January 2021 Resources

February 2021 Resources

March 2021 Resources

April 2021 Resources

May 2021 Resources

June 2021 Resources

July and August 2021 Resources

September 2021 Resources

October 2021 Resources

November 2021 Resources

December 2021 Resources

January 2022 Resources

February 2022 Resources

March 2022 Resources

April 2022 Resources

May 2022 Resources

June, July, and August 2022 Resources

September 2022 Resources

October 2022 Resources

November 2022 Resources

December 2022 Resources

January 2023 Resources

February 2023 Resources

March 2023 Resources

April 2023 Resources

May 2023 Resources

June-July-August 2023 Resources

September 2023 Resources

October 2023 Resources

November 2023 Resources

December 2023 Resources

January 2024 Resources

February 2024 Resources

March 2024 Resources

April 2024 Resources

January 2021

Books: This website has added two important resource guides for those visiting the Saints and Stones of England, Scotland, and Wales. Added to each England, Scotland, and Wales Saints Resources page is a 2020 publication of the British Pilgrimage Trust, Britain's Pilgrim Places. The book covers 500 holy places and 48 major pilgrimage routes in the UK. Added to each England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland Stones Resources page is a 2018 publication, The Old Stones: A Field Guide to the Megalithic Sites of Britain and Ireland. The latter, which covers over 1,000 of British and Irish prehistoric places, was judged the Current Archaeology Book of the Year in 2019.

Publications: Highly recommended to the readers of this website is the bi-monthly publication, Scottish Islands Explorer, which, as its titles indicates, contains timely and enjoyable information about the many islands off the mainland of Scotland, and may be subscribed to for hard copies or received digitally at a reduced price.

Websites and Blogs: Readers are encouraged to click onto to the highly regarded blog of inveterate traveller to Scotland, Washington State resident Marc Calhoun. His blog, Exploring the Islands of the West: Journeys to the Western Islands of Scotland, chronicles his many visits since his first to Iona in 1988.

Podcasts: Viewers of this website may be interested in several podcasts that deal with the Saints and Stones of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Neil Oliver's Love Letter to the British Isles is the weekly podcast of the well-known Scottish archaeologist, author, and tv presenter of programs on the BBC. His podcasts are based on his 2018 book, The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places. Rupert Soskin and Michael Bott of Standing with Stones fame present The Prehistory Guys monthly. Each podcast interviews a prominent archaeologist. Lastly, the Thin Places Travel Podcast is presented by tour guide Mindie Burgoyne. In each episode she interviews authors and travel guides who take the listener to Saints and Stones sites in Ireland.

Passings: Tim Severin, a British adventurer who for 40 years meticulously replicated the journeys of real and mythic explorers, died on December 18, 2020 at his home in West Cork, Ireland. He was 80. One of his most famous journeys was the Brendan Voyage in 1976-1977. Convinced that the seven-year voyage across the Atlantic Ocean by St. Brendan, who lived between 489 and 583 A.D., was not just a legend, Severin and his four crew built a replica of Brendan’s currach using traditional materials of wood and ox hides and launched it from Brandon Creek on the Dingle Peninsula on the west coast of Ireland. Sailing 4,500 miles (7,200 km) from Ireland to Newfoundland with stops in the Hebrides, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland en route, the journey was completed in 1977. Severin later wrote a book about the voyage entitled The Brendan Voyage: Sailing to America in a Leather Boat to Prove the Legend of the Irish Sailor Saints. A film of the voyage was made later, and it may be viewed on YouTube where it is divided into two parts: Part One and Part Two.

Additional Information: The six 2020 Rhind Lectures have been posted to youtube. This year's lectures, Neolithic Scotland: The Big Picture and Detailed Narratives in 2020, were delivered by Dr. Alison Sheridan, a British archaeologist who was Principal Curator of Early Prehistory at National Museums Scotland, where she worked from 1987 to 2019 in Edinburgh. Here is a link to the first lecture. The remaining five lectures may be accessed on the youtube website. To make the lectures more enjoyable and eliminate the bothersome ads that pop up at the worst times, go to the website viewpure.com, where you simply add the youtube URL of the site you are watching and can watch the programs without interruptions.

February 2021

Books: Wild Ruins B.C.: The Explorer's Guide to Britain's Ancient Sites is an important resource guide for those visiting the Saints and Stones of England, Scotland, and Wales. As such, it has been added to each England, Scotland, and Wales Stones Resources page oin this website. The book by Dave Hamilton covers a variety pf megalithic sites throughout Britain "from the first human footprints of 800,000 years ago, to ancient axe factories, rock art, stone circles, mountain burials, sunset hill forts, lost villages and temples to the dead." Most valuable for the visitor are his elaborate instructions on how to get to the sites.

Publications: Current Archaeology is a publication that is highly recommended to the readers of this website. Published monthly, it focuses almost exclusively on the archaeology of Britain. Individual copies may be found in bookstores. Subscriptions to the hard copy version are available, as are digital monthly or yearly subscriptions from Exact Editions, which includes access to the 50 year back issues of this magazine. Some current articles are free on the magazine's website. Sample of Past Issues.

Websites and Blogs: The North Atlantic Arc is a personal chronicle of the travels of Massachusetts resident Mr Tattie Heid across the arc of the North Atlantic, from eastern Canada to northwestern Europe, with a particular focus on Scotland. It consists of daily journals and photographs of landscapes and townscapes, ancient monuments from the neolithic to the medieval, great churches and Scotch whisky distilleries, and whatever else catches his eye. According to the author, "There just might be a pub or two along the way." Great writing and wonderful photos. Highly recommended to readers of this website.

Podcasts: This website recommends A History of England in 100 Places, a podcast that steps "back in time to the very roots of our national identity to bring you the people and the stories that have helped shape England," many of which highlight the Saints and Stones of England. Specifically, we recommend the latest series on Faith and Belief, which covers such Saints sites are Lindisfarne, Fountains Abbey, and St. Martin's Church in Canterbury, among others. Here is an example podcast: Stonehenge, Lindisfarne, and a Holy Well.

Organizations: Readers are directed to the Caithness Broch Project, an organization dedicated to "Promoting, preserving and ensuring a lasting legacy for the archaeology of Caithness" in Northern Scotland. The Project has several goals: "promotion and signage of existing Caithness archaeological sites, authentic building of an Iron Age broch, and running the broch as a tourist attraction." Two organizers of the project were recently interviewed on the The Prehistory Guys podcast and also appeared in an Orkney Archaeology Society sponsored online talk last month. If interested, you can support the Caithness Broch Project by becoming a Member or a Friend of the Project.

Videos: Ocassionally, this website will feature a link to a video that pertains to the Saints and Stones of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. This month we feature a short video by Dig Ventures entitled Lindisfarne Before and After the Viking Raids. For more on the orgnization and their many projects including the one on Lindisfarne, see their website.

March 2021

Books: This website recommends Digging Up Britain: Ten Discoveries, a Million Years of History, which traces the history of Britain through key discoveries and excavations. With British archaeologist Mike Pitts as a guide, this book covers the most exciting excavations of the past ten years. The book relates firsthand stories from the people who dug up the remains. Each chapter of the book tells the story of a single excavation or discovery from such sites as Star Carr, Gough's Cave, and Stonehenge. Pitts has been the long-time editor of editor of British Archaeology magazine.

Publications: British Archaeology, a bi-monthly publication of the Council for British Archaeology (CBA), looks in depth at the latest archaeology news, discoveries and research within the UK and from British Archaeologists working overseas. Both print and digital editions of the magazine are included with membership in the CBA. In addition, membership includes a searchable back library of previous issues. To become a member, go to the CBA membership page.

Websites and Blogs: The Hazel Tree is a blog written by Jo Woolf, who lives by the sea in Argyll, Scotland, where she writes mostly about landscape, nature and history - in particular the many ancient sites such as standing stones, rock carvings, and early chapels that are scattered around the Scottish west coast and its islands. Highly recommended to readers of this website. Great writing and wonderful photos from that part of the world.

Podcasts: This website recommends two excellent podcasts this month. The first podcast comes from British broascaster Melvyn Bragg's excellent long-running radio program, In Our Time and is a discussion of the life of St. Cuthbert, one of the most venerated English saints who evangelized Northumbria. The second comes from the Thin Places Travel Podcast and features Martin Byrne speaking about the Carrowkeel Megalithic Complex near his home in County Sligo.

Organizations: This website highly endorses the work of the Orkney Archaeology Society, which supports the management and development of the amazing archaeological and historical resources in Orkney. The Society provides information on archaeological activity through publications and in-person and online meetings and events. The Society also runs an online shop with books and locally made craft items. Readers are encouraged to join the Society. Information on membership and current activities of the Society may be found online. Funds raised through membership, shop sales, and donations are used to award archaeological grants for projects in Orkney such as the major dig at the Ness of Brodgar. Also see the Society's Facebook page for additional information.

Videos: Current Archaeology Live! 2021 will run from March 5 to March 7 this year, a week later than originally slated. This year it will be, of course, a virtual event. Readers can view the various presentations by leading archaeological experts from across the UK on Current Archaeology's YouTube site. According to the magazine, the presentations will be availble for free on the above dates. List of Speakers. It is not clear if they will be available after the event.

Archaeological Course: Readers are direted to a wonderful opportunity to take a free archaeological course from the University of York in England. The four week course, Exploring Stone Age Archaeology: The Mysteries of Star Carr, is for anyone with an interest in the past and archaeology. There are no requirements except interest. For more information and to register, please go to the link above.

April 2021

Books: This website recommends Hidden Histories: A Spotter's Guide to the British Landscape by well-known British TV presenter Mary Ann Ochota. Wherever you go in Britain there is history woven into the landscape around you in the shape of a field, the wall of a cottage, a standing stone or churchyard, even in the grass under your feet. And there are literally thousands of sites scattered across the country that do not have tickets and tour guides, but are waiting to reveal their secrets. This book arms the explorer with the crucial information needed to "read" the landscape and spot the human activities that have shaped Britain. Helpful photographs and diagrams point out specific details and typical examples to help you understand what you are looking at, or looking for. A very interesting and useful book.

Publications: Archaeology Ireland, which is published quarterly, provides the reader with a constant stream of articles, news and features, covering many areas in archaeology including science, art, architecture, history, geography, economics, sociology, anthropology, religion and more on the Emerald Isle. Both print and digital subscriptions are available. Each issue carries a detailed heritage guide of a major Irish archeological site, free to subscribers only.

Websites and Blogs: Sli Cholmcille: St. Columba's Trail. Sli means "way," and Sli Cholmcille explores the language and heritage of Ireland and Scotland through the life of Colmcille or St. Columba. It is a trail of many sites associated with the saint and his followers, linking Gaelic-speaking communities in the two countries. The website is a project developed by Colmcille, an initiative named after the saint. It was set up in 1997, a year which saw commemorations of the 1400th anniversary of the death of St Columba. In addition, the project is currently celebrating Colmcille1500, the life and legacy of St. Columba 1500 years from his birth. The 7th of December is the traditional birthday of the saint, and the commemoration opened officially on the 7th December 2020 and extends with events and celebrations throughout 2021.

Podcasts: Just off the British coast is a sunken world that was once the hub of mesolithic Europe.The first podcast this website recommends for April comes from British TV prresenter Dan Snow's History Hit podcast and is entitled The Lost World of Doggerland. Professor Simon Fitch, a specialist in Archaeological Sciences, joins Snow for this podcast. The second recommended podcast is from History Extra. Hear author Max Adams discussing his book The First Kingdom, Britain in the Age of Arthur, which pieces together the evidence to uncover what happened after the fall of Roman Britain in the podcast The Dark Ages: A "Black Hole" in Britain's History.

Organizations: The British Archaeological Association was founded in 1843 for the study of archaeology, art, and architecture, and to promote the preservation of historic monuments and antiquities. It exists to enhance understanding of the material culture of Europe and the Mediterranean, especially in Britain. An example of its work is the recent conference co-sponsored with English Heritage and held in January 2021 that focused on Aelred, Abbot of Rievaulx Abbey between 1147 and 1167 A.D.

Videos: The recently released Netflix film The Dig tells the story of the the events of the 1939 excavation at Sutton Hoo, an Anglo-Saxon burial ground in Suffolk that unearthed a ship buried with a wealth of artefacts. Some have called it "the greatest treasure ever discovered in the UK." The National Trust of the UK has released a short video, Unearth the Real Story of Sutton Hoo, that goes behind the scenes. Lastly, the Time Team youtube website has an interview with Author John Preston, whose book the film was based upon. As this website has pointed out in previous homepages, to make youtube videos more enjoyable and eliminate the bothersome ads that pop up at the worst times, go to the website viewpure.com, where you simply add the youtube URL of the site you are watching and can watch the programs without interruptions.

May 2021

Books: The Road Wet, the Wind Close: Celtic Ireland by James Charles Roy. If I had to suggest books to read about the saints and stones of Ireland, this work no doubt would be on my list if not at the top of my list. Roy explores early Irish history from the island's first inhabitants around 7000 B.C. to the Norman invasion of A.D. 1169. Beautifully written, Roy combines scholarship with personal reminiscence and contemporary interviews to give a well-rounded portrait of the Celtic past and its hold on the present. Each chapter focuses on a particular geographical or archaeological site and examines the entire historical period the site represents. Highly recommended.

Publications: History Scotland. Scottish Archaeology is prominently featured in this publication, providing the reader with the latest Scottish archaeology news, including dig reports and finds analysis. In addition, archaeology volunteer opportunities, courses and summer schools, and onsite and online events, and recommded books are found on its website. Subscribing to this bi-monthly publication comes with exclusive access to online history, archaeology and heritage articles, interviews and more.

Websites and Blogs: The main goal of the The British Pilgrimage Trust, founded in 1914, is "to advance British pilgrimage as a form of cultural heritage that promotes holistic wellbeing, for the public benefit." According to the BPT "'Holistic wellbeing' includes physical, mental, emotional, social, community, environmental and spiritual health, and we aim to make these benefits accessible to wide new audiences. Pilgrimage has the potential to promote community and diversity in Britain's spiritual landscape." The BPT welcomes members. In 2019, it published its first book: Britain's Pilgrim Places, a great work covering more than 500 enchanting holy places, all 48 major pilgrimage routes, and every medieval cathedral in the U.K.

Podcasts: The great passage tomb of Newgrange in the Boyne Valley of County Meath is one of Ireland's most iconic monuments. A World Heritage Site, it is one of the most visited monuments by people from all over the world. This Amplify Archaeology podcast features Dr. Jessica Smyth of the University College Dublin discussing Newgrange & Neolithic Ireland. Our second presentation is an English Heritage Voices of England podcast that features trustee Professor Ronald Hutton of the University of Bristol on the legacy of pre-Christian beliefs. Discover what the earliest settlers in England believed, the evidence that can still be found in our historic landscapes, our ancient ritual monuments and our language, and how the arrival of Christianity changed English society as a whole in this podcast, How pre-Christian Beliefs Shaped Our Landscape, Landmarks and Language.

Organizations: In 2012, Dig Ventures launched the world's first-ever crowdfunded and crowdsourced archaeological excavation at Flag Fen, a Bronze Age wetlands site and Scheduled Ancient Monument near Peterborough, UK. It was a huge success, raising a worldwide community of over 250 citizen archaeologists and enough monetary contributions to run an internationally-important collaborative archaeological research project. Since then, the organization has run over 40 projects and grown its community each year. A current online course offered by the organizayoion may be of interest. See How to Do Archaeology.

