Andy Burnham's Blog, page 247

Megalithic sites to visit in Malaysia

If you’re planning to visit Malaysia you may not know that it has many fascinating ancient standing stones and much other archaeology to see while you’re in the country. Here’s a rundown of some sites not to miss if you’re wanting to do some megalith hunting on your trip.

Grimeford Headless Cross

Grimeford 'Headless Cross' photogrammetry scan as part of a reconstruction project with the Harris Museum and Gallery, Preston. Try it on our page - it's further down in the comments. Grimeford Headless Cross or the Headless Boggart as this cross is more commonly known locally (Lancashire) is part of the shaft of an Anglo Saxon wayside cross and as such is quite scarce in this area. The earliest references to this example are from the 12th Century, but the cross itself is older.

Barcombe Hill Settlement

Iron Age settlement in Northumberland, defended by banks either side of a ditch. Roughly rectangular in shape and measuring 95x42metres. The defended settlement is situated on the northern edge of Barcombe Hill with views up towards Hadrians Wall (later) and down to Vindolanda.

Striddrig

A 25m long cairn in Dumfries & Galloway, situated within a forestry clearing. Up to 2m in height, increasing in width from 10m to 19m at the SSE end, where there is a shallow facade.

Top prehistoric sites to visit in The Netherlands

Surprisingly, all the most amazing prehistoric sites to visit are in the province of Drenthe to the north-east of the Netherlands, with many of the best examples close to the town of Emmen, and also towards Assen, both a few miles south of Gronigen. The sites we are looking at are known as hunebedden, originally thought to have been built by hunen, or giants - hence Giant’s beds.

Lagosu Domus de Janas

Rock Cut Tomb in Sardinia (Sardegna). This Late Neolithic domus de janas is located near the culmination of a mountan constituting part of the massif located North-West of Belvi. The tomb is cut in schist and has a single, irregular-shaped chamber with a subdivision. The location offers a fantastic view for the mountains of Barbagia di Belvi.

Museum of Richmond

Museum in Greater London. Currently has a temporary prehistory exhibition just until the end of October 2018 with some beautiful bronze and flint artefacts. Have a browse on our page below.

BungnapToseong

A sole-shaped earthen rampart near MongchonToseong hillfort and the Han-gang river, South Korea. The western half was washed away by 1925 Han-gan flood and now it seems like a ")" shape. Original circumference: 4000m (only 2250m survives)

Worms Head, Promontary Fort

Faint remains of hilltop fortifications can be seen on the southern side of the inner head of the Worms Head promontary which can be reached across a causeway at low tide. The single line of defence can be seen as an outward facing scarp up to 4m wide and lm high running in a semi-circle along the sloping southern side of the head, the northern side is defended by naturally steep cliffs.

Star Carr

Star Carr: a persistent place in a changing world - free (and huge!) two part ebook download. Also upcoming publich lecture by Prof Nicky Milner in York. More details in the comments on our page. Mesolithic Settlement in North Yorkshire. A waterlogged lake-side settlement of the Mesolithic dating from 8,700 BC. Wet conditions have preserved many wooden tools, 187 barbed points, bone and stag antler artifacts including 21 perforated red deer frontlets which may have been worn as ceremonial or hunting masks.