Team digging back into Headland's past

A WEEK-LONG archaeological dig could be about to shed more light on a community's history. The Headland, in Hartlepool, is currently a hive of activity thanks to an excavation being carried out by Durham University's archaeological services.

It is digging on the land in front of the medieval Manor House and on the site of the former Friarage sports hall and youth centre buildings. Daniel Still, project manager for the dig, said he was hopeful of unearthing Saxon or medieval remains. He added: "The Manor House was originally much larger than it is now, so we are expecting to find some remains of that. We also think we might reveal some traces of the monastic settlement on the Headland – perhaps part of the medieval cloisters. Previous digs have also uncovered Saxon remains, so it is possible that we could come across some of those as well."

The dig will involve six trenches - each more than 6ft wide - being excavated. They will range from 30ft to 120ft long. The dig has been funded by the North Hartlepool Partnership, which is using money from regional development agency One NorthEast to regenerate the Headland. Although the work of the Partnership itself comes to an end at the end of this month, it's hoped that in the longer term the Manor House can be restored and brought back into use, so the dig will reveal any archaeological remains which future developers would need to be aware of.

Councillor John Marshall, chairman of the North Hartlepool Partnership, which has funded the dig, said it was a win-win' situation because people would gain historical knowledge of the Headland as well as bringing back to life a well-loved old building. He said: "Let's hope we can do all of them so we have an area to be proud of."

(Hartlepool Mail - 23 March 2007)

Turning Back Time to York 1300

RESEARCHERS from York Archaeological Trust have identified a remarkable artefact which shows that in 1300, York was at the forefront of science and engineering.

The object, a small circular copper-alloy disc, was discovered during excavations on the site of the former York College For Girls in Low Petergate.

It has been cleaned to reveal an abbreviated Latin inscription around its edge - SIGNUM ROBERTI HOROLOGIARII - which translates as "The seal of Robert the clockmaker".

What makes the discovery exceptional is the fact that early historical records indicate that the first clocks prevailed at a number of major English churches only a few years before the seal was made, with York previously notable for its absence from this list - until now.

Experts say it is likely that Robert the clockmaker was engaged on works in York in 1300 with the most likely venue for his skills being York Minster, although the first references to a clock there do not appear in the surviving documents until much later.

Dr Richard Hall, director of Archaeology at York Archaeological Trust, said: "This is one of the most interesting single objects that we have found for some time. We are still trying to find out more about it - for example, we haven't yet managed to read the last part of the inscription, which should tell us where Robert came from. It opens up a new insight into the sounds and wonders of medieval York."

(The Press - 23 March 2007)

Viking woman had roots near the Black Sea

The bones of one of the women found in one of Norway's most famous Viking graves suggest her ancestors came from the area around the Black Sea.

The woman herself was "Norwegian," claims Professor Per Holck at the University of Oslo, who has conducted analyses of DNA material taken from her bones. But Holck says that while she came from the area that today is Norway, her forefathers may have lived n the Black Sea region.

olck, attached to the anthropological division of the university's anatomy institute (Anatomisk institutt), isn't willing to reveal more details pending publication of an article in the British magazine "European Archaeology" later this year. He told newspaper Aftenposten, though, that he's recommending the woman's bones be retrieved for further study. They were first found in 1904, when the Oseberg Viking ship was excavated, and analysed by the university.

The analysis data was withheld, however, and the woman's remains were returned to the Oseberg burial mound in 1947. Holck has only worked with the DNA extracted at the time, and he thinks they should be reexamined. He worries, however, that her bones may have been damaged during the past 60 years. If the remains are intact, he said, it would probably be possible to take more DNA tests that could reveal more about the woman and another female's bones also extracted from the Oseberg site.

(Aftenposten - 27 March 2007)

Castle Reveals Secrets after 900 Years

AN ancient castle which has been off limits to the public since it was built in 1088 is about to reveal its secrets for the first time.

Aberlleiniog Castle, located on the south east corner of Anglesey, has been witness to a long and fascinating series of owners and events. The little-known castle has been the site of a murder mystery, love triangles and even fatal duels, but few people are aware of its significance and no one has been allowed to visit for almost a thousand years.