Art/Photography: Aidan Hart, a member of the Greek Orthodox Church living in Britain, has been a full-time icon painter and carver for over twenty-five years. He has worked in more than twenty countries of the world and in many cathedrals and monasteries. According to Hart, "his aim, in accordance with the Byzantine icon tradition, is to make liturgical art that manifests the world transfigured in Christ." He has given this website permission to link to his site, Aidan Hart Sacred Icons, which contains a variety of beautiful icons. In particular, the reader is directed to the section of his website featuring Western Saints, many of whom are connected to the Saints Sites visited in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Videos: Land, Sea and Sky: The Archaeology of Coasts and Islands was a 2020 conference sponsored by Archaeology Ireland that explores the archaeology and settlement of islands, coastal areas, and the sea that links them. The conference also exploreed the connections of archaeological heritage with local and coastal communities and its role in establishing a sense of place. Five different sessions are available for viewing online. Presentation List.

June 2021

Books: Orcadia: Land, Sea and Stone in Neolithic Orkney by Mark Edmonds. The Orcadian archipelago is a museum of archaeological wonders. Its largest island, Mainland, is home to some of the oldest and best-preserved Neolithic sites in Europe, the most famous of which are the passage grave of Maeshowe, the megaliths of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar and the village of Skara Brae. Following a broadly chronological narrative, and highlighting different lines of evidence as they unfold, Mark Edmonds traces the development of the Orcadian Neolithic from its beginnings in the early fourth millennium BC through to the end of the period nearly two thousand years later.

Publications: Orkney Islander. Orkney has been named the "best place to live in the UK" for the past eight years. This publication, produced by The Orcadian newspaper in Orkney's main town, Kirkwall, is a wealth of information on the archipelago's history, archaeology, and wildlife, as well as individual capsules of the main islands. As it is supported by advertisements, the publication gives the reader a feel for various skills and occupations of its residents. The archeology section (pp.58ff) covers the main digs currently on Orkney.

Websites and Blogs: A wealth of Orkney information may be found on Orkneyjar: The Heritage of the Orkney Islands, a privately-run, non-profit website, created and maintained by Orcadian Sigurd Towrie. Begun in 1997 to provide a platform to publish the numerous articles on Orcadian history and heritage that Towrie had written over the years, it is highly recommended.

Podcasts: The podcast recommended for June 2021, Neil Oliver's Love Letter to the British Isles, turns the British Isles upside down! Travelling to Orkney, off the northeast tip of Scotland, he uncovers ancient burial tombs and ceremonial halls, and gives us a glimpse of an influential powerhouse long hidden by time. As he tells the story of the profound changes this once formidable center of influence has undergone, he unravels the lessons history tells us and the pointers it gives to what may lay ahead in the future in Hidden Power: The Ness of Brodgar, Orkney.

Organizations: University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute is a world-class teaching and research organization dedicated to advancing our understanding of the historic environment through the creation, interpretation, and dissemination of archaeological knowledge. Its website, Archaeology Orkney, periodically issues information on ongoing published research in Orkney. In addition, the Institute has a blog that you can subscribe to.

Addendum: The reader is encouraged to once again visit a great Orkney resource that was highlighted on our March 2021 Homepage: Orkney Archaeological Society (OAS). The OAS has recently issued its annual publication for this year, the Orkney Archaeological Review 2021.

Videos: Orkney archaeologist Martin Carruthers of the University of the Highlands and Islands gave an online talk in April sponsored by the Orkney Archaeological Society about The Cairns, the dig he directs on South Ronaldsay. Titled The Life and Times of The Cairns: A Thousand Years of Living at a Broch Settlement, it is available on the Orkney Archaeological Society YouTube website.

July and August 2021

Books: In Search of Angels: Travels to the Edge of the World by Alistair Moffat. In this book, the author journeys from the island of Eileach an Naoimh in the Garvellachs at the mouth of the Firth of Lorne to Lismore, Iona, and then north to Applecross, searching for traces of Irish saints Brendan, Moluag, Columba, Maelrubha, and others. He finds them not often in any tangible remains, but in the spirit of the islands and remote places where they passed their exemplary lives.

Publications: Historic Research England is a digital magazine produced by Historic England about the organization's work and work it funds to support the protection and management of the historic environment. The latest issue may be downloaded as a free PDF magazine. A special issue was published in 2020: Historic England Research Issue 16 focuses on archaeological research carried out or supported by Historic England.

Websites and Blogs: Well-known to the archaeological world, the Megalithic Portal was founded in 2001 by Andy Burnham, who still leads the effort. It is run by a team of voluntary editors and site administrators with input and contributions from thousands of photographers, archaeologists, locals, and visitors. The site's web resource runs on its own server with a huge database, maps, and image library and costs a significant amount to keep running long term. You can show your support by joining up as a Contributory Member, which gives you full membership in the Megalithic Portal Society. Well worth the 10 GBP per year, or equivalent in your currency. Membership Benefits. Burnham is also editor of The Old Stones, the Current Archaeology magazine Book of the Year in 2019. Note: If you are using VPN and have difficulty accessing the site, please disable your VPN.

Podcasts: Our podcast for this month presents The Prehistory Guys and their guest, Dr. Alison Sheridan, recently retired Principal Archaeological Research Curator at the National Museums of Scotland, speaking on the "Neolithization of Britain." Her special area is the crossover period between the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods in Britain and Ireland. In this interview you'll find out what makes her thesis on how the Neolithic 'package' made it across from the continent 6,000 years ago both compelling and controversial.

Organizations: The aims of Vindolanda Charitable Trust, founded in the spring of 1970, were for making the structures and artefacts available to the interested public, especially educational groups, and for engaging with people from all walks of life. Today, its vision is to excavate and preserve the Roman remains in the Trust's ownership in the central sector of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site. The highlight of the Trust's blog is the presentation of the amazing finds from its many years of excavation.

Art-Photography: Jim Richardson is a well-known photographer for National Geographic magazine and a contributing editor for its sister publication, TRAVELER magazine. He has photographed more than fifty stories for National Geographic. He has given us permission to link to his website and its photography, which gives the viewer a look at the lives of the inhabitants of Scotland and the Celtic areas and the lands they live in. His photographs are terrific.

Videos: We present two videos this month - one short and one a bit longer, but both excellent presentations. The first Clava Cairns, Scotland is a 4K aerial film of amazing Bronze Age burial chambers. Presented by Megalithomania, this short video focuses on the Clava cairn, a type of Bronze Age circular chamber tomb cairn, named after the group of three cairns at Balnuaran of Clava, to the east of Inverness in Scotland. There are about 50 cairns of this type in an area round about Inverness. The second video is entitled Dunnicaer - An Archaeological Investigation. On the coast of Aberdeenshire lies the spectacular Dunnottar Castle, a 7th Century A.D. Pictish power center. Nearby is Dunnicaer, an unassuming and substantially eroded sea stack that contains evidence to suggest it was an even earlier power center of the Picts. This film explores the investigations conducted by Aberdeen University into the site and helps uncover its mysterious past. Enjoy.

September 2021

Books: Climbing Brandon: Science and Faith on Ireland's Holy Mountain by Chet Raymo. For many years, acclaimed science writer Chet Raymo has lived part of each year on the Dingle Peninsula, near the foot of the mountain, and he has climbed it perhaps a hundred times, exploring paths that have been used for centuries by pilgrims in search of spiritual enlightenment. But the history and geography of Mount Brandon are what drew Raymo to it and offered him a lens through which to view the modern conflicts between science and religion. An excellent book.

Publications: The Council for British Archaeology Wales, an organization that serves to promote interest in the historic environment of Wales and to bring together those interested in Welsh archaeology publishes Archaeology in Wales, the journal on recent archaeological discoveries relating to Wales. The journal is free to subscribing members and is produced on an annual basis. It includes a gazetteer of recent archaeological work undertaken in Wales as well as longer contributions.

Websites and Blogs: Aside from the Megalithic Portal, The Modern Antiquarian is the other major website dedicated to ancient sites. It is based on Julian Cope's epic guidebook of the same name and his other book, The Megalithic European. Since launching in March 2000, the site has grown to be a massive resource for news, information, images, folklore & weblinks on sites across the UK, Ireland, and Europe, thanks to the efforts of its many constributors. Its "Latest News" column is particulary valuable, keeping interested parties up-to-date on issues involving stone sites.

Podcasts: From Cornwall to Orkney, stone circles are scattered throughout the length and breadth of the British Isles. Their history stretches more than 2 millennia, varying from the earlier huge stone circles such as Castlerigg, Avebury, and the Ring of Brodgar to the smaller and more regional circles that emerged after ca. 2,000 B.C. Their remains continue to attract great amounts of visitors right up to the present day. Our podcast for this month is The Ancients: Stone Circles and features Dan Snow chatting with Timothy Darvill OBE, a professor from the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology at Bournemouth University and the author of Prehistoric Britain.

Organizations: The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (ScARF) is an organization that has been around for 240 years and actively supports the study and enjoyment of Scotland's past. ScARF publishes books and peer reviewed papers, runs an annual programme of lectures and conferences (such as the prestigious Rhind Lectures), and administers research grants and prizes. Following the creation of a national Scottish Archaeological Research Framework in 2012, the organization is formulating regional frameworks for all regions of Scotland, key parts of Scotland's Archaeology Strategy. Currently, ScARF has issued frameworks for five regions of Scotland. As an example, see: A Framework for the Western Islands, Orkney, and Shetland.

Art-Photography: This month we feature the superb photos of Ken Williams, photographer and researcher from Drogheda, in the heart of the Boyne Valley of Ireland, specializing in the prehistoric art and monuments of Western Europe. He describes his work thusly: "For the past 15 years I have been engaged in a long term photographic project centering on the megalithic monuments of Western Europe, entitled 'Shadows and Stone'" His work, which has been featured in a number of publications and media, has documented the discovery of many previously unrecorded carvings at some of Ireland's best known monuments as well as identifying previously unknown open-air rock art sites. He also has an interesting Shadow and Stones Blog on his most current work.

Videos:Our videos this month are both from Megalithomania and feature stone circles in Cumbria, England. The first features Castlerigg Stone Circle, considered by many to be the Lake District's most beautifully placed Megalithic site. The second features Long Meg and Her Daughters Stone Circle, and is dedicated to a reader of our Homepage, Paul Deterling, who will appreciate more than just the stone circles. Note: To make YouTube videos more enjoyable and eliminate the annoying ads that occasionally pop up at the worst times, go to the View Pure website, where you simply add the YouTube URL of the site you are watching and you can watch the programs without interruptions.

October 2021

Books: Temples of Stone: Exploring the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland by Carleton Jones. Dolmens and burial chambers, known as megalithic tombs, dot the Irish countryside and fascinate all who encounter them. Although these ancient structures are shrouded in mystery and beyond explanation, fresh archaeological interpretations provide new ways of understanding them. Jones features not only the most famous - e.g. Poulnabrone and Knowth - but also lesser known such as Fourknocks and Creevykeel. A big beautiful book with many great photos and illustrations.

Publications: The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF) managed by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland was introduced to these pages last month. One of its many publications is the ScARF Summary Neolithic Report edited by Kenny Brophy & Alison Sheridan. At 195 pages, it is a thorough look at this crucial period of Scotland's history.

Websites and Blogs: The New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia "proposes to give its readers full and authoritative information." It is a valuable resource for all, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, interested in the well-known and not-so-well-known saints and monasteries of the countries of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Examples: St. Aidan of Lindisfarne and St. Finnian of Movilla.

Podcasts: Our podcast for this month, Everything You Want to Know About England's Monasteries, is an English Heritage presentation. Two experts discuss these remarkable religious buildings, centers for incredible wealth and power throughout much of England's history, and describe what life was like for the monks and nuns who lived, worked, and worshipped at them, how they amassed such wealth, what happened to the monks and nuns after they were closed, and much more.

Organizations: The Yarrows Heritage Trust is "dedicated to the promotion and research into the built and natural environment of the Yarrows area" in the Caithness region in northern Scotland. Founded in 2002, the Trust has undertaken a number of projects, beginning with the Oliclett Mesolithic site, dating from up to 10,000 years ago. The organization's latest project is the Iron Age Swartigill Burn Dig, which concluded its work for 2021 last month.

Art-Photography: The Archaeological Kite Aerial Photography of Hamish Fenton is the Art/Photography site featured this month. Fenton photographs various archeological sites from the air, giving the viewer a different persopective on the megalithic structures usually only viewed from the ground. Fenton is also a frequent contributor to the Megalithic Portal website.

Videos: Dr. Emma Wells takes us on a journey along the famous St. Cuthbert's Way, a 62 mile (100 km) long-distance trail. Dr. Wells begins at the site of Old Melrose (Old Mailros) and finishes on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Dr. Janina Ramirez is also featured in this twenty-minute presenation.

November 2021

Books: Sun Dancing: Life in a Medieval Irish Monastery and How Celtic Spirituality Influenced the World by Geoffrey Moorhouse. Visible on a clear day off the west coast of Ireland, the Skellig Islands, a cluster of cruel rocks, rise spectacularly from the Atlantic Ocean. A sanctuary to birds and seals today, for over six hundred years during the Middle Ages it was a center for a particularly intense form of monastic life, one that the author explores. Moorhouse's lively narrative is a superbly imagined account of the monks' isolated life - the spiritual struggles and triumphs and unbelievable physical hardships. To complement and enrich the book, Moorhouse establishes the historical context of Irish monasticism and describes the monks' influence and undeniable role in preserving western civilization, as well as unexpected connections between medieval Ireland and India, Egypt, and Byzantium, and the surviving impact of pagan mythology. An entertaining and enlightening work, Sun Dancing makes medieval Ireland come alive.

Publications: Ordnance Survey (OS) is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps since the mid-18th Century. Aside from producing its well-known and excellent Explorer and Landranger maps for the general public, it also publishes a number of useful publications such as its Pathfinder Guidebooks. An example is its Walks in the Peak District Pathfinder Book, which lists 28 beautiful circular walks around the Peak District graded by length and ranging from 3+ to 11+ miles.

Websites and Blogs: The Shetland Amenity Trust hosts an Archaeological Blog by Dr. Val Turner entitled "Off the Beaten Track" to help interested parties discover some of Shetland's hidden archaeology treasures. It is a well-kept secret that Shetland is full of archaeological treasures. Dr. Turner's blog visits several of these outstanding sites such as Punds Water and the Ness of Burgi found on the different Shetland isles.

Podcasts: Pre-historic Britain in Seven Burials features well-known archaeologist and TV presenter Alice Roberts on the History Hit podcast. How much can a burial really tell us about our ancient past? As her new book Ancestors demonstrates, old bones can speak to us across the centuries. Using new DNA analysis techniques, archaeologists are now able to uncover an unprecedented level of detail about the lives of our ancestors: Where they came from, what they ate, how they lived, what killed them, and what their burials really mean. This is the story of unlocking the past of ancient Britain.

Organizations: Transceltic is an organization dedicated to the Celtic nations and the Pan Celtic Movement. The six Celtic nations are Ireland (Eire), Scotland (Alba), Wales (Cymru), the Isle of Man (Mannin), Cornwall (Kernow), and Brittany (Breizh). These nations have a Celtic language that has been spoken into modern times and is still used. The Pan Celtic Movement seeks to promote greater appreciation of the shared heritage of the Celtic Nations. Transceltic is part of a grand tradition of Pan Celtic organizations, which includes the International Celtic Congress and the Celtic League.

