Andy Burnham's Blog, page 31

Northern Earth 179, March 2025, is Out Now

In this issue:

Folk beliefs on luck: Alison Skinner conducted a small survey about folk beliefs relating to luck
A visit to Columcille: Josh Maybrook encounters some modern megaliths inspired by Iona
The Angles, the Saxons and the Britons: To understand what happened in post-Roman Britain, says Richard Stead, follow the farmers – and the clues hidden in language
Where did the dance begin? Prompted by a previous article about triskeles and other symbols, Alan Nowell writes
The mysteries of Dunmail Raise: Graham Dugdale investigates the allure of Lakeland’s busiest highway

Villaricos necropolis

The Phoenician Necropolis of Villaricos, Andalucía houses five of the 15 hypogea (rock-cut tombs of wealthy families) that are still preserved throughout Spain. The city of Baria (Villaricos) was founded by the Phoenicians in the 7th century BC, attracted by the metalliferous riches offered by Sierra Almagrera, by its fertile lands, its abundant fishing resources and its good strategic location. Centuries later it was involved in the Second Punic War (209 BC) and was besieged and conquered by Publius Cornelius Scipio, nicknamed African. This fact made it become a territory under Roman control.

Hügelgrab Stegelitz 1

A burial mound in a pasture south-west of the village of Flieth-Stegelitz in Brandenburg. The north side of the barrow is completely covered with large stones. But it can still be recognised from the south.

Menhirdenkmal Krosigk

A modern memorial of the standing stone of Krosigk. A smaller copy of the menhir stands east of Krosigk, and the original stone now stands close to the Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte Halle in Halle.

Insley Mounds

This large and complex site on the edge of Maçon Ridge once may have contained as many as 13 mounds. Two large mounds (Md. B and Md. D) are clearly visible from the marker. Another very low mound (Md. C) is nearby, but it’s more difficult to recognize. Three other possible mounds are to the east; seven possible mounds to the west were leveled before their status could be determined.

Isbister: Tomb Of The Eagles

Crowdfunder running to reopen the Tomb of the Eagles to visitors, details in the comments. Chambered Cairn in Orkney which is currently closed to visitors. One of those archaeological sites that we would not have in all their glory if it had not been for the enterprising curiosity of a native Orcadian, in this case Ronald Simison.

Leeds City Museum

Part of a Viking Age cross found during c19th rebuilding work in Leeds Minster. One of five examples of stone sculptures in Yorkshire that seem to show Wayland the Smith strapped into the ‘flying contrivance’ he used to escape King Níðuðr. Leeds City Museum, originally established in 1819, reopened in 2008 in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Housed in the former Mechanics' Institute built by Cuthbert Brodrick in Cookridge Street (now Millennium Square). One of nine sites in the Leeds Museums & Galleries group.

Lessley Mound

The Lessley Mound is a beautiful and well-preserved example of Native American mound construction in Mississippi. Built during the late Coles Creek or early Plaquemine Period (ca. AD 1100-1350), the site consists of a single large rectangular platform mound. Excavators also found post holes and evidence of burning underneath the mound. This evidence, plus pottery, stone tools, and other residential debris indicate that people lived at the site well before they built the mound.

Bagan temple area

The temples of Bagan in Myanmar (Burma as was) were built from the 9th to 13th century CE. From 10000 temples in the height time of the kindom of Bagan, today remains of 2200 temples are still visible. The huge Bagan area is 13 x 8 km in size.

Foel Ddu Round Barrow

A disturbed Bronze Age round barrow on the summit of Foel Ddu, Powys. approximately 14 metre in diameter and 1.3 metre high. Also present is a 19th Century boundary stone, seen here in the foreground.