Andy Burnham's Blog, page 227

Heysham Rock-Cut tombs

Now in its 4th year, Heysham Viking festival is on the weekend of July 20 - 21st. On the headland about 10m above St Peter's church, Heysham, Lancashire, there are two sets of rock-cut tombs or graves. They probably date from the 10th century. Each grave is cut out of the sandstone.

Hatfield Moor

20th July - Family Day to celebrate the opening of the Neolithic Lindholme Trackway and Platform Reconstruction, more details in the comments on our page. One of the earliest wooden trackways of its kind in Europe. Over 50 metres of so-called "corduroy track", where logs are laid together to form a roadway, on Hatfield Moors, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

Corinium Museum

Afternoon Talk, Thursday 18th July, focusing on settlements and the ceremonial landscape of Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold and surrounding area from recent excavations. There will also be an opportunity to see finds which will be incorporated into the new Prehistory gallery displays.. Museum in Gloucestershire. Mainly Roman, but some local prehistory. Pic: Roman acrostic word square puzzle, one of only six known in the world.

Scottish Crannog Centre

Summer party at the Scottish Crannog Centre, 18th July. Ancient games (?), boat races, music and food, more details in the comments on our page. The Scottish Crannog Centre features a unique reconstruction of an early Iron Age loch-dwelling, built by the Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology. This authentic recreation is based on the excavation evidence from the 2,600 year old site of 'Oakbank Crannog', one of the 18 crannogs preserved in Loch Tay, Scotland.

Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum

Festival of Archaeology talks at Salisbury Museum 13-14 July 2019, many speakers over two days, see comment on our page for details. Museum in Wiltshire. Holds material from major archaeological sites in Salisbury and South Wiltshire, displayed in the Stonehenge, Pitt Rivers, Salisbury, and Early Man in Wiltshire galleries. The Museum is the home of the Pitt Rivers collection and has one of the best collections of prehistory in the country.

Thursday 11th July - Andy B's Old Stones Talk comes to the Conway Hall, London!

My London talk is confirmed for next month at the beautiful and historic venue the Conway Hall. I'm guest of the London Fortean Society

All are most welcome to join us, I'm looking forward to meeting some more members and readers old and new from the London area so please spread the word.

La Hougue Bie

A tour of the archaeology galleries at La Hougue Bie Museum with Olga Finch, Curator of Archaeology, 16th July 2019. On top of this colossal man-made circular mound, 54.9m in diameter and 12.2m high, is a pair of conjoined mediaeval chapels which , until 1924, were in turn crowned by a pseudo-Gothic house, La Tour d'Auvergne. It contains a single cruciform passage grave, the main chamber of which lies immediately below the summit.

Plas Newydd Burial Chamber

A rare chance to visit Plas Newydd Burial Chamber, Anglesey, free tour and talks on 16th-19th July 2019 - more details in the comments on our page. The Plas Newydd Burial Chamber is close to Bryn Celli Ddu, but not usually open to the public.

Ludgershall Castle Southern Enclosure

Power, Politics and Intrigue in the Middle Ages: a guided tour of Ludgershall Castle from prehistoric earthwork to sixteenth century garden, Sunday 14th July. Ludgershall Castle is well-known as the 11th-13th century royal hunting castle in Wiltshire with the preserved remains of a tower and chapel. According to the information from English Heritage the southern enclosure is probably an Iron Age ringwork which has been re-used in medieval period. It is in good condition with perfectly preserved ditch. The earthworks around the castle consist of two enclosures – the northern enclosure covers area of 4.2 ha, while the southern one encloses 8.6 ha.

Offa's Dyke Centre

Living History Festival at Offa's Dyke Centre, 13th/14th July 2019 - more details in the comments on our page. The Offa's Dyke Centre is a purpose-built information centre in the town of Knighton, on Offa's Dyke on the border between England (Shropshire) and Wales (Powys).