Art-Photography: The Great Tapestry of Scotland. The brainchild of bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith, historian Alistair Moffat, and artist Andrew Crummy, the Great Tapestry of Scotland is an outstanding celebration of Scottish history from the end of the last Ice Age to the present. More than 1,000 volunteer stitchers from around Scotland spent a total of 60,000 sewing hours using more than 300 miles of yarn to create the 160 panels that make up this extraordinary work of art. Like the Bayeux tapestry, the Great Tapestry of Scotland has been created on embroidered cloth, and is annotated in English, Gaelic, Scots, and Latin. This magnificent work is now permanently displayed in its own purpose built gallery and visitor center in Galashiels, Scotland.

Videos: Avebury: The Largest Stone Circle in the World. An aerial film by Megalithomania, this video also features several sites adjacent to the Avebury Circle such as West Kennett Avenue and The Sanctuary. To make the video more enjoyable and eliminate the bothersome ads that pop up at the worst times, go to the website View Pure, where you simply add the youtube URL of the site you are watching and can watch the programs without interruptions.

December 2021

Books: To the Island of Tides: A Journey to Lindisfarne by Alistair Moffat. Lindisfarne, famous for its monastery, home to Saints Aidan and Cuthbert, and the place where the celebrated Lindisfarne Gospels were written, has long been a place of sanctuary. The author travels to - and through the history of - the fated island of Lindisfarne. Walking from his home in the Borders, through the historical landscape of Scotland and northern England, he takes us on a pilgrimage in the footsteps of saints and scholars, before arriving for a secular retreat on the Holy Isle.

Publications: The Lindisfarne Scriptorium is a publisher of books and other offerings based on Holy Island. It describes its work thusly: "Taking spiritual and visual inspiration from the work of the monks who created wonderful books like the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Kells, the calligraphy, illumination and illustration we offer you is a merging of old skills with new materials and new techniques inspired by ancient sacred works...Our inspiration is also drawn from the rich Celtic spirituality of Northumbria, our Christian faith, and the beautiful environment of Holy Island. We aim to follow the great Monastic Scriptorium tradition of producing pieces of artwork that give glory to God and help His people to worship." Aside from books, it also produces cards, calendars, CDs, and DVDs.

Websites and Blogs: Holy Island's E-Mail Magazine covers a variety of topics relating to living on or near the island of Lindisfarne. You can view past issues and subscribe to receive issues of this free and informative monthly newsletter.

Podcasts: Our podcast for this month presents BBC In Our Time: The Lindisfarne Gospels. Melvyn Bragg discusses the 8th century manuscripts that united the Celtic and Roman church and cultures in England, and are often seen as the first artworks of Christian Britain. With Dr. Michelle Brown, Curator of Illuminated Manuscripts at the British Library and author of A Guide to Western Historical Scripts: From Antiquity to 1600; Dr. Richard Gameson, Reader in Medieval History at Kent University and editor of St Augustine and the Conversion of England; Professor Clare Lees, Professor of Medieval Literature at King's College London and author of Tradition and Belief: Religious Writing in Late Anglo-Saxon England.

Organizations: The Lindisfarne Centre is the ideal starting point for a visit to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. As the Centre describes itself, "Our knowledgeable staff can help you plan your time and provide tips and ideas for making the most of the island: where to go, where to enjoy refreshments and where to stay. Enjoy interactive displays on the history and heritage of Lindisfarne, packed with plenty of children's games and activities. Learn how the monks produced the world-famous Lindisfarne Gospels and see a facsimile of this national treasure. Understand the terror of the Viking raid of A.D. 793, and listen and learn from islanders about community life and the island's special natural history."

Art-Photography: The Lindisfarne Gospels, a beautifully decorated book of the four Gospels, was made by a single artist-scribe, Bishop Eadfrith of Lindisfarne, working in the monastery of Lindisfarne around 715-720 A.D. A masterpiece of Insular culture (of the islands of Britain and Ireland), it skillfully blends artistic, calligraphic, and textual components drawn from Celtic, Germanic, and Mediterranean cultures. The original book resides in London at the British Library. In 2022, the book will go on display in the Northeast of England in Newcastle, on loan from the British Library.

Videos: We present three videos this month. The first is a repeat of the excellent video, Lindisfarne Before and After the Viking Raids presented by Dig Ventures. The second, Who Lived on Lindisfarne Before, During, and After the Viking Raids?, also from Dig Ventures, is an informative discussion with Dr. David Petts of Durham University and Maiya Pina-Dacier of Dig Ventures. Lastly, we offer The Geology of Lindisfarne, a geologic tour around Holy Island by Ian Jackson, who is retired from his post as Operations Director of the British Geological Survey.

January 2022

Books: Ancestors: A History of Britain in Thirteen Burials by Alice Roberts. An extraordinary exploration of the ancestry of Britain through seven burial sites. By using new advances in genetics and taking us through important archaeological discoveries, Alice Roberts, pre-eminent archaeologist, broadcaster and academic, helps us better understand life today. We often think of Britain springing from nowhere with the arrival of the Romans. But in Ancestors, Professor Roberts explores what we can learn about the very earliest Britons - from their burial sites. Although we have very little evidence of what life was like in prehistoric times, here their stories are told through the bones and funerary offerings left behind, preserved in the ground for thousands of years. Told through seven fascinating burial sites, this groundbreaking prehistory of Britain teaches us more about ourselves and our history: how people came and wentand how we came to be on this island. One reviewer has called this work "a terrific, timely and transporting book - taking us heart, body and mind beyond history, to the fascinating truth of the prehistoric past and present."

Publications: In September, this website listed the Neolithic Report by the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF) managed by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland the ScARF Summary Neolithic Report, a thorough look at this crucial period of Scotland's history. This month we list ScARF's Highland Archaeology Research Framework (HighARF), the culmination of a three-year project led by Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands (ARCH) to create a regional research framework for the Highland Council region. The Highland Regional ScARF covers the area of the Highland Council, the largest council area in Scotland. The area has varied topography, which has influenced settlement patterns for over 14,000 years.

Websites and Blogs: The Easiest Guide to Scotland's Archaeological Time Periods and Ages. If you would like to know more about Scotland's past, it helps to know the different time periods. This website is great for the newcomer to archaeology. This guide begins with the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods and ends with the Medieval and Post Medieval or Modern Periods. Each period gives dates, discusses artefacts to be found and lists sites to visit. Produced by Dig It!, the hub for Scottish archaeology, this website is great for newcomers and a handy refresher for those more familiar with Scottish archaeology.

Podcasts: History Extra: The Dark Ages: A 'Black Hole' in Britain's History. Max Adams discusses his book The First Kingdom, Britain in the Age of Arthur, which pieces together the evidence to uncover what happened after the fall of Roman Britain. He explains some of the current theories about the era 400-600 AD, and why Arthurian myths have proven so popular.

Organizations: Cornwall has amongst the largest collection of nationally protected heritage sites of any county in Britain, with more than 1,340 Scheduled Monuments, more than 12,500 Listed Buildings, 145 Conservation Areas, 37 Registered Parks and Gardens, 2 Registered Battlefields, 8 Designated Wrecks and the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. The Cornish Cornwall Archaeological Society seeks to identify new archaeological sites through survey and excavations, record sites, monuments and buildings in the field as part of one off or long term projects, protect sites, monuments and buildings through co-operation with landowners, Historic England and Cornwall Council, conserve archaeological monuments through active management work on site, monitor the condition of our monuments through field visits, and help fund archaeological research projects in the county by awarding grants, among other pursuits.

Art-Photography: The Arbroath Tapestry is an intricate embroidered three-panel tapestry created by Angus embroidery and textile artists to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath and the history and heritage of Arbroath Abbey. The embroidered tapestry is permanently displayed in the Arbroath Abbey visitor center. Arbroath Tapestry is an extraordinary wonderfully crafted work made by the Arbroath Tapestry Group, a group of highly skilled Angus women. The Arbroath Tapestry has been designed by Scottish artist Andrew Crummy, designer of the Great Tapestry of Scotland. Inspired by the Great Tapestry of Scotland, the embroidery artists aspired to create a tapestry which gave greater prominence to the Declaration and placed the history of Arbroath and its Abbey at the forefront.

Videos: The Prehistory Guys interview Professor Alice Roberts, who discusses the many facets of her body of work including her latest book, Ancestors: A History of Britain in Thirteen Burials. This interview is included especially for Guido, one of our website's frequent visitors, who admires the lovely and talented Professor Roberts and her work. Note: Many Youtube videos have ads. Should you find that Youtube videos you are watching have ads, to make the video more enjoyable and eliminate the bothersome ads that pop up at the worst times go to the website View Pure, where you simply add the Youtube URL of the site you are watching and can watch the programs without interruptions.

February 2022

Books: In the Land of Giants: A Journey Through the Dark Ages by Max Adams. The five centuries between the end of Roman Britain and the death of Alfred the Great have left few voices save a handful of chroniclers, but Britain's "Dark Ages" can still be explored through their material remnants: architecture, books, metalwork, and, above all, landscapes. Max Adams explores Britain's lost early medieval past by walking its paths and exploring its lasting imprint on valley, hill, and field. From York to Whitby, from London to Sutton Hoo, from Edinburgh to Anglesey, from Anglesey to Bardsey Island, from Falmouth to Mallaig, and from Hadrian's Wall to Loch Tay among others, each of his ten walking narratives form free-standing chapters as well as parts of a wider portrait of a Britain of fort and fyrd, crypt and crannog, church and causeway, holy well and memorial stone. One reviewer has described the book as "part history lesson, part travelogue, and part philsophical musing." See Podcasts below featuring Max Adams on the "Dark Ages."

Publications: The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland has been around for 240 years, actively supporting the study and enjoyment of Scotland's past. The Society publishes academic and non-fiction books about Scotland's archaeology and history. See the following link for the Society's latest offerings.

Websites and Blogs: Working Stone is a website devoted to the prehistoric stone tools of Orkney. A reader can explore traditions of working stone from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age, at the same time tracking the social history of artefact collecting across the region over the past 200 years. The site allows you to explore several paths. You can search for different types of artefacts and for information on the techniques involved in their making. You can also find out about raw materials and chronology; how rocks mattered, how technological traditions changed over time and how local ways of doing things were set in relation to broader trends. And since most artefacts were recovered during excavations, you can search by selecting the name of individual sites. You can also search via the "biographies" thread, which documents the entangled stories of individual artefacts, the people who collected them and the households and institutions through which different things have passed. In addition, there is a gallery of approximately 1,100 images of flint and stone tools from Orkney; further images and 3D models of artefacts and sites are embedded throughout the site.

Podcasts: The Dark Ages: A 'Black Hole' in Britain's History. Max Adams discusses his book The First Kingdom: Britain in the Age of Arthur, which pieces together the evidence to uncover what happened after the fall of Roman Britain. He explains some of the current theories about the era 400-600 AD, and why Arthurian myths have proven so popular.

Organizations: The Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society was founded in 1967 by a group of visionaries who saw the need to raise awareness of the county's past. A voluntary, non-profit-making association, all proceeds from sales of subscriptions and publications are utilized exclusively in the day-to-day running of its activities. In 1967, the aims of the Society were identified as "the collection, recording, study and preservation of the history and antiquities of Kerry, including the preservation of historical and antiquarian remains, the promotion of scientific excavation and the publication of a journal." During the following years, those aspirations have expanded to include the nurturing, fostering, and promoting of interest in the wider culture and heritage of the county.The Society hosts a series of autumn, winter, and spring lectures. During the summer months, it organizes outings to a variety of sites of historical or archaeological interest, sometimes even venturing abroad. Membership subscription also entitles members to free entry to the vast majority of these events. Upcoming Events

Passings: We have learned from Orkney that well-known archaeologist Caroline Wickham-Jones has passed away. A specialist in the Stone Age, Wickham-Jones studied archaeology at the University of Edinburgh before undertaking a second degree, in Heritage Management, at the University of Birmingham. After a distinguished career in excavation, experimental archaeology, and lecturing, which took her all over the world, she moved to Orkney where she worked as a consultant archaeologist as well as continuing her extensive research. She was also involved in numerous projects and maintained a blog on matters archaeological. You can also access her online lectures. Aside from scholarly papers, she also is the author of several books such as her well-known work, Between the Wind and the Water: World Heritage Orkney.

Art and Photography: 3-D Reconstructions of Scotland's Largest Pictish Fort.Underneath the quiet village of Burghead on the coast of Moray, Scotland lies the subtle remains of an ancient fort. It was previously thought that the fort had been built by the Romans or the Vikings. Excavations have shown that it was a Pictish power center dating from the 6th -10th centuries A.D.

Videos: The Wonder of Skellig Michael. A short aerial view of this famous island and its monastery off the County Kerry coast by Peter Cox Photography. For 600 years, Skellig Michael (Sceilig Mhichíl in Irish Gaelic, meaning Michael's rock) was an important center of monastic life for Irish Christian monks. An Irish Celtic monastery situated almost at the summit of the 755 foot high rock, it was built in ca.7th century. Legend associates its founding with St. Fionan. The monastic complex, arrived at after a steep climb of 600+ steps, contains a cluster of six clochans (beehive huts), two oratories, and several small terraces on a plateau approximately 700 feet above sea level.The monastery survived a number of Viking raids in the 9th Century, notably in 823 A.D. The community at Skellig Michael was never large - probably 12 monks and an abbot. Skellig Michael became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Additional Photos. To make the video more enjoyable and eliminate the bothersome ads that pop up at the worst times, go to the website View Pure, where you simply add the YouTube URL of the site you are watching and can watch the programs without interruptions.

March 2022

Books: The Hebrides by Paul Murton. Well-known as a documentary film maker whose work includes Grand Tours of Scotland and Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands, Murton has spent half a lifetime exploring some of the most beautiful islands in the world, including the Hebrides. He has travelled the length and breadth of Scotland's rugged, six-thousand-mile coastline and sailed to over eighty islands. In this book, Murton visits each of the Hebridean islands in turn, introducing their myths and legends, history, culture and extraordinary natural beauty. In addition, he meets the people who live there and learns their stories. He meets crofters, fishermen, tweed weavers, Gaelic singers, clan chiefs, artists, postmen, and bus drivers, people from every walk of life who make the islands tick. This blend of the contemporary and the traditional creates a vivid account of the Hebrides and serves as a unique guide to the less well-known aspects of life among the islands.

Publications: The Scottish Islands Explorer. Highly recommended previously in an earlier homepage, the bi-monthly publication, Scottish Islands Explorer, is produced by Editor Fred Silver and his daughter and Deputy Editor Melissa at Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. The magazine contains timely and enjoyable information about the many islands off the mainland of Scotland. It may be subscribed to for hard copies or received digitally at a reduced price.

Websites and Blogs: Taigh Chearsabhagh is a museum and arts centre on North Uist. The Centre champions heritage, visual arts, and the Gaelic language and culture on the isle. In its galleries and award-winning museum, it features stimulating and dynamic programs of cultural events throughout the year for the local community and the island's many visitors. The Centre presents regular visual art, moving image and heritage exhibitions, as well as live music events, art classes for children and adults, writers groups, and a community-focused education & outreach program. Located in Lochmaddy, the main port of entry on the island, Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre is right on the shoreline of a marine Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Podcasts: Our podcast for this month presents Wild for Scotland: Peat and Sands, a road trip on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Your guide Kathi Kamleitner explores a landscape that is shaped by time, as she drives from standing stones to sandy beaches and everything in between. After the story, she shares with you her top 5 tips to get the most out of your road trip on the west coast of Lewis.

