Oct 16 2008
 Pic: Geof Teague |
Jason from the Wild Hunt reports that The Wicker Man is to be a Rock Opera. He reports:
After the dreadful abomination that was the 2006 remake of “The Wicker Man” are we really ready for another treatment of this pagan musical cult-classic? Foul Play SF and The Dark Room certainly hope so as they unleash “The Wicker Man: A Rock Opera About the Ultimate Sacrifice”.
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Oct 14 2008
 Pic: FOX News |
FOX News reports that in Copenhagem, Denmark, Danish archaeologists say they have found a well-preserved Viking shield that is more than 1,000 years old.
Archaeologist Kirsten Christensen says the wooden shield has a diameter of 32 inches. It was found Tuesday during excavations near Viking-age castles, some 60 miles west of Copenhagen. |
Christensen said Thursday it is the first time such a shield has been found in Denmark. She said the moist soil in the area is “ideal to preserve wood.”
The fir shield is believed to date from the late 10th century.
Read the full story at FOX News.
Oct 13 2008
 Pic: grufnik |
The Los Angeles Times reports that British researchers think they have solved the decades-old mystery of why ancient Britons transported massive rocks 250 miles from Wales to Salisbury Plain to construct the massive but enigmatic Stonehenge monument: They believed the stones possessed healing powers. |
Oct 12 2008
 Pic: iomtoday |
The Isle of Man Today reports that artefacts believed to be 4,000-years-old discovered at Isle of Man Transport Minister David Anderson’s farm in Patrick have been donated to the national museum collection. The two copper axeheads and a blade were unearthed by a metal detector enthusiast Rob Middleton in a field at Ballamoar earlier this year. |
They date from the early Bronze Age (2500 – 2150 BC) in a period sometimes called the Copper Age when metal working was in its infancy and was beginning to replace flint as the new, modern material. Continue Reading »
Oct 11 2008
 Pic: gary |
In this story, which is part 1 of a 2 part story, we hear the tale of the oldest and greatest Seanachi or Story-teller of Ireland, Fintan. It was the job of the Shannachie to travel the land of Erin and collect stories from far-flung corners and this tale tells of his long life and his place in the history of the magical Isle of Erin. He first appears in the Histories before the great flood and the first settlers of Erin and doesn’t disappear until well into the historical period, this tale taking place around 600 A.D. |
The original tale has a beautiful dialogue in one of Fintan’s tales that doesn’t transcribe to the audio format very well. It includes a long and very important list of all the places in ancient Ireland that define the boundaries of its divisions. As these names are mostly foreign to us, this list made very boring listening so we had to cut it out. For completeness, you will find the original dialogue in the Shownotes.
We are very fortunate to have been given permission to use the amazing harp music of Anne Roos for the Story of Fintan and you can hear three of her tracks when Fintan picks up his harp and begins to tell his tale. You can find out more details about Anne in the Shownotes for this episode or on her Contributor page.
The Episode is available for subscribers on the feed, or you can download it or listen to it from our Episodes page. You can find the Shownotes for this episode in the Shownotes section.
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Oct 09 2008
 Pic: Cyberesque |
The Guardian reports that a handful of scraps of charred wood and a little pile of stone chips – finds from the first excavation at Stonehenge in more than 40 years – have added thousands of years to the history of one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments. |
Oct 08 2008
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There has been an important development in terms of Celtic language television broadcasting with the launch of the new Gaelic TV station BBC Alba. |
The new channel is initially available on Sky satellite TV channel 168 and also on Freesat. The station will also become available on the digital terrestrial service Freeview. However the Freeview launch will not take place until 2010 at the earliest which is disappointing. Continue Reading »
Oct 07 2008
 Pic: Novopress |
During the Heritage Days held on 20 and 21 September, the Museum of Prehistory in Carnac publicly unveiled the newly discovered exceptional archaeological discovery at Saint-Pierre-Quiberon. They found four long polished axes and a submerged menhir alignment, dating from the early Neolithic period (fifth millennium BC). |
Oct 06 2008
 Pic: rightee |
Steven Morris of the Guardian reports that volunteers restore the historic giant of Cerne Abbas to his former glory. As we blogged recently, the National Trust were trying to import some sheep to clean off the Giant, but it seems that the initiative has failed and Steven tells us of the latest plan. He writes:- |
Oct 05 2008
 Pic: Alun Ffred Jones |
The Daily Post reports that Heritage minister Alun Ffred Jones yesterday pledged new laws and rights for Welsh speakers to halt a continuing threat to the future of the language.
The Arfon AM told the Plaid conference he was privileged to hold responsibility for what “defines us as a nation”. He warned that the Welsh language will ‘shrivel further and die’ unless its speakers were free to use it in all aspects of life. |
Mr Jones is now in charge of the delayed Assembly bid to Westminster for legal powers which could mean a statutory commissioner to oversee new rights and equality for Welsh. He said:
It is not a relic which exists independently of anything else. Unless it’s an integral part of all the activities of Government and beyond, we have failed.
But he told delegates in Aberystwyth a discussion was still needed to persuade people to use the language, “not an argument as if someone on one side has all the answers”.
Mr Jones said that culture, heritage, the arts and sport were essential to define Wales as a nation.
Read the full story at the Welsh Daily Post.
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