All that is now set to change thanks to a £317,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The money will fund crucial restoration work of the castle masonry and strengthen the fabric of the castle mound to preserve its historic features and, through improved access, will ensure it remains a well-preserved focal point for the community for years to come.

Aberlleiniog Castle holds an important place in Welsh history.

A site of conflict between Anglo-Norman colonists and the indigenous Welsh Princes, it was built by Hugh of Avraches, Earl of Chester, after his victory over Gruffydd ap Cynan, King of Gwynedd.

Later it was also significant in the struggle between local families which characterised the Civil War in mid 17th century Anglesey.

The castle remained privately owned from the 11th century until 2004 when Menter M n, the Rural Development Agency for Anglesey, purchased the castle and the 26 acres of adjoining land to give ownership to the people of Anglesey.

The funding will ensure this significant archaeological resource, which holds vital information about Anglo-Norman structures, will be secured for future generations. Recent work has discovered that a fourth tower has already collapsed completely and two of the remaining towers would almost certainly be lost if this essential maintenance work is not carried out.

Jennifer Stewart, Heritage Lottery Fund manager for Wales, said, "Wales' many castles are a key element of our heritage and help to make Wales unique.

"This latest project will secure the future of a castle that is steeped in history but largely unknown outside of the local area.

"Menter M n can now share its fascinating story not only with the local people of Anglesey but across the world. Castles are a big attraction for European and American visitors to Wales and Aberlleiniog will be no exception.

"Once restoration is complete Aberlleiniog Castle will undoubtedly give the area's tourism a boost providing the perfect setting for a rural day out where families can learn about our past while exploring our natural heritage."

The grant will also support the employment of a two-year community coordinator to encourage local people to get involved in the project as volunteers on the site or to assist in the creation of a interpretation panel and leaflet.

The castle is located in ancient woodland in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that is the perfect habitat for birds, insects and bats, so volunteers will undergo training on how to manage the biodiversity of the site, which Menter M n hopes will achieve Local Nature Reserve status.

Neil Johnstone, an archaeologist and Menter Mon project leader, said, "This is without doubt a very important archaeological site and we are totally focused on increasing interest in promoting the island's heritage."

The untold story of Aberlleiniog Castle

Aberlleiniog Castle was built by Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester, pictured, at the time when Gruffydd ap Cynan was ruler of Gwynedd. When Gruffydd escaped imprisonment at Chester and raised an army, the castle was captured and burnt to the ground.

Sometime later a stone-built castle was constructed on the site, probably by a colourful 17th century character called Thomas Cheadle.

Cheadle, who worked for the Bulkeleys of Baron Hill, had a relationship with Sir Richard Bulkeley's wife. Lady Ann and Cheadle were accused of Sir Richard's murder, but were cleared and later married.

Cheadle professed to be on the side of the Royalists in the Civil War and held the post of Constable of Beaumaris Castle.

But his loyalty appears to have been questionable and he was accused of negotiating to hand the castle over to the Parliamentarians.

Some years later the sons of both Bulkeley and Cheadle fought a duel in which Bulkeley was killed. Cheadle was tried for murder, found guilty and executed by public hanging in Chester.

(Rin Simpson, Western Mail, icWales - 24 March 2007)

Heritage Bodies Sponsor Study into Illegal Removal of Archaeology

Oxford Archaeology is to undertake a new project to collate intelligence and monitor activity around the illegal removal of antiquities, otherwise known as nighthawking, from archaeological sites.

The Nighthawks Study will collect data on the extent of damage to our archaeological heritage caused by nighthawking, and a web portal allowing people to fill in an online questionnaire will be launched in April/May 2007.

Backed by English Heritage, Cadw, Historic Scotland, National Museums of Wales and the Portable Antiquities Scheme, the project will cover the whole of the UK and the Crown dependencies of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey.

It will also seek to foster a climate of opinion within all partners in the heritage sector and the government that the illegal search, removal and sale of antiquities is unacceptable.