Organizations: Established in 1931, the National Trust for Scotland has an excellent website on the Hebrides, both inner and outer. The largest member organization in Scotland, it is supported by more than 300,000 members and funded largely by donations. From coastlines to castles, art to architecture, wildlife to wilderness, NTS encourages people to connect with the things that make Scotland unique while protecting them for future generations. According to the organization, "We do it so our heritage will always have a home. We do it so our countryside will remain unspoiled and accessible. We do what we do for the love of Scotland."

Art-Photography: Visit the Outer Hebrides. Yes, it is a travel website, but the photos therein give a great look at these marvelous islands and all they have to offer the traveler. There is also valuable information on everything from archaeology to Gaelic culture to local food and drink.

Videos: The Outer Hebrides. A dramatic flyover of several ancient and sacred sites in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, the film includes the 5000-year-old Callanish Stones plus numerous other stone circles, Scotland's tallest standing stone, Callanish XI, an Iron-Age house on a beach, a 2000-year-old broch by the sea, and nearby islands, lakes, and landscapes. To make the video more enjoyable and eliminate the bothersome ads that pop up at the worst times, go to the website View Pure, where you can simply add the YouTube URL of the site you are watching and watch the programs without interruptions.

April 2022

Books: How to Build Stonehenge by Mike Pitts, Editor of the UK publication British Archaeology. This new book, published in March 2022, looks at the past decade of ground-breaking discoveries at Stonehenge made possible by cutting-edge scientific techniques. Having tracked the precise provenance of the bluestones in Wales, is it possible to plot their journey to the Salisbury Plain? And how might teams of labourers lacking machinery or even pack animals have dragged them 150 miles to the site? How did they carve joints into the sarsen boulders, among the hardest stones in the world, and then raise them into place? Pitts draws on a lifetime of study to answer these questions, revealing how Stonehenge stood not in austere isolation, as we see it today, but as part of a wider world, the focus of a megalithic cosmology of belief, ritual and creativity.

Publications: Archaeology in Wales. The Council for British Archaeology Wales serves to promote interest in the historic environment of Wales and to bring together those interested in Welsh archaeology. CBA Wales also produces Archaeology in Wales, the journal on recent archaeological discoveries relating to Wales. The journal is free to subscribing members and is produced on an annual basis. It includes a gazetteer of recent archaeological work undertaken in Wales as well as longer contributions.

Websites and Blogs: Northern Saints Trails. This is an initiative to position North East England as the crossroads of British Christianity through the development of six long-distance walking trails based on existing ancient pilgrimage routes. The Trails portray the region's saints and their stories, set against a backdrop of the very best of the region's attractions, landscapes, places to eat and drink and visitor accommodation. The trails are rooted in the region's considerable Christian heritage, but walking and pilgrimage appeal to those of other faiths or those who are not religious; motivations to walk the trails will vary from relaxation, personal spirituality, a walking challenge, the chance to get back to nature and discover stunning landscapes, health and wellbeing, family activities or to uncover the region's fascinating history. The trail descriptions are found online.

Podcasts: Our podcast for this month, Welsh History Podcasts, discusses various historical and archeaological subjects. A good example is the episode entitled To the Hillfort, which is about the borderlands of Britain being divided by the developing hillforts of the Iron Age.

Organizations: Established he The Atlantic Centre was established in 1931 on the Isle of Luing, one of the Slate Isles. The Centre opened an office in 2015 and provides a marvellous visitor destination as well as cafe and events and programs for locals and visitors to enjoy. The Luing History Group has a permanent space in the Centre to display changing local history exhibitions on archaeology, social history, industrial history, natural history, and the geology of Luing and the surrounding uninhabited islands: the Garvellachs, Scarba, Lunga, Torsa, Shuna, Fladda, Belnahua, and Rubha Fiola.

Art, Photography, 3D Imaging: Sketchfab is a 3D modeling platform website to publish, share, discover, buy and sell 3D, VR and AR content. It provides a viewer based on the WebGL and WebXR technologies that allows users to display 3D models on the web, to be viewed on any mobile browser, desktop browser or Virtual Reality headset. Presented here are the Sketchfab 3D archeaological creations of Dr. Hugo Anderson-Whymark, Curator of Prehistory (Paleolithic to Neolithic) at the National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh.

Videos: Hill of Tara. Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland takes us on a tour of the monuments on the Hill of Tara at sunrise, with no one else around. On a beautiful bright (but cold) morning, we visit the Banqueting Hall, the Rath of the Synods, the Mound of the Hostages and more.To make the video more enjoyable and eliminate the bothersome ads that pop up at the worst times, go to the website View Pure, where you can simply add the YouTube URL of the site you are watching and watch the programs without interruptions.

May 2022

Books: The Burren and the Aran Islands: Exploring the Archaeology by Carleton Jones. The Burren and the Aran Islands form a region renowned for its geology, flora and archaeology. Possibly the greatest interest is in its archaeology but the ancient monuments are often perceived as shrouded in mystery and beyond explanation. Recent studies, however, have shed considerable light on the functions of these monuments and the people who built them. This book presents these archaeological interpretations in an attractive and engaging manner. After a brief introduction the book is divided into two parts, the Burren and the Aran Islands. Significant sites are highlighted within broader themes such as The First Farmers on the Burren and Christianity and Pilgrimage on the Aran Islands. More tangential topics such as Building a Wedge Tomb are also included and many of these are explained in concise 'panel' features such as Contemporary Travellers' Accounts of Tower Houses and Cross-Decorated Stones of the Aran Islands.

Publications: Journal of Irish Archaeology. The Journal of Irish Archaeology (JIA) is the journal of the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland. It is a peer-reviewed, annual journal, comprising articles on Irish archaeology and related topics. Editorship of the journal changes every two years, rotating among the archaeology teaching staff in third-level institutions on the island of Ireland. The most recent issue, Volume XXX (2021), was published in November 2021.

Websites and Blogs: Pilgrim Paths of Ireland. The Pilgrim Paths of Ireland are a collection of ancient religious routes with well-documented claims of having been used by pilgrims since ancient times. Walking these ageless trails not only offers the opportunity for spiritual renewal, but also provides a link to our past while contributing to sustainable tourism and community development in each area. Pilgrim Paths Ireland is the national representative body for Ireland's pilgrim paths. It was founded at a meeting in Nenagh to represent Ireland's principal penitential paths. Its objective is to promote greater awareness and use of Ireland's historic pilgrim routes. The Irish pilgrim logo has been adopted as the symbol for pilgrimage in Ireland. It comes from a cross-slab near Ballyvourney, Co Cork showing a Maltese Cross in a circle with a tonsured figure, probably a pilgrim, above it. The Maltese Cross has been identified by archaeologist Peter Harbison as an important early symbol of pilgrimage. Map with links to paths.

Podcasts: Our podcast for this month, Amplify Archaeology Podcast, features interviews with Ireland's top archaeological experts and and specialists. Listen to discussions of the key periods, themes, and stories and the different types of sites and artefacts that can tell us how people lived in the past. The podcasts also give an insight into the profession and practice of archaeology and the various techniques and scientific methods that help to build the picture of Ireland's history. Also, the podcasts feature interviews with teams digging iconic sites like Glendalough, Kilkenny Castle and the Rock of Cashel. Each episode has its own page with shownotes and links that allow you to dig deeper into the particular themes and references that were discussed during the show. To date, topics such as ogham stones, passage tombs, conflict and battlefield archaeology, and practices like digital heritage or living history can help to understand the past have been discussed. In addition, discussions featured the groundbreaking new insights from the passage tomb complexes at Carrowkeel and Newgrange.

Organizations: Sligo Community Archaeology Project.Sligo has an exceptional wealth of archaeological monuments spread throughout the county, from mounds and tombs to castles and medieval churches. The archaeology of Sligo dates from earliest times to the present day and includes approximately 6,500 known sites which are located throughout the countryside. Landowners, including farmers, developers, public bodies and the general public, are the custodians of this heritage resource. Increasingly, local communities are realising the value of their local archaeological resource and there is a demand for greater community involvement with the county's archaeology whether through directly experiencing sites and monuments, or by developing heritage trails, exhibitions or events. The Sligo Community Archaeology Project focuses on promoting awareness, knowledge and understanding of the local archaeological resource among individuals and community groups in the county; Promoting heritage best practice in relation to researching and undertaking works relating to archaeological monuments and; Developing a strategic approach to community archaeology in County Sligo, through working with key stakeholders on specific themes.

Art, Photography, 3D Imaging: Ken Williams is featured for the second time in these pages, as very few have captured such stunning photos of Ireland's megalithic structures as he has. Williams is a photographer from Drogheda, County Louth, in the heart of the Boyne Valley. As he describes his work, "Although I am now based in County Wicklow, barely a week passes without a visit back to the monumental landscape around Newgrange and Knowth, the places that first sparked my passion for prehistory. My specialist area is the prehistoric art and monuments of Western Europe. For almost twenty years I have been engaged in a photographic project centering on the megalithic monuments of Western Europe, under the working title 'Shadows and Stone.'

Videos: Two videos this month, both from Mythical Ireland. First, a visit to the Megalithic Highlights of County Sligo: Carrowkeel, Carrowmore, and Knocknarea. Second, a visit to the River Boyne and the Late Neolithic Monuments at Newgrange.

June, July, and August 2022

Books: Scenes from Prehistoric Life: From the Ice Age to the Coming of the Romans by Francis Pryor. An invigorating journey through Britain's rapidly evolving prehistoric landscape, and an insight into the lives of its inhabitants, in fifteen scenes. In Scenes from Prehistoric Life, the distinguished archaeologist Francis Pryor paints a vivid picture of Britain's prehistory, from the Old Stone Age (about one million years ago) to the arrival of the Romans in AD 43, in a sequence of fifteen chronologically arranged portraits of specific ancient British landscapes. Through his archeological expertise, Pryor is able to bring the people of prehistory to the fore: their beliefs, the way they lived their lives and earned their living. Whether writing about the early human family who trod the estuarine muds of Happisburgh in Norfolk circa 900,000 BC, the Mesolithic inhabitants of Starr Carr in North Yorkshire who worked red deer and elk antlers into jewellery, the Bronze Age farmers of the fertile soils of Flag Fen, or the Iron Age denizens of Britain's first towns, Pryor brings the ancient past to life: revealing the daily routines of our ancient ancestors, and how they coped with both simple practical problems and more existential challenges.

Publications: Orkney Archaeological Review 2022. An annual publication of the Orkney Archaeological Society (OAS), the Review provides reports on the work done in Orkney over the previous year. While the publication may be purchased from OAS, it is free to members of the Society, so instead of buying it now, why not join this great organization today and have it sent in your membership pack? Details of OAS Membership.

Websites and Blogs: Dig It! A listing of archeaological digs in 2022 from volunteering opportunities such as The Book of Deer dig in Aberdeenshire to in-person visits to digs such as the Ness of Brodgar on Orkney, it will be updated as the dig season progresses. Since 2019, Dig It! has been part of real and virtual excavations, organised three national campaigns, commissioned creatives, helped crowdfund a tabletop roleplaying game, and more.The team is now excited to announce that Historic Environment Scotland has granted the project another year of funding to continue its work as a hub for Scottish archaeology. In addition to advertising over 800 free or low-cost events for members of the public and publishing nearly 150 articles on the website (many available in Gaelic and/or Scots) written by experts from across the sector, the team has engaged in a number of projects and initiatives over the past three years. Dig It! is coordinated by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and primarily funded by Historic Environment Scotland.

Podcasts: A Place I Love-the British Isles. In this the 101st episode of the podcast Neil Oliver's Love Letter to the British Isles, which began in May of 2020, he unties his walking boots and starts drawing the strands of history that run through the British Isles together. This episode is a celebration of the incomers and blow-ins, the folk who have come to these islands and woven a rich tapestry. Sacred places, formidable fortresses, and landscapes of breath-taking beauty it's a set of islands that have had an influence on the whole world. A place with a rich, complicated, and compelling history, a place Oliver loves. In the 102nd episode, listeners from all over the world share their thoughts and ask Oliver pertinent and diverse questions such as love, life, whisky, history, and the human story. It is the last podcast in this series. Oliver has announced that his next project is Season Two: Neil Oliver's Love Letter to the World as he takes us on remarkable adventure, telling the history of the World in 100 pivotal moments.

Organizations: Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. Gwynedd Archaeological Trust (GAT) is one of four Welsh Archaeological Trusts providing advice on the historic environment across Wales and aims to conserve and promote the historic environment in Northwest Wales. The Trust is tasked with maintaining and providing access to the Historic Environment Record as well as providing advice on the archaeological implications of development proposals to the planning departments of unitary authorities and private developers. There are four archaeological trusts in Wales. Established in the mid-1970s to respond to rescue archaeology, they are independent charitable trusts which together provide a uniform regional archaeology service across Wales, working closely with Welsh Government and local authorities and forming a 'tripod' of archaeology and cultural heritage institutions with Cadw and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. The four trusts are: the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, the Dyfed Archaeological Trust, the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust, and, of course, the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust.

Art/Photography/3-D Imaging: A Century of England from the Air. In March of this year, Historic England launched a new map revealing a century of England from the air. It allows users to search and explore an online map showing aerial photographs of England over the past 100 years. New imagery available online includes: the remains of ancient archaeology such as a Neolithic long barrow near Broughton, Hampshire, as well as remains of Iron Age forts such as Pilsdon Pen in Dorset and medieval villages such as Old Sulby in Northamptonshire. It also allows users to search for other categories such as WWII installations, 20th century industrial sites, and famous buildings. Using the Aerial Photo Explorer, the user can explore over 400,000 digitised photos taken from aerial photo collections of over 6 million photographs preserved in the Historic England Archive.

Videos: British Museum Stonehenge Exhibition Overview. Towering above the Wiltshire countryside, Stonehenge is perhaps the world's most awe-inspiring ancient stone circle. Shrouded in layers of speculation and folklore, this iconic British monument has spurred myths and legends that persist today. In this special exhibition, the British Museum will reveal the secrets of Stonehenge, shining a light on its purpose, cultural power and the people that created it. Following the story of Britain and Europe from 4000 to 1000 BC, you'll learn about the restless and highly connected age of Stonehenge - a period of immense transformation and radical ideas that changed society forever. For those of us who cannot visit the exhibition, there are many videos on YouTube and other websites that highlight this exhibition. One of the best is the Curators' Introduction to The World of Stonehenge, which features curators Dr Neil Wilkin and Dr Jennifer Wexler for an introduction to exhibition. In connection with the exhibit, the British Museum will display what it says is the world's oldest surviving map of the stars (see the image to the right) in a major upcoming exhibition on the Stonehenge stone circle. The 3,600-year-old Nebra Sky Disc, first discovered in Germany in 1999, is one of the oldest surviving representations of the cosmos in the world and has never before been displayed in the U.K. The 30 centimeter (12 inch) bronze disc features a blue-green patina and is decorated with inlaid gold symbols thought to represent the sun, the moon, and constellations.

September 2022

Books: Caithness Archaeology by Andrew Heald and John Barber. Caithness, the most northerly county in the mainland UK, is one of the richest cultural landscapes in Europe. The relative geographical isolation of the area, traditional landholding and the survival of large estates, combined with the use of flagstone as the main building material since earliest times, has ensured the survival of a wide range of monuments in a profusion unequalled elsewhere in Scotland. The county is full of hidden riches and traces of the past are visible everywhere. Caithness is dominated by landscapes rich in archaeological remains of all periods; chambered cairns, stone settings, brochs, Pictish settlements, castles, harbours and post-medieval settlement, amongst many others.

