Jul
11
2008
Pic: BBC |
The BBC have just reported that a major archaeological investigation is getting under way at one of Western Europe’s most impressive prehistoric sites.
The Ring of Brodgar in Orkney is the third largest stone circle in the British Isles, but little is known about it. |
The project will involve the re-excavation and extension of trenches dug in 1973. Geophysical surveys will also be undertaken to investigate the location of standing stones.
Dr Jane Downes of the Archaeology Department, Orkney College, UHI, and Dr Colin Richards of the University of Manchester are the project directors.
Dr Downes said:
Because so little is known about the Ring of Brodgar, a series of assumptions have taken the place of archaeological data.
The interpretation of what is arguably the most spectacular stone circle in Scotland is therefore incomplete and unclear.
Source
Jul
10
2008
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A new dictionary of Gaelic will be as important as “great art collections” held by national galleries, a university figure has said.
Strathclyde’s Boyd Robertson, convener of the Faclair na Gaidhlig project steering group, commented ahead of the launch of a business plan for it. |
The aim is to produce a dictionary on a par with the Scottish National and Oxford English dictionaries.
Four universities and Gaelic college Sabhal Mor Ostaig on Skye are involved. Continue Reading »
Jul
08
2008
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ARCHAEOLOGISTS working on excavations for the controversial M3 motorway feared they would be “sacked, blacklisted or bullied out of their profession” for not supporting the building of the chosen route, it was claimed last Thursday. Speaking at a debate on the motorway near Tara at the sixth World Archaeological Congress at UCD, Maggie Ronayne, a lecturer in the department of archaeology at NUI, Galway, said pressure was put on site directors and field teams by archaeologists employed by the National Roads Authority (NRA). Ms Ronayne said:
“Lip service was paid to archaeology, but archaeologists were used to destroy our heritage,” said Ms Ronayne. “From the point of view of archaeology, the route chosen by the NRA was the least desirable, and other routes were not properly considered because they were not profitable for developers.”
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Continue Reading »
Jul
06
2008
Pic: BBC |
A disturbing news report appeard on a Druid Newsgroup last night as General Sam reports that Archdruid Rollo Maughfling has suffered a severe stroke and is now blind and paralysed. The Celtic Myth Podshow wish him a speedy recovery or smooth travels. General Sam says:
We received the sad news in Ireland last night that our dear friend and colleague in Druidry, Rollo Maughfling, Archdruid of Stonehenge and England, Founder of the Glastonbury Order of Druids (G.O.D.), was admitted to hospital . He is blind and paralysed, suffering from a lethal stroke it seems. Rollo is also Stonehenge Officer of the Council of British Druid Orders, the largest of its kind in the world, encompassing at least 18 Druid Orders and Associates at home and abroad, and co-ordinating their work with many more, as the best-known and most active Druid umbrella group on the planet, representing 17,000 Druids.
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Continue Reading »
Jul
04
2008
Pic: BBC |
Archaeologists have found the site of what they believe is one of England’s oldest houses.
The Stone Age house was unearthed at Kingsmead Quarry in Horton, close to Windsor Castle, and is thought to be more than 5,000 years old. |
Dr Alistair Barclay of Wessex Archaeology, said it was a rare discovery. Continue Reading »
Jul
03
2008
Pic: Sacred Texts |
FRENCH historians have suggested King Arthur was indeed a Welshman despite years of English “spin” claiming the mythical figure as their own.
As part of a major conference into the legend, academics say that if the king ever existed he was probably from Wales with strong links to Brittany, in northern France.
And far from being English – a ploy, they say, to appeal to nationalist sentiment – he would actually have been the sworn enemy of the Anglo-Saxons.
The organisers of the event at Rennes University, in Brittany, say the fable of Arthur and Camelot has been continually updated by English nationalists keen to bring back the Age of Chivalry. |
The tales of Camelot, Excalibur and Arthurian derring-do have long been popular throughout Europe, with the earliest images of the king found in Italy, dating from about 1120. They also quickly spread as far apart as Iceland and found particular popularity in rural Brittany, although French historians have not gone as far as trying to claim the king as French. Continue Reading »
Jul
02
2008
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A replica Viking longship has set off on a 2200km return journey from Dublin to Denmark.The Sea Stallion of Glendalough began the six week trip from the mouth of the River Liffey after almost a year on display in Collins Barracks museum.
More than 1,000 people turned out to wish the vessel and its 65 crew a safe journey. |
Continue Reading »
Jul
01
2008
Pic: BBC |
The BBC report that the public can have their say on the future of Stonehenge, in a three-month consultation to improve the site.
People can give feedback on road proposals near Stonehenge and the location of new visitor facilities.
English Heritage Corporate Communications spokesperson Renee Fok said people needed to have a say because of global interest in the site. Ms Fok said the consultation was crucial in preparing the site for the 2012 Olympic Games. |
English Heritage expects people visiting England for the Olympics in London will also visit other well-known tourist sites, such as Stonehenge.
Source
Jun
30
2008
Pic: BNPS.CO.UK |
This London reports that the Cerne Abbas Giant has suffered as a result of the increase in wet weather we are getting here in the UK. As you can see from the picture to the left, the archetypal image of the Dagda (if that is who he represents), has almost disappeared under the rapidly growing grass.
And thanks to a decline in sheep farming in the surrounding area, the flock that traditionally graze on the site have been unavailable to provide the giant figure with its annual trim. |
Continue Reading »
Jun
27
2008
Pic: gary |
The first part of the Midsummer Special is available for download and is on the feed. We celebrate the Midsummer Festival with a massive offering of goodies. So we’ve divided the episode into two parts. The first part contains a reading from The Religion of the Ancient Celts, another from a modern book called Fairy Healing, some music, and a story by Willie Meikle called The First Silkie.
Part 2 of the Midsummer Special will be available in the middle of next week. |
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.