Damage to archaeological sites caused by illegal searching and excavating and the sale of archaeological items on internet auction sites is still causing concern amongst heritage bodies, but there is a lack of robust data that details and quantifies the extent of the damage. Convictions are also rare.

“What we are going to do is try to get some reasonably reliable data about the scale of the problem and raise the profile of it with the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, so that when potential prosecutions present themselves they are pursued,” explained Pete Wilson, English Heritage’s Head of Research Policy (Roman Archaeology) and a leading figure in the subject area of portable antiquities.

Dr Wilson points to a recent case in Kent that saw a metal detectorist’s house raided and several items found with mud still on them. The detectorist even had the find locations of the pieces logged on his computer, but the case never made it to prosecution.

There have even been reports of a team in a white van armed with equipment that would rival English Heritage’s own geophysical teams, whilst at Warborough Roman site in Surrey a team of nighthawkers turned up with a lorry and a mechanical digger and started taking up great parts of the earth for sifting and sorting at another location.

“There is a feeling that the level of organisation is such that there is an element who are, as much as you can do with these type of antiquities, finding things to order,” said Dr Wilson.

Most metal detectorists belong to bona fide clubs that responsibly log their finds and work closely with the Finds Liaison Officers (FLOs) of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), which helps finders log their finds and map locations.

Every year thousands of objects are discovered in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - mostly by metal detector users. PAS, which is managed by the British Museum on behalf of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, offers the only proactive method for systematically logging and recording them for the public benefit.

The Finds Liaison Officers work with local organisations and museums to help members of the public to record their archaeological finds and navigate their way through the Treasure Act. The data is then made available through the scheme’s website at www.finds.org.uk

By law, certain objects, such as old gold and silver coins, can only be sold if they are reported under the 1996 Treasure Act.

Metal detecting clubs, key archaeological organisations, and landowners’ organisations came together on May 2 2006 to launch a Code of Practice on Responsible Metal Detecting in England and Wales. The code built on earlier efforts to provide guidance for all users of metal detectors.

But despite the good work of the PAS and Metal Detector Clubs there are still a minority of irresponsible individuals who use their hobby illicitly for personal gain.

“Metal Detecting, if done properly and responsibly, has an important part to play in understanding our past, however - there is still a minority of metal detectorists who do so outside of the law,” said Michael Lewis, Deputy Director of the PAS.

“What we hope the nighthawking project does is raise the issue onto the political agenda. The basis of the problem is that it is so difficult to quantify this activity, which is the whole point of the study.”

Data on nighthawking activities will be collected through a questionnaire filled out online or on paper. Key organisations will be asked to contribute information to the project and interviews will be conducted. The project will also collect data on the illicit sale of goods of archaeological material online and elsewhere.

For their part, the popular online auction site eBay.co.uk launched an online guide in October 2006, created with the assistance of the British Museum and PAS, to buying and selling antiquities safely on the auction with advice about reporting obligations.

PAS say they have noticed a marked decline in the amount of archaeological antiquities on the site and sellers of such items have also begun noting when something has been logged by a Finds Liaison Officer or been through the Treasure process. But the perception persists amongst heritage bodies that illicit sales continue; and the monitoring of the illicit sale of antiquities being traded on eBay and elsewhere is still relatively piecemeal and under-resourced.

“We’re in the very early stages of this,” added Dr Wilson. “Oxford Archaeology are leading the research and will be talking to archaeologists, FLOs and metal detectorists but we don’t know at this stage how the project is going to look at the problem of data validation. There are obvious sensitivities when compiling data on what is essentially criminal activity.”

(By Richard Moss, 24 Hour Museum - 16 March 2007)

Hill of a fight looming over Bannockburn

IT PLAYED a key role in the greatest ever Scottish victory over the English but - almost 700 years after the fight ended - it now faces annihilation.

Robert the Bruce's camp followers sheltered behind what became Gillies Hill during the 14th-century Battle of Bannockburn until their legendary, and decisive, charge against the enemy towards the end of the conflict.