Publications: Current Archaeology. As there are no widely-read archaeological publications in Caithness, here is a link to one of the UK's leading archaeological publications that often publishes articles on Caithness, a good example being Archaeologists resume excavation at Caithness Iron Age Site about the ongoing dig at the Burn of Swartigill near Thrumpster.

Websites and Blogs: North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NOSAS) The main objectives of NOSAS are to further the study of archaeology in the North of Scotland and to promote that interest to a wider audience. Its membership extends across Caithness, Ross-shire, Sutherland, Aberdeenshire, Inverness-shire, and Argyll in the north of Scotland. NOSAS also has members in Canada, USA, Orkney, and other parts of Scotland who share an avid enthusiasm for Highland archaeology. The Society organizes field-walking trips, site prospection, recording and surveying weekends, participation in digs, and meetings on archaeological topics. Its members regularly make contributions to the annual Highland Archaeology Festival run by the Highland Council, and to other Scottish archaeology events.

Podcasts: Far North Podcast. "At Far North, we know there are great stories in the North of Scotland, and great people to tell them," the Podcast homepage states. Among its many topics is archaeology. A good example is its podcast Brochs with the Caithness Broch Project.

Organizations: Yarrows Heritage Trust. The Trust is dedicated to the promotion and research into the built and natural environment of the Yarrows area. It coordinates and facilitates research, runs events, and provides clear and interesting information to local people and the public at large. Special note: The Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA) and Yarrows Heritage Trust are back at the Swartigill Burn dig in Caithness this year from August 15 to September 15 with a long weekend break in the middle. Swartigill Dig Information.

Art/Photography/Museums: North Coast Visitor Centre. Formerly known as Caithness Horizons, the museum re-opened under its new name in 2021 in Thurso Town Hall. Set across three floors, North Coast Visitor Centre houses a permanent exhibition which uses the Museum's collection of objects to tell the story of the county of Caithness from the geological period known as the Devonian (about 416 to 359 million years ago) to the present day. Exhibitions of note include the Stones Room with locally unearthed Pictish artefacts. The Ulbster Stone, for example, holds more carved Pictish symbols than any other Pictish monument found to date.

Videos: Building Brochs. Recorded at the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2018, this talk by by Dr. Tanja Romankiewicz of the University of Edinburgh is subtitled "An Architectural and Archaeological Re-Assessment" and is the result of a PhD examining the construction of Iron Age brochs across Scotland.

October 2022

Books: Lost Realms: Histories of Britain from the Romans to the Vikings by Thomas Williams. Britain in the "Dark Ages" was an untidy mosaic of kingdoms. Some, like Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria, and Gwynedd, have come to dominate understandings of the centuries that followed the collapse of Roman rule. Others, however, have been left to languish, forgotten kingdoms that followed unique trajectories before they flamed out or faded away. In Lost Realms, the author focuses on nine kingdoms representing every corner of the island of Britain. From the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coastline, from the Welsh borders to the Thames Estuary, this book uncovers the forgotten life and untimely demise of realms that hover in the twilight between history and fable.

Publications: The latest edition of the Scottish Islands Explorer, October-November 2022, has been issued. The publication tells stories of the Islands to both visitors and Islanders, and oftentimes have articles on saints and stones. Subscribers can opt for a printed or a digital edition. See Details on subscribing..

Websites and Blogs: Perth and Kinross Archaeological Research Framework The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF) has issued another regional research framework, this time for the Perth and Kinross Council region in the heart of Scotland. The report features the archaeological record for the area from the Paleolithic and Mesolithic, the Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and the Early Medieval to the Post Medieval. The Perth and Kinross Archaeology Research Framework (PKARF) is the culmination of a three year project led by Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust to create a regional research framework for the Perth and Kinross Council region. The project was funded by Historic Environment Scotland and supported by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Podcasts: Viking Age Ireland From Amplify Archaeology, this podcast features Dr. Rebecca Boyd, an archaeologist with a special interest in the archaeology of the Viking world. Her key question when engaging with this archaeology is "what can these remains tell us about the lives and worlds of the people who left these behind?" She completed her PhD on the Viking houses of Ireland and western Britain and began her career working on commercial archaeological excavations.

Organizations: Devon Archaeology Society. The organization offers a wide range of activities for anyone seeking to find out more about archaeology and how it shines a light on Devon's fascinating past. Some of the activities offered are lecture classes held in Exeter, Plymouth, and Newton Abbot, among other locations in Devon. It also organizes seminars to allow interaction between specialist and audience in an informal atmosphere. Where possible, these include opportunities for handling archaeological material or demonstrations such as flint knapping or the use of prehistoric querns. The Society also sponsors field visits. An example of the latter: "Walking in Ancient Places: A Guided Walk through the Dartmoor Tor Enclosures."

Art/Photography/Museums: The Great Tapestry of Scotland. Conceived by well-known author Alexander McCall Smith, with the assistance of artist Andrew Crummy and historian Alistair Moffatt, and located in the town of Galashiels, the 160 panels illustrate Scotland's past from the prehistoric to the present. While the project would of course include certain key events and important people (like the Battle of Bannockburn or Sir Walter Scott), it was also important that the tapestry told the everyday stories of Scotland's people. Moffatt suggested including panels reflecting ordinary lives, such as millworkers and herring girls. The Great Tapestry of Scotland reveals Scottish history and culture as experienced, as well as shaped, by its people. It was also agreed that the country's iconic and stunning natural landscape should feature prominently in the Tapestry story. Stitcher coordinator Dorie Wilke was the third member of the core team. She took on the enormous job of recruiting and organising one thousand stitchers from throughout Scotland, making the tapestry one of the world's largest community arts projects. Visited in May 2022. An amazing project and well worth a visit.

Videos: Presenting three short videos about the Great Tapestry of Scotland:

Where Scotland's Story Begins: The Great Tapestry of Scotland.
Alexander McCall-Smith hangs the last panel of the Great Tapestry of Scotland in its new centre.
Stitchers see the new permanent Great Tapestry of Scotland display in Galashiels for the first time.

November 2022

Books: Buried: An Alternative History of the First Millennium in Britain by Alice Roberts. In this issue, we feature Roberts' latest work, which concentrates on funerary rituals that show us what people thought about mortality; how they felt about loss; what they believed came next. From Roman cremations and graveside feasts to deviant burials with heads rearranged, from richly furnished Anglo Saxon graves to the first Christian burial grounds in Wales, this book provides an alternative history of the first millennium in Britain. As she did with her pre-history of Britain in Ancestors, which was featured in these pages in January of this year, she combines archaeological finds with cutting-edge DNA research and written history to shed fresh light on how people lived by examining the stories of the dead.

Publications: Cotswold Archaeology is a supplier of professional archaeology and heritage services in the UK. Employing over 250 professional staff, "it provides expert, bespoke solutions for both private and public sector clients nationwide from offices in Andover, Cirencester, Milton Keynes, and Suffolk." Cotswold Archaeology has published over 200 journal articles and monographs, many of which are available for personal use as pdfs. In addition, Cotswold Archaeology's Archaeological Reports Online has over 4,000 unpublished reports and published journal articles and monographs of its fieldwork projects undertaken since the organization was established in 1989. The vast majority of the reports are available to download free of charge, while some newer publications are available to purchase.

Websites and Blogs: Neolithic Culinary Traditions Uncovered. A team of scientists led by the University of Bristol has uncovered intriguing new insights into the diet of people living in Neolithic Britain and found evidence that cereals, including wheat, were cooked in pots. Cereal cultivation in Britain dates back to around 4000 BC and was probably introduced by migrant farmers from continental Europe. This is evidenced by some, often sparse and sporadic, recovery of preserved cereal grains and other debris found at Neolithic sites. The findings are reported in the journal Nature Communications.

Podcasts: Art of Neolithic Orkney. Located in the Northern Isles of Scotland, Orkney is a remote and wild environment. With over 5,000 years of history, this small archipelago of islands is a treasure trove of ancient sites and secrets. In this podcast, the moderator is joined by archaeologist Dr. Antonia Thomas to talk about the art in some of the sites and excavations across Orkney. Touching on famous locations like Skara Brae or the legendary tomb Maeshowe, what can Neolithic art tell us about the lives of the people who lived there 5,000 years ago?

Organizations: Shetland Amenity Trust: Archaeology. Shetland is a treasure trove of archaeology, with over 8,000 sites recorded in the Sites and Monuments Record. The Trust provides a county archaeology service on behalf of Shetland Islands Council, employing an archaeologist and an assistant archaeologist. The strategic aims of The Trust's Archaeology Section are to curate Shetland's archaeology for the benefit of the public; develop Shetland's archaeology as a resource for educational purposes and for the enjoyment of the public; and develop Old Scatness Broch and Iron Age Village into a world class visitor attraction.

Art/Photography/Museums: Whithorn Museum and Visitor Centre. At the Whithorn Trust Visitor Centre, the staff guides you through your visit to the museum and exhibition. The visit begins with an audio visual presentation, lasting approximately ten minutes, and you can then guide yourself through the chronological display, which contains both original artefacts uncovered in the 1980's and complete replicas, models, and human figures. The site extends outdoors, where the former excavation field is grassed in, but you can visit the ruins of the priory, enter the crypts where the tomb of St. Ninian was visited by thousands of pilgrims seeking cures and forgiveness, and then visit the museum with its inscribed Christian stones. Most importantly, you will see the earliest Christian monument in Scotland, dating from about 450 A.D.

Videos: Walking Through History: The Dark Age of Northumbria. One of the most enjoyable BBC documentaries is Walking Through History presented by Sir Tony Robinson. An ex excellent episode in Series 3 focuses on St. Cuthbert and the ancient kingdom of Northumbria. Following in the footsteps of Cuthbert, Robinson starts in the town of Melrose and travels to the location of the first Melrose Abbey. Then, after walking through the Tweed Valley and the Cheviot Hills, he visits Cuthbert's cave. He then visits the village of Bamburgh before heading to the holy island of Lindisfarne, eventually finishing on the isle of Inner Farne where Cuthbert spent his last days. Note: To make YouTube videos more enjoyable and eliminate the annoying ads that occasionally pop up at the worst times, go to the View Pure website, where you simply add the YouTube URL of the site you are watching and you can watch the programs without interruptions.

December 2022

Books: In Search of Sacred Places: Looking for Wisdom on Celtic Holy Islands A spiritual travel memoir with a palatable dose of Christian history, interlacing an account of a trip to three small islands - Iona, Lindisfarne, and Skellig Michael - with the history of Celtic Christianity in those places, all in service of an ongoing meditation about the human yearning for meaning. As one reviewer states, the author "takes us to those thin places surrounded by the blue expanse of water and the wide expanse of sky, and we are not the same." If you want to know what it is like to travel to these wonder-full sacred places, I highly recommend this book.

Publications: The Archaeological Journal presents the results of archaeological and architectural survey and fieldwork on sites and monuments of all periods as well as syntheses and overviews of such work in the British Isles. Individual papers are now published online via our publishers, Taylor & Francis, with the paper journal being published annually. The journal can be accessed through most university libraries as well as some local and regional libraries.

Websites and Blogs: Mythical Ireland The link takes you to the new Mythical Ireland website, which was established in March 2000 by author, journalist, astronomer, and photographer Anthony Murphy. The website, the creator tells us, "represents a journey into the ancient past, casting new light on the early history of Ireland. This exploration takes place through many different disciplines, including archaeology, anthropology, astronomy, mythology, spirituality and genetics. The site has extensive special sections on Ireland's Ancient Sites, Myths & Legends, and Astronomy. See one of Murphy's films in the video section below.

Podcasts: Wild for Scotland: 6,000 Times Around the Sun. This informative and entertaining episode is about Scotland's ancient history and how we connect with it, focusing on Kilmartin Glen. Kathi Kamleitner, the creator of the podcast, calls Kilmartin "an excellent place for this journey as there are hundreds of historic sites to discover." The podcast "explores the structures and monuments that were built soon after the last Ice Age and rock art that was created thousands of years ago. Along the way we learn about the lives of the people who created them and knew their meaning."

Organizations: Wessex Archaeology is the UK's leading provider of archaeological and heritage services. The organization was established 40 years nago, offering a range of services above ground, below ground, and underwater. The orgaization works "in partnership with its clients across a variety of sectors to deliver practical, sustainable solutions to effectively manage the historic environment." Wessex Archaeology has been involved with Time Team from the very beginning through one of the program's best known characters, Phil Harding.

Art/Photography/Museums: St Vigeans Stones and MuseumSee in a single place the 38 Pictish stones found in this Angus village near Arbroath in Scotland. St Vigeans was likely an important Pictish religious centre, judging by the number and quality of the Pictish Christian carvings. The carved stones were dotted in and around the village church, which sits on a natural mound where a Pictish church or monastery may have once stood. Some stones were even incorporated into the walls of the late medieval church – and a few remain in place. Included is the famous The Drosten Stone, a carved Pictish stone of the 9th century.

Videos: Sligo: A Megalithic Odyssey. in this video, Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland visits the sites of Carrowkeel, Carrowmore, and Knocknarea, three ancient stone age monuments in the spectacular setting of the landscape of the Atlantic northwest of Ireland. As the moderator states, "In one day, I visited the megalithic complex of Carrowkeel on the Bricklieve Mountains near Lough Arrow, the Carrowmore complex, where I was guided by the wonderful Martin Byrne, and finally I climbed Knocknarea to visit Queen Maeve's Cairn." Note: To make YouTube videos more enjoyable and eliminate the annoying ads that occasionally pop up at the worst times, go to the View Pure website, where you simply add the YouTube URL of the site you are watching and you can watch the programs without interruptions.

January 2023

Books: Clachtoll: An Iron Age Broch Settlement in Assynt, North-West Scotland Graeme Cavers (Editor). Clachtoll broch is one of the most spectacular Iron Age settlements on the northern mainland of Scotland. When it became clear that the structure was threatened by coastal erosion, community heritage group Historic Assynt launched a major program of conservation and excavation works designed to secure the vulnerable structure and recover the archaeological evidence of its occupation and use. The resulting excavation provided evidence of a long and complex history of construction and rebuilding, with the final, middle Iron Age occupation phase ending in a catastrophic fire and collapse of the tower by the early years of the first century AD. The internal deposits span perhaps 50 years of the broch's final occupation and were remarkably well preserved. As a result, the excavation provides a remarkable snapshot of life in Iron Age Scotland, with an artifact assemblage attesting to daily agricultural life as well as long-range contacts that sets the broch within a wider Atlantic community. See Videos below for a short film on Clachtoll Broch.

Publications/Publishers: Birlinn Publishers Many of the books that relate to the Saints and Stones of Scotland are carried by Birlinn, including many of Alistair Moffat's books. Other authors that relate to our topics are Tim Clarkson, Alan McKirdy, and Ian Armit among many others For the latest and forthcoming Birlinn books, subscribe to its newsletter

Websites and Blogs: Tombs of the Isles An endeavor of the University of Highlands and Islands Archaeological Institute, this 2.5-year project will celebrate, research, and share the stories of Neolithic tombs in the North Isles of Orkney: Eday, Egilsay, Gairsay, Rousay, Sanday, Shapinsay, Stronsay, Papa Stronsay, Papa Westray, and Westray. An activities program of research, walks, arts workshops, archaeological fieldwork (survey, geophysics, excavation) and school workshops will explore well- and lesser-known burial monuments, setting them in a wider context.

