 41 A.1 Trenches 1101 to 1111 41 Table of Tables Table 10-1 Finds