But the historic mound - renamed after the battle in their honour - is set to be eradicated as a result of quarrying for stone to use in making roads. Although the site has been scarred by small-scale quarrying for more than a century, the local council admits far more extensive work is about to begin and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it.

Historians and campaigners last night warned that an important landmark in Scottish history was about to be obliterated. Bannockburn expert Dr Fiona Watson, a lecturer in medieval warfare at Stirling University, said the site played a "huge part in the story of the historic battle in 1314. Traditionally, the Gillies Hill provides the setting to a turning point in the Battle of Bannockburn," she said. "Bruce's 'small folk' were concealed behind the Gillies Hill, and when they emerged the English thought they were reinforcements. It was the final straw for the English and chaos ensued. Whatever was left of the English army fled. This was the moment when Edward II was persuaded to leave the field."

The "reinforcements" were in fact servants, members of the baggage train and men who had joined Bruce's ranks late on.

"Others may simply have been locals who wanted to claim they had been a part of such a famous victory," Watson said. "There is no doubt in my mind that this event happened and it would be a great shame if something like this hill, which still represents such an important moment in our history, was lost."

The new quarrying plan has also angered locals. One, who asked not to be named, said: "This physical icon of Scotland's greatest battle should not be smashed away. It is a beautiful area for people from Cambusbarron and further afield and the impact of the quarrying on wildlife will be immense."

Cambusbarron Community Council has set up the Murrayshall Quarry Liaison Group to ensure the concerns of the community are heard.

Convener and former community council chairman Michael Graham said the proposals would involve the removal of substantial proportions of the hill.

"There is an awful lot of history at Gillies Hill and I am sure 99% of local people would back the sentiment that it should not destroyed. The impact of quarrying there is a real concern but whether anything can be done about it is another matter as a planning consent is already in place."

Stirling Council's regional archaeologist Lorna Main said that quarrying the Gillies Hill would also impact on an Iron Age fort in the area.

"The area has been nibbled at for up to 150 years," she said. "When they [the quarry companies] are finished there may be no hill left."

The two companies involved in the quarrying plan are Hanson Aggregates and Tarmac, which will extract whinstone for road building.

A spokesman for Stirling Council's planning department said consent to quarry the site was originally granted in 1982 and that the new work could start within "a couple of months. Both companies propose to reactivate the Murrayshall Quarry at Gillies Hill. Tarmac will begin work again in the next few months, and Hanson have advised they will start in the summer. A substantial part of the area will be quarried out."

The spokesman confirmed that the council could not stop the work taking place as consent to quarry the area had already been given. "There are conditions affecting access, hours of working, dust, noise, blasting and vibration, but nothing to prevent the work taking place," he added.

A spokesman for Tarmac, which owns part of the Murrayshall quarry, said: "There is already a hole in the hill, and that hole will become larger.

"There is an approved planning scheme, but it is difficult for me to picture the difference to the overall size of the hill."

A spokesman for Hanson Aggregates said the company could reactivate part of the quarry "later in the year" but added: "We are aware of local concern and we are speaking to the local community council.

"We have also spoken to Historic Scotland and Scottish National Heritage and have also had archaeologists look at the site to review our information. It is not in Hanson's interests to work against communities."

(by George Mair - Scotsman.com - 18 March 2007)

Bedford Book of Hours to go on display

The Bedford Book of Hours, described as "an outstanding work of late medieval manuscript art", is to go on display at the British Library next week.

The lavishly illustrated book is described as "the finest manuscript to survive from the renowned library of John, the Duke of Bedford (brother of King Henry V of England)".

It appears alongside the Sobieski Hours, another richly illustrated 15th century manuscript, which has been lent by The Queen for the purposes of this exhibition entitled The Bedford Hours: Owners and Illuminators.

Both books are the work of the 15th century artist known as the Bedford Master.

It had previously been thought that the Bedford Hours was made to commemorate the duke's marriage to Anne of Burgundy on 13 May 1423, as their portraits appear in its pages. However, the manuscript was probably started earlier, between 1410 and 1415, for another patron. The duke was English regent in France from 1422 to 1435.

(By James Burleigh, Daily Telegraphy - 17 March 2007)