Podcasts: The Origins of Scotland The Medieval period saw the advancement of many countries, evolving to the provinces in Europe that we know today. Scotland is no different. In this episode of the podcast Gone Medieval,, we hear from Dr. Adrian Maldonado, an Archeologist and Glenmorangie Research Fellow at National Museums Scotland. With the birth of kingdoms such as Alba, Strathclyde, Galloway, and the Norse Earldom of Orkney, what can the artefacts and materials tell us about the emergence of Scotland? Adrian Maldonado is the author of Crucible of Nations: Scotland from Viking-age to Medieval Kingdom.

Organizations: Western Isles Archaeology Service is run by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and works closely with Museum nan Eilean and has responsibility for the care of archaeological sites and monuments throughout the Western Isles. The work of the Archaeology Service is focused around the Sites and Monuments Record. This is a record of all the known sites and monuments in the islands and is continually updated and added to. New information comes into the record from many sources. People bring things they have found, and photographs and descriptions of sites to Museum nan Eilean, and to the archaeologist. Surveys and excavations are carried out in advance of development. Individual archaeologists and University departments of archaeology do research in the islands, including the Universities of Edinburgh (Calanais), Sheffield and Glasgow. The service also keeps an eye on all archaeological work happening in the islands, and tries to ensure that results are made available to the public.

Art/Photography/Museums: The Work of Harold Wingham, Pioneer Air Photographer, Part I: Landscape Archaeology A website celebrating the outstanding aerial photography of the late Harold Wingham (1924-2021), aerial photographer, who served in the Royal Air Force as a radio operator. Encouraged by esteemed archaeologist OGS Crawford and using surplus equipment, he turned to aerial photography of southwest England. Taken between 1951 and 1963, Wingham's photographs record the ancient and modern, from Neolithic long barrows to factory complexes, castles and cathedrals to docks and river crossings. Harold Wingham wrote that aerial photography "is an essential technique of modern archaeology." His photographs record archaeological features and ancient monuments in the varied landscapes of south-west England, from stone circles to deserted medieval villages.The collection is cared for by the Historic England Archive.

Videos: Three videos on Clachtoll Broch. The first Clachtoll Broch is a short introduction to the site. This is a short documentary about Clachtoll Broch made this as an educational and easy to follow record of what archeologists have found at the broch in terms of knowledge from the past and artefacts. The second video Excavations at Clachtoll Broch is an introduction to the work of restoring the broch. Lastly, the third video Stories from the Artefacts details many of the finds recovered from the excavation of the broch.

February 2023

Books: Islands of the Evening: Journeys to the Edge of the World by Alistair Moffat. Fourteen centuries ago, Irish saints ventured to the Hebrides and Scotland's Atlantic shore. Columba, who founded the famous monastery at Iona, was the most well-known of these courageous men who rowed their curraghs towards danger and uncertainty in a pagan land, but the many others are now largely forgotten by history. In his latest book, Moffat journeys from the island of Eileach an Naoimh at the mouth of the Firth of Lorne, to Lismore, to Iona, and then north to Applecross, searching for traces of these extraordinary men. He finds them not often in any tangible remains but in the spirit of the islands and remote places where they passed their exemplary lives. Brendan, Moluag, Columba, Maelrubha and others brought the Gaelic language and echoes of how the saints saw their world can still be heard in its cadences.

Publications/Publishers: Current Archaeology Live! 2023 A weekend of free virtual talks from leading archaeologists tell you everything you need to know about the latest archaeological research and discoveries. This year's conference takes place on Saturday, February 25, at University College London's Institute of Education. This year the conference will be in partnership with the UCL Institute of Archaeology. In addition, the winners of the 15th annual Current Archaeology Awards will be announced at CA Live! 2023. The awards celebrate the projects and publications that made the pages of the magazine over the past 12 months, and the people judged to have made outstanding contributions to archaeology. These awards are voted for entirely by the public. Click here to see all the nominees and to cast your vote.

Websites and Blogs: The Historic England Blog: 5 Sites That Tell the Story of Early Anglo-Saxon England. A look at Sutton Hoo and other amazing sites that tell much about the culture, beliefs, and society of Anglo-Saxon England. The term 'Anglo-Saxons' is used to describe a mix of people from northern Germany and Denmark who came to Britain from the mid-fifth century A.D. after the collapse of Roman rule. They emerged as the main group in England until the Norman Conquest in 1066, speaking a language known to us as 'Old English'. This era is also sometimes called the 'Early Medieval' period so as to encompass groups that had their own separate identities, such as the Cornish or Cumbrians and later on 'Viking' settlers. The Anglo-Saxons were pagans, later converting to Christianity. It would be in the former kingdom of East Anglia that the most stunning archaeological discovery at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk opened a new chapter in understanding the era.

Podcasts: The First Britons. 67 million people currently inhabit the United Kingdom - but what do we know about the original, first Britons? It's no secret when looking back into pre-history that it was a time of mass migration for animals and people alike, but who were our early inhabitants, and what can we learn about them? In this episode of the podcast The Ancients, Professor Chris Stringer returns to shine a light on this mysterious part of prehistory. Looking back across millions of years, he delves into our distant ancestors' pasts, and illuminates what they were really like.

Organizations: Heritage Ardnamurchan: Archaeology. One of the main goals of this organization is the care of the archaeology in Ardnamurchan, which is exceptionally rich in archaeological remains. There are no less than eighteen scheduled monuments, nationally protected sites, varying from Neolithic cairns some 6,000 years old through to Bronze Age standing stones and Iron Age coastal forts. With few exceptions, all are accessible to the public, and AHHA has published guides to some of them. In addition, the organization has identified and described over a hundred smaller sites. These include Bronze Age hut circles, kerb cairns, and others, which have been reported and recorded on national databases. The process of finding and recording more of these sites continues.

Art/Photography/Museums: Salisbury Museum is an essential accompaniment to a visit to Stonehenge itself (which also has a fantastic museum). The Stonehenge Archer and the Amesbury Archer are both here. The former was a man buried in the ditch of Stonehenge with arrowheads that would have been embedded in his flesh and bones. The Amesbury Archer had come from the Alps and brought with him the earliest dated metal objects in the country. The museum's archaeology collection is one of the most important outside a national museum in Britain, including artefacts from Stonehenge and medieval finds from Old Sarum. Many of these items are displayed in the Wessex gallery, a display of international importance, which places the story of Stonehenge within its wider chronological and regional context while telling the story of Salisbury and the surrounding area from prehistoric times to the Norman conquest.

Videos: Digging for Britain. In the latest series of this long-standing BBC production, Professor Alice Roberts follows the past year of British archaeology, joining up the results of digs and investigations the length of the country. For those outside of the UK, Series 10 is also available on YouTube.

S10E01: Roman Towns and Tudor Shipwrecks
S10E02: Arthur's Stone and a Georgian Mine
S10E03: Headless Romans and Anglo Saxon Gold
S10E04: Mystery Shipwreck and a Roman Army Camp
S10E05: Roman Mosaics and Ancient Weapons
S10E06: Ice Age Camp and a Saint with Syphilis

Note: To make YouTube videos more enjoyable and eliminate the annoying ads that occasionally pop up at the worst times, go to the View Pure website, where you simply add the YouTube URL of the site you are watching and you can watch the programs without interruptions.

March 2023

Books Monuments in the Making: Raising the Great Dolmens in Early Neolithic Northern Europe by Vicki Cummings and Colin Richards. The authors offer an exciting new perspective on a distinctive form of megalithic monument that is found across most areas of northern Europe. To achieve this, they have abandoned outmoded typological classifications and reintroduced the term 'dolmen' to embrace a range of sites that share a common form of megalithic architecture: the elevation and display of a substantial stone. By critically assessing the traditionally assigned role of these monuments and their architecture as megalithic tombs, the presence of the dead is reassessed and argued to form part of a process generating vibrancy to the materiality of the dolmen. As such this book argues that the megalithic architecture identified as a dolmen is not a chambered tomb at all but instead is a qualitatively different form of monument. As the authors conclude, "We also provide an entirely different conception of the utility of this extraordinary megalithic architecture - one that seeks to emphasize its building as articulating discourses of wonder as a broad social strategy. In this respect it is important to remember that many of these monuments were erected very early in the Neolithic and as a consequence of new people entering new lands, or social transformation. In short, dolmens are monumental constructions employing experimental and emergent technologies to raise huge stones, which, once built, enchant those who come within their spaces. Our claim is that dolmens were megalithic installations of affect, magical and extraordinary in construction and strategically positioned to induce both drama and awe in their encounter."

Publications/Publishers: Oxbow Books. The publisher carries a number of books about British Archaeology that are of interest to Saints and Stones readers. News about the latest and forthcoming publications.

Websites and Blogs: ScARF: Scotland's Islands Research Framework for Archaeology. Update on Scotland's Islands Research Framework for Archaeology (SIRFA), a four year project to develop and disseminate a regional research framework for the Western Isles, Shetland and Orkney set within a broader, island-wide archaeological research framework for Scotland. The project began in July 2018 and is coordinated by the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and Islands Archaeology Institute staff at Lews Castle College UHI in partnership with Local Authority archaeologists at the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (CnES), Shetland Amenity Trust and Orkney Islands Council. Two symposiums have taken place to date in the Western Isles in January 2019 and Shetland in September 2019. The third and final symposium is scheduled to take place from March 24-27, 2023 in Kirkwall, Orkney. Details on the event and sign up.

Podcasts: Orkney: Centre of the Stone Age. The Orkney isles are famed for their stunning, rural scenery. But 5,000 years ago, during the Neolithic Period, it was a completely different story. Back then, these islands were rich in art and architecture, a great center of the Stone Age World with connections that stretched across Britain, Ireland, and beyond. This episode, the first in a new miniseries about Prehistoric Scotland, explores the extraordinary Stone Age story of Orkney, starting first with an overview of its Neolithic remains before focusing in on an incredible excavation that has revealed so much about Orkney's Stone Age importance.

Organizations: Swandro-Orkney Coastal Archaeology Trust was formed in November 2016 to respond to the destruction of Orkney's archaeological sites by the sea. The Trust's current main planned excavation project is the rescue excavation of the archaeological site at the Knowe of Swandro on Rousay, a 5,000-year-old Neolithic chambered tomb and a large settlement occupied from around 1000 B.C. to 1200 A.D. The Trust also aims to respond to emergency situations that arise due to coastal erosion. An example is work at Cata Sand in Sanday where a Bronze Age/Neolithic settlement was revealed by the erosion of a dune system. The February 2023 issue of Current Archaeology has a feature on the Knowe of Swandro.

Art/Photography/Museums: National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology. A truly fabulous museum located in the heart of Dublin, it is home to an extraordinary range of iconic treasures dating from 7000 B.C., including the Ardagh Chalice, the Tara Brooch, the world-famous Iron Age bog bodies, and a prehistoric Irish gold collection, among many other exhibits. Special exhibits occur on a regular basis such as the current Glendalough: Power, Prayer and Pilgrimage exhibit.

Videos: Hidden Landscapes: Prehistoric Dartmoor. Dartmoor is best known for its wild and beautiful landscape, but it's also amazingly rich in the relics of past inhabitants, especially from prehistory. But many of these archaeological remains are hidden in the landscape and difficult to spot. Win Scutt explores three prehistoric sites on Dartmoor in English Heritage's care: Grimspound, a late Bronze Age settlement consisting of a set of 24 hut circles surrounded by a low stone wall; Merrivale Prehistoric Settlement, a Bronze Age settlement and a complex of ritual sites, including three stone rows, a stone circle, standing stones; and a number of cairns; and the Upper Plym Valley, an extraordinary landscape that encompasses some 300 Bronze Age, medieval, and later sites covering 6 square miles. Scott explains what they tell us about life on the moor thousands of years ago. Note: To make YouTube videos more enjoyable and eliminate the annoying ads that occasionally pop up at the worst times, go to the View Pure website, where you simply add the YouTube URL of the site you are watching and you can watch the programs without interruptions.

April 2023

Books: Landscapes Revealed: Geophysical Survey in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Area 2002-2011 by By Amanda Brend, Nick Card, Jane Downes, Mark Edmonds, and James Moore. This book deals with the geophysical project that was undertaken between 2002 and 2011, and records the results across 285 hectares of land, between Skara Brae on the west Orkney coast and Maeshowe, by the Loch of Stenness. The first two chapters provide the reader with a useful narrative of the survey area, charting its recent archaeological history and historic development and land use. The next four chapters include accounts of the surveys that were undertaken within the Bay of Skaill (Chapter 3), North of Bookan (Chapter 4), Bookan to Brodgar (Chapter 5), and Stenness to Maeshowe (Chapter 6). The survey methods employed throughout the four areas were standardised, with each area revealing its subsurface secrets. The project permitted targeted excavation within those areas where prehistoric anomalies were identified, as revealed within the Bookan to Brodgar survey area - see Chapter 5 and the excavation of the stone structures within the curtilage of the Ness of Brodgar. The final chapter - Chapter 7, "Threads and Tapestries," discusses the complexities and character of the buried later prehistoric landscapes revealed from the geophysics, and concludes that a survey project such as this will provide an essential database for conserving and managing this finite archaeological resource. Moreover, the sealed and undisturbed nature of the buried remains will, over the next few decades, begin to unravel the complexities of the prehistoric development of this busy area of Neolithic Europe. The book was recently judged Book of the Year at Current Archaeology Live 2023.

Publications: Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports is a peer-reviewed open access journal of excavation reports and large-scale surveys conducted in Scotland. New issues are published continuously throughout the year. SAIR was established by a consortium of heritage organisations including the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, and the Council for British Archaeology in 2000. The purpose of the journal is to publish fully peer-reviewed accounts of new research in Scotland's archaeological heritage. Current Issue.Past Issues.

Websites and Blogs: Stone-Circles.org.uk: The Prehistoric Sites of Great Britain is an outstanding website presenting hundreds of megalithic structures in England, Scotland, and Wales - stone circles, standing stones, henges, hillforts, burial chambers, and barrows. As Chris Collyer, the creator states, "The sites I have included (currently about 500) are simply those that I have visited in England and Wales and cover a fair cross section of the pre-Roman sites in these countries, although the odd Roman remain is featured. I have only just started making inroads into Scotland. There are also several sites which have been included either because their age and purpose is unknown, or they may just be local curiosities. The areas of Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, and Yorkshire feature more pages than other regions, not because there are necessarily more ancient sites here but simply because they the closest to where I am based and therefore have received more frequent investigation than sites further afield."

Podcasts: Megaliths. Melvyn Bragg and guests - Vicki Cummings at the University of Central Lancashire, Susan Greaney at the University of Exeter, and Julian Thomas at the University of Manchester discuss what we know about ancient stones placed in the landscape and stone monuments, which are often visually striking. Such stone monuments in Britain and Ireland mostly date from the Neolithic period, and the most ancient are up to 6,000 years old. In recent decades, scientific advances have enabled archaeologists to learn a great deal about megalithic structures and the people who built them, but much about these stones remains unknown and mysterious.

Organizations: Boyne to Brodgar: Making Monuments, Creating Communities is an innovative project focusing on the Neolithic monuments across Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. These range from the iconic World Heritage Sites of Bru na Boinne and the Heart of Neolithic Orkney to less well-known henges and timber circles. Neolithic monuments (from around 4000 B.C. to 2500 B.C.) are a significant feature of Scotland's and Ireland's rich shared heritage. There are over 1000 upstanding monuments from the Neolithic period in Scotland and Ireland, many of international significance, including World Heritage Sites, visited by tens of thousands of people every year. This international, interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral initiative is cooperative, socially inclusive, and environmentally sustainable, featuring archaeologists, heritage professionals, educators, and community groups, in the UK and Ireland and beyond. The project is a network of museums, universities, independent experts, societies, trusts, and local authorities, with extensive links to community groups that can undertake a whole range of activities focusing on Neolithic heritage as a means of celebrating and furthering Scotland-Ireland links, creating several significant legacies.

