Andy Burnham's Blog, page 60

Poundbury

The history of this site begins with a neolithic enclosure, at least one bronze-age round barrow, and the hillfort was constructed in various stages. Below the northern rampart ran the seven-mile Roman aqueduct. The site was very nearly lost completely in the 1850's as the course of the Weymouth - Bristol railway proposed a giant cutting through it.

Monti 'e Nuxi

Near the megalithic enclosure of Monte Santa Vittoria di Esterzili (1,212 m above sea level), there is a sacred Nuragic complex, partly enclosed by cyclopean walls. The site of Monti 'e Nuxi is a large sanctuary dedicated to the cult of water, dating back to the 11th-10th centuries BC, which includes four sources and several huts. The large wall that enclosed the entire complex is partially preserved and has the 'herringbone' structure, typical of this phase of the Nuragic culture.

Monk's Well, St Andrews

What looks like a very ancient holy well is situated near the cathedral ruins in St Andrews, Fife, within the modern cemetery just down the hill from the cathedral itself, and easily visible from Abbey Walk. The well is attractively capped by a small turf-covered mound, and is built of substantial stone blocks, including a single great lintel which spans the whole frontage.

Cat Stane (Kirkliston)

The Cat Stane lies 'airside' within the grounds of Edinburgh Airport to the north of the terminal between Runway 24 and the River Almond. Standing about 1.3m tall, and carved with Latin lettering, the stone is believed to be a neolithic marker re-used later on. Surrounding the site are graves and cists from the neolithic through to the 6th century CE.

Challacombe rows

A rare triple stone row on the northern slopes of Challacombe Down, Dartmoor. The three lines are well marked, wider apart at the north and drawing nearer to the south where they meet a blocking stone of unusual size.

Ijstijdenmuseum

A museum dedicated to prehistory and geology of Friesland. It is located in the grounds of the botanical garden of De Kruidhof and the entry fee is valid for both attractions. On display in the museum are glacial erratics, minerals, fossils and archaeological finds from the region.

Garn Fawr (Pembrokeshire)

Top photo: Overhead view showing how the natural outcrops have been utilised in the defensive ramparts. Garn Fawr is magnificently located overlooking Strumble Head and along the Pembrokeshire coast towards St David's Head. As noted on the Cofllien site, it is 'a hill-top enclosure complex: a central walled area, about 100m by 85m, enclosed with a larger area defined by rock outcrops and further stone walls, about 220m by 140m, having a central roundhouse emplacement.' The smaller Garn Fechan is close by. (see nearby sites list on our page)

Blythe Intaglios

The Blythe figures in Riverside County, California were not re-discovered until the 1920's, when they were spotted by a pilot flying up the Colorado River Valley near Blythe. The figures are located on a mesa on the west side of the river. The largest of the figures is over 170 feet long. The geoglyphs were made by a similar method as the Nazca lines: by sweeping aside the darker loose rocks and soil to reveal a lighter colour subsurface.

Tomple Standing Stone, Y Berwyn

A possible Bronze Age standing stone located on the Berwyn ridge between Cadair Berwyn and Cadair Bronwen. Also located on the possible ancient trackway of Ffordd Gam Elen. Approximately 2.5 metres tall. Was recumbent until being re-erected in 2008.

Százhalombatta Tell

Photos from the ongoing excavation. Nobody knows what was the function of this circular object. A Bronze Age tell on the banks of the Danube south of Budapest. The site is an archaeology park. For 25 years every summer the work continues - experts and students from all over the world come to dig here.


Tells consist of numerous civilisation layers on top of each other. A local website suggest there are numerous barrows in the area of which one is open with a modern passageway as part of the Matrica museum.