Andy Burnham's Blog, page 91

Edge of the Cedars State Park and Museum

Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum is a state park and museum in Blanding, Utah. It is an Ancestral Puebloan archaeological site, a museum, and an archaeological repository. Cowboys from the nearby town of Bluff camped there in the late 19th century and called the site Edge of the Cedars because it sits on the edge of a natural boundary, separating a heavily forested region and a treeless landscape to the south. Cedar is a term locals use for the Utah juniper tree.

Barbegal Mill and Aquaduct

The Barbegal aqueduct and mills is a Roman watermill complex located to the south of Fontvieille, near the town of Arles, in southern France. The complex has been referred to as "the greatest known concentration of mechanical power in the ancient world" and the sixteen overshot wheels are considered the biggest ancient mill complex.

Fossilized Footprints - White Sands National Park

For 80 years, only a small collection of fossilized footprints were known to exist at White Sands. However, in 2006, a group of scientists noticed dark spots dotting the expanse of the lakebed that appeared to be footprints. Their curiosities lead them to dig up these dark spots in 2009. This led to the discovery of both Harlan’s ground sloth and human footprints.

Dinas Hillfort (Ceredigion)

Hillfort in Ceredigion dated to 1600 BC. Occupying a narrow ridge with very steep slopes on the west and east sides. The hillfort is pear-shaped, 107m by 51m. There are also remains from an early medieval battle at this site.

Dolmen du Chateau (Angers)

The Dolmen du Chateau was found in 1997 during excavations of the Palais Comtal. You will find the dolmen is now inside imposing castle walls - over the drawbridge - then head for the gift shop! The excavated dolmen, made of grey slate or schist, has a red marker line around it to show its position in relation to the younger Roman and medieval buildings built over it.

Abterp Langdysse 1

Long barrows (langdysse) - stone age graves built by the the first Danish people around 3500-3000BC Langdysse 1 is 7.5 meters wide and 13.5 meters long. It is surrounded by 33 stones, and it had one grave chamber. Langdysse 2 is 6.5-7 meters wide and 42 meters long surrounded by 84 stones. It contains three grave chambers, one of them has a capstone (covered with turf), the other two are open. The long barrows have a remarkable story - read it here (Abterp Langdysse 2)

Andy B's Old Stones Talk at Canterbury Waterstones, 21st September

Andy is lead author of 'The Old Stones' book (winner of Current Archaeology Book of the Year 2019) alongside contributors to the vast Megalithic Portal web resource, which he founded. The Old Stones is the most comprehensive and thought-provoking field guide ever published to the iconic standing stones and prehistoric places of Britain and Ireland. Archaeology and more - Andy's talk covers many of the fascinating themes, mysteries and new discoveries highlighted in the book.

Castlerigg

Behind the Stones: on site talks at Castlerigg Stone Circle, Saturday 16th September. One of the best known and best preserved circles in Cumbria. A ring of 38 stones stands within a spectacular ring of mountains. Looking to the north you see Skiddaw and Blencathra, to the south High Rigg and Helvellyn, to the west the Derwent Fells and to the east through a gap, the Northern Pennines.

Gosbecks Archaeological Park

Tours of Gosbecks Archaeological Park - the story of Iron Age and Roman Colchester - Sunday 17th September 2023. Also other Roman remains open in Colchester, more in the comments on our page. Situated on land formerly part of Gosbecks Farm, the Archaeological Park is recognised as one of the most significant Iron-Age and Roman sites in the Essex. Excavations in the fields surrounding the farm (named after the 13th century land owner, Rodger de Gosebek) began in the 19th century with the discovery of a Roman temple by Reverend Henry Jenkins, an amateur archaeologist. However the true scale of the site wasn't known until archaeologists examined aerial photographs of the area in the 1930s.

Wincobank

Wincobank Chapel open and Iron Age Hillfort guided walk, 16th September 2023. The fort stands on the summit of a steep hill above the River Don near Sheffield. Iit is oval in shape and covers about 10,000 square metres (108,000 ft²), surrounded by a ditch that was originally 1.5–2 m deep and a bank consisting of a rubble core with stone facings held together with timbers. The bank is vitrified, indicating that it was subjected to intense heat at some time in the past - whether this was done purposely by the builders or through accident or attack is unknown.