Art/Photography/Museums: Ad Grefin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery. Located in Wooler in Northumberland, the museum opened in March of this year. It celebrates and showcases the unique heritage, ancient hospitality, and contemporary crafts, arts and produce of Northumberland and the re-awakening of the Northumbrian tradition for Whisky distilling. The site's immersive AV museum interpretation will invite visitors into the heart of the Golden Age of the Kingdom of Northumbria - the royal palace of Ad Gefrin - a place of power, ritual, craftsmanship, language, and one shaped by nature. In addition, as its website states, "We have been privileged to be offered object loans from national institutions." The site's inspiration "comes from Northumbria's Golden Age, a time when nearby Gefrin (Yeavering) was the 7th Century summer residence of its Anglo Saxon Kings and Queens; a time when kingdoms were defined by people not geography; a time when royalty were judged by their generosity not their wealth; a time when people travelled from North Africa, Europe, and Scandinavia to be part of the rich culture of the Northumbrian court; a time of welcome, celebration and hospitality."

Videos: Gobekli Tepe to Stonehenge. The Prehistory Guys, Michael Bott and Rupert Soskin, are making a travelogue film series. But they need our help to produce a collection of films that will tell the story of the first farmers, the people who were inspired and audacious enough to express themselves in stone to be megalith builders. Michael Bott and Rupert Soskin are raising funds for Episode 1 right now and will begin shooting as soon as possible after the budget goal is met. Episode 1, whose working title is "Out of Mesopotamia," will tell the story of the first farmers of Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent and their development to be the first builders, as shown at sites such as Gobekli Tepe, Karahan Tepe, and Catalhoyuk. The episode will also show how the lure of exotic materials from the west lured early traders and prospectors across the Aegean Sea to such places as the Greek Cycladic islands and beyond, spurring the spread of Neolithic culture into the Mediterranean Sea. Other Episodes and To Contribute to the Project

May 2023

Books: Columba by Tim Clarkson. Who was Saint Columba? and How did this Irish aristocrat become the most important figure in early Scottish Christianity? This biography examines the different roles played by the saint in life and death. Tracing his sometimes controversial career in Ireland and Scotland, where he was not only Columba the abbot and missionary but also Columba the politician and peacemaker, this in-depth examination chronicles his excommunication by an Irish synod, his foundation of a monastery in Iona, and his missionary work among the Picts. The development of Columba's cult following his death in 587 A.D. is also covered.

Publications/Publishers: Archaeopress. Publishing scholarly archaeology since 1997, Archaeopress is an Oxford-based publisher run by archaeologists Dr. David Davison and Dr. Rajka Makjanic. The range of publications includes monographs, conference proceedings, catalogues of archaeological material, excavation reports and archaeological biographies. Archaeopress is devoted to publishing work on all aspects of world archaeology, including many titles of interest to Saints and Stones readers.

Websites and Blogs: Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks. Dartmoor has a particularly rich abundance of settlements, monuments and ritual sites dating from prehistoric times. The mild hospitable climate of the Bronze Age deteriorated after a few thousand years leaving these areas uninhabited and consequently relatively undisturbed to the present day. There are many great guides to walking on Dartmoor, many include descriptions of these sites, but it is difficult to find guides specifically for those wanting to visit these sites. The Dartmoor Walks website suggests a few walks for those interested in visiting the ancient settlements and antiquities such as stone rows and stone circles on Dartmoor. This is a most useful site for visiting this fascinating part of England.

Podcasts: Scotland's Earliest Animal Carvings Prehistoric animal carvings, thought to be up to 5,000 years old, have been discovered in Scotland for the very first time in 2021. The images, which include carvings of two red deer, were found by chance on an ancient burial site in Argyll called Dunchraigaig Cairn. Dr. Tertia Barnett, principle investigator for Scotland’s Rock Art Project at Historic Environment Scotland, explains why this incredible new discovery is so significant. Find out what the carvings might mean, how they have been conserved for thousands of years, and why these images rewrite the story of prehistoric rock art in northwest Europe. The Ancients podcast.

Organizations: Ulster Archaeological Society. The Society actively promotes the cause of archaeology and the wider study of our heritage and warmly welcomes new members from Ulster, Ireland and further afield. Our members come from all walks of life and from all sections of the community, encompassing all ages from students to retired people both amateurs and professionals. As a member of the Society, one can fully participate in its events program which includes monthly lectures, workshops, field trips, and the field survey days. Members also recieve a copy of the Ulster Journal of Archaeology and will also receive updates via its quarterly newlsetter. How to join..

Art/Photography/Museums: Dover Museum is much more than just a local history and archaeology museum. Situated in the town center of Dover, Britain's historic port town, this modern museum tells the fascinating story of this rich and important area. In September 1992, archaeologists in Dover discovered the remains of a prehistoric wooden boat thought to be some 3,500 years old. The museum's gallery tells the story of this important find and its implications for understanding the Bronze Age. Bronze Age Boat: The world's oldest known seagoing boat. Visited 2011.

Videos: Lismore-A Sacred Island: Lismore's Unique Medieval Heritage. The Isle of Lismore is a green jewel in Loch Linnhe. Since the earliest times, it has had an important strategic position for defence and trade, on the safer sea passage from south to north, protected by Mull; and situated at the entrance to the Great Glen, linking west to east. There is ample evidence of the importance of Lismore's strategic position and the fertility of its limestone soils, in its rich prehistoric heritage: more than a dozen prominent Bronze Age cairns and cists; and at least a dozen Iron Age brochs and duns. The discovery of a Bronze Age armlet on the island in 1995, half way between its place of manufacture in the northeast of Scotland, and where the furthest travelled armlet was found in Ireland, shows that trading and exchange of goods has a very long history. Produced by the Lismore Gaelic Historical Centre, the film is by Julia Fayngruen. The narrator is Murray Willis, who is accompanied by fiddle variations on "Leaving Lismore" from Charlie Grey.

June-July-August 2023

Grounded: A Journey into the Landscapes of Our Ancestors by James Canton. From the author of The Oak Papers comes a beautiful meditation on how to foster a profound and healing spiritual communion with the natural world, exploring how the sacred can be accessed by looking to the past, to our ancestors and how they tread through their worlds. When James Canton walked into Suffolk's Lindsey Chapel, it was the beginning of what would become a new journey in his life, hours away from the bustling city of London and distant from the years in his early twenties when he traveled from Egypt to Argentina. Standing inside the quaint chapel, Canton realized that his past cosmopolitan desires had been replaced by an intense yearning to understand the history of the place he called home, a burning curiosity about the past and the spiritual ways and beliefs of the people who came before us. In Grounded, Canton retraces his steps into the places where our ancestors have experienced profound emotion, otherwise known as numinous experiences, to help us better understand who we are. Through lyrical meditation, reflection, and a thoughtful consideration of the ways and beliefs of the people who came before us, Canton seeks to know what our ancestors considered to be human, and what lessons we can learn from them to find security in our contemporary selves.

Ancient Wonderings: Journeys into Prehistoric Britain by James Canton. Traveling the length and breadth of Britain, Canton pursues his obsession with the physical traces of the ancient world: stone circles, flint arrowheads, sacred stones, gold, and a lost Roman road. He ponders the features of the natural world that occupied ancient minds: the night sky, shooting stars, the rising and setting sun. Wandering to the furthest reaches of the islands, he finds an undeciphered standing stone north of Aberdeen and follows the first footsteps on the edge of a long-lost Ice Age land in the North Sea. As Canton walks the modern terrain, slowly understanding the ancient signs that lie within and beneath it, he weaves a gentle tale of discovery, showing how, beyond the superficial differences of lifestyle and culture, the ancient inhabitants of the British Isles were much closer to the present day one than we might imagine. To quote the author: "My writing has been mainly concerned with the ties between nature, literature and the environment. I find myself frequently entranced with exploring the distant past. For my book Ancient Wonderings, I travelled across Britain in order to understand something of prehistoric ways of life in these islands. From South Uist in the Western Isles of Scotland to the Brecklands of East Anglia, I walked the lands in order to dig deep into what we know of the ancient past."

Scotland's Forgotten Past: A History of the Mislaid, Misplaced and Misunderstood by Alistair Moffat. While Scotland's history cannot be separated from its kings and queens, saints and warriors, there is a rich story to tell about the country's lesser-known places, people, and events. This colorful history of Scotland from award-winning writer Alistair Moffat, historian and former Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Director of Programmes at Scottish Television, chooses episodes, half-forgotten or misunderstood, that have been submerged by the wash of history. Bringing these stories to light and to life, this entertaining book reveals the richness and complexity of this nation on the northwest edge of Europe. Moffat takes us from the geological formation of the land that makes up Scotland to the first evidence of human habitation and then up to modern times. In the process our discoveries include: the cave of headless children; the origins of the Scottish kings and the real heroes of Scottish independence; the invention of tartan and the romance of the Highlands; Scotland's answer to Shakespeare; the many US presidents with Scottish heritage, and other fascinating tales brought to life by Joe McLaren's attractive woodcut-style illustrations. Even the most knowledgeable history buff will experience a sense of newfound knowledge and appreciation for this unique country, its history, and its people.

Winters in the World: A Journey through the Anglo-Saxon Year by Eleanor Parker. Winters in the World is a beautifully observed journey through the cycle of the year in Anglo-Saxon England, exploring the festivals, customs, and traditions linked to the different seasons. Drawing on a wide variety of source material including poetry, histories, and religious literature, Eleanor Parker investigates how Anglo-Saxons felt about the annual passing of the seasons and the profound relationship they saw between human life and the rhythms of nature. Many of the festivals celebrated in the United Kingdom today have their roots in the Anglo-Saxon period, and this book traces their surprising history while unearthing traditions now long forgotten. It celebrates some of the finest treasures of medieval literature and provides an imaginative connection to the Anglo-Saxon world. Interweaving literature, history, and religion, this book is an exquisite meditation on the turning of the seasons in medieval England. From a review in The Guardian: "Eleanor Parker conjures up this evocative magic from her careful reading of the wealth of weather literature left behind by the poets, sermonisers, scientists and historians of Anglo-Saxon Britain, a period that stretched from 410 to 1066. This means roughly 600 summers and winters to think and write about...combing the texts of everyone from the anonymous author of Beowulf to the Christian chronicler Bede."

The Coffin Roads: Journeys to the West by Ian Bradley. Coffin roads are ancient tracks along which bodies were carried for burial and are a marked feature of the landscape of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Many are now popular walking and cycling routes. This book journeys along eight coffin roads to discover and explore the distinctive traditions, beliefs and practices around dying, death and mourning in the communities which created and used them. The result is a fascinating snapshot into place and culture. After more than a century when death was very much a taboo subject, this book argues that aspects of the distinctive West Highland and Hebridean way of death and approach to dying and mourning may have something helpful and important to offer us today. Bradley describes several coffin roads with their cairns on which the coffin would rest during its journey. Some were long and arduous journeys for those who shared the carrying of the coffin. Most often, the journey was from east to west. The journey of the body, like that of the soul, was towards the west and the setting sun. Sample of routes covered in this book: the Kilmartin Valley, the Street of the Dead on Iona, Kilearnadil Graveyard Jura, the Green Isle, Loch Shiel, Ardnamurchan, the coffin road on Eigg, the coffin road from Traigh Losgaintir to Loch Stocinis on Harris, and the coffin road on Barra.

The Book of the Skelligs by John Crowley and John Sheehan (Editors). This book explores the Skelligs, Ireland's most dramatic and beautiful Atlantic islands, and focuses particularly on Skellig Michael, a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. It considers why the construction of a remarkable monastic site near the peak of this island over a thousand years ago stands as one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of Christianity. The Book of the Skelligs combines different approaches to deepening our understanding of the islands, combining the perspectives of history, archaeology, cultural geography, oral tradition, literature and natural science. It interprets distinctive features, both physical and human, that shape the unique character of these islands while also exploring their geology, marine and terrestrial life as well as the historical background and cultural setting of Skellig Michael's monastic remains. It also considers the impact of the Vikings and the construction of lighthouses a millennium later. Drawing on appropriate disciplines, the book reveals how a unique cultural landscape was generated by human activities over long periods of time. The blend of text and images by photographer Valerie O'Sullivan is an important part of the book, making it suitable for both the general reader and a wide range of teaching programmes.

Picts: Scourge of Rome, Rulers of the North by Gordon Noble and Nicholas Evans. This is the first dedicated book on the Picts that covers in detail both their archaeology and their history. It examines their kingdoms, culture, beliefs and everyday lives from their origins to their end, not only incorporating current thinking on the subject, but also offering innovative perspectives that transform our understanding of the early history of Scotland.The Picts have fascinated for centuries. They emerged c. AD 300 to defy the might of the Roman empire only to disappear at the end of the first millennium AD, yet they left major legacies. They laid the foundations for the medieval Scottish kingdom and their captivating carved stones are some of the most eye-catching yet enigmatic monuments in Europe. Until recently the Picts have been difficult to trace due to limited archaeological investigation and documentary sources, but innovative new research has produced critical new insights into the culture of a highly sophisticated society which forged a powerful realm dominating much of northern Britain.

Beda: A Journey to the Seven Kingdoms at the Time of Bede by Henrietta Leyser. Written by the Oxford historian Henrietta Leyser, Bede's England is a gazetteer to the remaining Anglo-Saxon ruins in England - touring the seven kingdoms of the Heptarchy: Kent, Northumbria, East Anglia, Essex, Mercia, Sussex, and Wessex - and providing a guide to the remaining ruins of that bygone era, many of them from the time of the Venerable Bede. This is an invaluable window onto the world of the author of the Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Concentrating on Bede himself (our most valuable historical source on Anglo Saxon England and author of books that played a key role in the development of English national identity), this book is an accessible history and a guidebook simultaneously, illustrated with maps and photographs. The author is an expert on the history of medieval England, in particular the role of women, an Emeritus Fellow at St. Peter's College, Oxford and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. She is the author of numerous works, including Medieval Women: A Social History of Women in England 450-1500, Hermits And The New Monasticism: A Study Of Religious Communities in Western Europe 1000-1150, and A Short History of the Anglo-Saxons.

Journey to Britannia: From the Heart of Rome to Hadrian's Wall, AD 130 by Bronwen Riley. It is AD 130. Rome is the dazzling heart of a vast empire and Hadrian its most complex and compelling ruler. Faraway Britannia is one of the Romans' most troublesome provinces: here the sun is seldom seen and "the atmosphere in the country is always gloomy." What awaits the traveller to Britannia? How will you get there? What do you need to pack? What language will you speak? How does London compare to Rome? Are there any tourist attractions? And what dangers lurk behind Hadrian's new Wall? Combining an extensive range of Greek and Latin sources with a sound understanding of archaeology, Bronwen Riley describes an epic journey from Rome to Hadrian's Wall at Britannia's - and the empire's - northwestern frontier. In this strikingly original snapshot of Roman Britain, she brings vividly to life the smells, sounds, colours and textures of travel in the second century AD. The author describes her work: "I write books and articles about historic buildings and the people who lived in them and about journeys into the past, and also devise cultural journeys and literary events. I am presently writing a book about a fourth-century female pilgrim and her journey to Jerusalem."

Between the Chalk and the Sea: A Journey on Foot into the Past by Gail Simmons. An old map. A lost pilgrimage route. A journey in search of our walking heritage. When Henry VIII banned pilgrimage in 1538, he ended not only a centuries-old tradition of walking as an act of faith, but a valuable chance to discover the joy of walking as an escape from the burdens of everyday life. Much was lost when these journeys faded from our collective memory, but clues to our past remain. On an antique map in Oxford's Bodleian Library, a faint red line threading through towns and villages between Southampton and Canterbury suggests a significant, though long-forgotten, road. Renamed the Old Way, medieval pilgrims are thought to have travelled this route to reach the celebrated shrine of Thomas Becket. Described as England's Camino, this long-distance footpath carves through one of the nation's most iconic landscapes - one that links prehistoric earthworks, abandoned monasteries, Saxon churches, ruined castles and historic seaports. Over four seasons, Simmons walks the Old Way to rediscover what a long journey on foot offers us today. Winding 250 miles between the chalk hills and shifting seascapes of the south coast, she ventures deep into our past, exploring this lost path and telling a story of ancient folklore and modern politics.

Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain by Amy Jeffs. Soaked in mist and old magic, Storyland is a new illustrated mythology of Britain, set in its wildest landscapes. It begins between the Creation and Noah's Flood, follows the footsteps of the earliest generation of giants from an age when the children of Cain and the progeny of fallen angels walked the earth, to the founding of Britain, England, Wales and Scotland, the birth of Christ, the wars between Britons, Saxons and Vikings, and closes with the arrival of the Normans. These are retellings of medieval tales of legend, landscape and the yearning to belong, inhabited with characters now half-remembered: Brutus, Albina, Scota, Arthur and Bladud among them. The stories are told with narrative flair, embellished in stunning artworks and glossed with a rich and erudite commentary. We visit beautiful, sacred places that include prehistoric monuments like Stonehenge and Wayland's Smithy, spanning the length of Britain from the archipelago of Orkney to as far south as Cornwall; mountains and lakes such as Snowdon and Loch Etive and rivers including the Ness, the Soar and the story-silted Thames in a vivid, beautiful tale of our land steeped in myth. It Illuminates a collective memory that still informs the identity and political ambition of these places.

Femina by Janina Ramirez. The Middle Ages are seen as a bloodthirsty time of Vikings, saints and kings, a patriarchal society which oppressed and excluded women. But when we dig a little deeper into the truth, we can see that the 'dark' ages were anything but. Oxford and BBC historian Janina Ramirez has uncovered countless influential women's names struck out of historical records, with the word FEMINA annotated beside them. As gatekeepers of the past ordered books to be burnt, artworks to be destroyed, and new versions of myths, legends and historical documents to be produced, our view of history has been manipulated. Only now, through a careful examination of the artefacts, writings and possessions they left behind, are the influential and multifaceted lives of women emerging. Femina goes beyond the official records to uncover the true impact of women like Jadwiga, the only female King in Europe, Margery Kempe, who exploited her image and story to ensure her notoriety, and the Loftus Princess, whose existence gives us clues about the beginnings of Christianity in England. See the medieval world with fresh eyes and discover why these remarkable women were removed from our collective memories. Ramirez is a well-known British art and cultural historian and TV presenter, based in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

The Ness of Brodgar - Time and Place . The newest Ness of Brodgar Guidebook, published in 2023, it brings the story right up to date. As Ness of Brodgar Site Director Nick Card says in his forward to this publication, "As the Ness of Brodgar celebrates 20 years of excavations, we are delighted to bring you our new, revised and expanded guidebook. Much has changed in the six years since the last incarnation of the guidebook, and in the two years since the publication of our major Ness volume, As It Stands. As more evidence is unearthed on site or revealed in the lab, we add new threads to the tapestry of what remains, for us, the most amazing site." The Ness of Brodgar excavation has been ongoing since 2004, revealing a massive complex of monumental Neolithic buildings dating from the centuries around 3000BC. Without parallel in Atlantic Europe, the Ness of Brodgar's three hectares are filled with huge stone structures containing spectacular finds. The final season of excavation at the Ness of Brodgar will take place in 2024, after which the remains of the 5,000-year-old Neolithic complex will be covered over and backfilled.

A Welsh Landscape Through Time by Jane Kenney. To discover just how important Wales is to understanding prehistoric Britain, Jane Kenney takes the reader on an investigation of Neolithic buildings throughout the Welsh landscape. She takes us to Holy Island, a small island just off the west coast of North Wales, an archaeologically rich region. Between 2006 and 2010, excavations across over 20 hectares were investigated, revealing a busy and complex archaeological landscape, which could be seen evolving from the Mesolithic period to present day. This book examines the information unearthed by the archaeological investigation that revolutionised our understanding of how people have lived in and transformed the landscape of Holy Island, and broader significance for similar sites across Britain and Ireland. These buildings, whether they were mainly domestic structures or had broader social functions, were clearly an important part of Early Neolithic life across Britain and Ireland, though they were only built and used over no more than three centuries at the start of the Neolithic period. The Welsh sites deserve a wider consideration as they have much to add to the debate about this site type. Jane Kenney is a senior archaeologist at Gwynedd Archaeological Trust.

Doggerland: Lost World under the North Sea by Luc Amkreutz & Sasja van der Vaart-Verschoof (Editors). This popular-science book tells the story of one of the most important, but least known, major archaeological sites in Europe: Doggerland. Doggerland is where early hominids left the first footprints in northern Europe, more than 900,000 years ago. Later, for hundreds of thousands of years, it was the scene of ice ages. A world of woolly mammoths and rhinoceroses, horses and reindeer and the successful Neanderthals who hunted them, including Krijn, the first Neanderthal from Doggerland. At the end of the last Ice Age, the first modern humans also left their traces here, including the famous "Leman and Ower Banks spearhead" - the first documented Doggerland find - and some of the oldest art in the region. With the onset of the Holocene, our current era, Doggerland's inhabitants were increasingly confronted with climate change and rising sea levels, just as we are today. The Mesolithic hunter-gatherers lived in a rich but constantly changing world - to which they successfully adapted. Ongoing submergence and a huge tsunami around 6150 BC marked the beginning of the end. A few centuries later, the last islands disappeared under the waves and with them the story of Doggerland was lost in time.

'A Mighty Fleet and the King's Power': The Isle of Man, AD 400 to 1265 by Tim Clarkson. Situated in the middle of the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man is like a stepping-stone between the lands that surround it. In medieval times, it played an important role in the histories of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. This book explores the first part of that turbulent era, tracing the story of the Isle of Man from the fifth to the thirteenth centuries. It looks at the ways in which various peoples - Britons, Scots, Irish, English and Scandinavians - influenced events in Man over a period of more than 800 years. A large portion of the book is concerned with the Vikings, a group whose legacy - in place names, old burial mounds and finely carved stones - is such a vivid element in the Manx landscape today. The Isle of Man is unique in many ways. It is one of the British Isles, located in the Irish Sea off the northwest coast of England. The island lies roughly equidistant between England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The Isle of Man is not part of the United Kingdom but rather is a crown possession (since 1828) that is self-governing in its internal affairs under the supervision of the British Home Office, home to the oldest continuously running parliament in the world, established by the Vikings more than 1,000 years ago.

September 2023

Books: Britain's Landmarks and Legends by Jo Woolf. A new work by the creator of the wonderful website The Hazel Tree, this book is published by HarperCollins for The National Trust and will be published in the UK in September and in the U.S. in December. As the author states in an e-mail to saintsandstones.net, "From many years of exploring the landscape and ancient sites of Scotland, I have this enduring impression that there is an unseen web of legend right beneath our feet. Stories are embedded in almost every feature of the landscape, whether a hill, a woodland, an island, a cave or a stone circle. This is how I was inspired to write my new book. I've chosen 50 remarkable places throughout Britain and revealed some of the fascinating stories attached to them. I've considered the ancient stones of Calanais on the Isle of Lewis and their connection with the cuckoo's call; the 'sunken cities' of Cantre'r Gwaelod and Lyonesse; the chalk figures of the Uffington White Horse and the Cerne Abbas Giant; and the many places where King Arthur is said to sleep in peace, awaiting a call to arms. The beautiful illustrations by Claire Harrup perfectly capture that sense of old magic which still pervades these places."

Publications/Publishers: Scottish Islands Explorer. Previously highlighted, SIE's latest issue (August-September 2023) features articles on St. Kilda, Lewis, Colonsay, and Iona, among others. Available in hard copy or as a digital download from Pocket Mags.

Websites and Blogs: The Cairns, South Ronaldsay, Orkney The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) Archaeology Institute research excavations at The Cairns have ended for 2023. With the archaeology safely covered up, site director Martin Carruthers sums up the 2023 work, which focused on four core areas at the site, including the interior of the broch. According to Carruthers, "All in all, it has been a very fruitful and enjoyable season, with a lot learned about the nature of the site - from the broch beginnings to the late Iron Age structures. Major features of the site such as the broch floors, the contemporary village, and midden will immeasurably help us to understand the character of the settlement.Its finds this year have been very rich and highly useful in elucidating issues relating to dating, the status of the community and depositional practices."

Podcasts: Stone Me: Investigating Scotland's Oldest Places. A new podcast by Matthew Magee investigating Scotland's oldest places by interviewing archaeologists "who have in some cases poured decades of their lives into patches of earth that were sacred to our ancestors." Magee travels by bike, boat, and train to stone sites to interview each site's leading expert. So far, he has travelled to six locations: Cairnpapple Hill, Machrie Moor, Ring of Brodgar, Kilmartin Glen, Stones of Calanais, and the Ness of Brodgar where he speaks to Nick Card, the site's director. There is also an introductory podcast about Magee and a blog on his site.

Organizations: Scottish Archaeological Research Frameworks. The ScARF has made plans for the next phases of development in its regional research frameworks across Scotland, creating plans for two new projects for the areas of Scotland not yet included in a regional framework. One of these regions is West Central Scotland (Clyde Valley). This project will comprise all the local authorities that surround the Clyde River catchment: East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire. Another region is the the South East Scotland Archaeological Research Framework that will cover the local authority areas of the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders. It is led by the South East Scotland Archaeology Partnership (SESAP), namely the local archaeology services of East Lothian Council, City of Edinburgh Council, and Scottish Borders Council.

Art/Photography/Museums: The Orkney Museum. The museum tells the story of Orkney from prehistory to the present day. It is an excellent overview and introduction to the history of Orkney and its treasures. The museum's collection is of national importance, hosting a recognized nationally significant archaeology collection. There are approximately 100,000 artefacts in the collection, spanning over 5000 years of human history from the Mesolithic to the Post-Medieval periods. On display you can find a cache of stone tools from Isbister Chambered Cairn, Bronze Age metalwork, Pictish symbol stones, and grave goods from the Scar Viking boat burial amongst many other amazing artefacts. This past summer the museum exhibited a selection of the Ness of Brodgar's finest findings.

Videos: Glendalough: Power, Prayer & Pilgrimage. A video from the National Museum of Ireland. The history of Glendalough is of Irish national significance as the story of a saint who became intertwined with landscape, buildings, and objects as Christianity transformed medieval Ireland. The major players in medieval Ireland were all involved from the Vikings, bishops and abbots, to local and national kings. Visit in 2004

October 2023

Books (from the January 2021 Homepage): This website has added two important resource guides for those visiting the Saints and Stones of England, Scotland, and Wales. Added to each England, Scotland, and Wales Saints Resources page is a 2020 publication of the British Pilgrimage Trust, Britain's Pilgrim Places. The book covers 500 holy places and 48 major pilgrimage routes in the UK. Added to each England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland Stones Resources page is a 2018 publication, The Old Stones: A Field Guide to the Megalithic Sites of Britain and Ireland. The latter, which covers over 1,000 of British and Irish prehistoric places, was judged the Current Archaeology Book of the Year in 2019.

Publications (from the February 2021 Homepage): Current Archaeology is a publication that is highly recommended to the readers of this website. Published monthly, it focuses almost exclusively on the archaeology of Britain. Individual copies may be found in bookstores. Subscriptions to the hard copy version are available, as are digital monthly or yearly subscriptions from Exact Editions, which includes access to the 50 years of back issues of this magazine. Some current articles are free on the magazine's website. Sample of Past Issues.

Websites and Blogs (from the September 2021 Homepage): The Modern Antiquarian is the other major website dedicated to ancient sites besides the Megalithic Portal. It is based on Julian Cope's epic guidebook of the same name and his other book, The Megalithic European. Since launching in March 2000, the site has grown to be a massive resource for news, information, images, folklore, and weblinks on sites across the UK, Ireland, and Europe, thanks to the efforts of its many constributors. Its "Latest News" column is particulary valuable, keeping interested parties up-to-date on issues involving stone sites.

Podcasts (from the June, July, and August 2022 Homepage): A Place I Love-the British Isles. In this the 101st episode of the podcast Neil Oliver's Love Letter to the British Isles, which began in May of 2020, he unties his walking boots and starts drawing together the strands of history that run through the British Isles. This episode is a celebration of the incomers and blow-ins, the folk who have come to these islands and woven a rich tapestry. Sacred places, formidable fortresses, and landscapes of breathtaking beauty -- it's a set of islands that have had an influence on the whole world. It is a place with a rich, complicated, and compelling history, a place Oliver loves. In the 102nd episode, listeners from all over the world share their thoughts and ask Oliver pertinent and diverse questions about love, life, whisky, history, and the human story. It is the last podcast in this series. Oliver has announced that his next project is Season Two: Neil Oliver's Love Letter to the World as he takes us on a remarkable adventure, continuing to tell the history of the World in 100 pivotal moments.

Organizations (from the June, July, and August 2022 Homepage): Orkney Archaeological Society.This website highly endorses the society's work of the , which supports the management and development of the amazing archaeological and historical resources in Orkney. The Society provides information on archaeological activity through publications and in-person and online meetings and events. The Society also runs an online shop with books and locally made craft items. Readers are encouraged to join the Society. Information on membership and current activities of the Society may be found online. Funds raised through membership, shop sales, and donations are used to award archaeological grants for projects in Orkney such as the major dig at the Ness of Brodgar. Also see the Society's Facebook page for additional information.

Art/Photography/Museums: (from the February 2023 Homepage) Salisbury Museum is an essential accompaniment to a visit to Stonehenge itself (which also has a fantastic museum). The Stonehenge Archer and the Amesbury Archer are both here. The former was a man buried in the ditch of Stonehenge with arrowheads that would have been embedded in his flesh and bones. The Amesbury Archer had come from the Alps and brought with him the earliest dated metal objects in the country. The museum's archaeology collection is one of the most important outside a national museum in Britain, including artefacts from Stonehenge and medieval finds from Old Sarum. Many of these items are displayed in the Wessex gallery, a display of international importance, which places the story of Stonehenge within its wider chronological and regional context while telling the story of Salisbury and the surrounding area from prehistoric times to the Norman conquest.

Videos (from the November 2021 Homepage): Megalithomania.Avebury: The Largest Stone Circle in the World. An aerial film by Megalithomania, this video also features several sites adjacent to the Avebury Circle such as West Kennett Avenue and The Sanctuary. To make the video more enjoyable and eliminate the bothersome ads that pop up at the worst times, go to the website View Pure, where you simply add the youtube URL of the site you are watching and can watch the programs without interruptions. November 2023

Books (from the January 2021 Homepage): This website has added two important resource guides for those visiting the Saints and Stones of England, Scotland, and Wales. Added to each England, Scotland, and Wales Saints Resources page is a 2020 publication of the British Pilgrimage Trust, Britain's Pilgrim Places. The book covers 500 holy places and 48 major pilgrimage routes in the UK. Added to each England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland Stones Resources page is a 2018 publication, The Old Stones: A Field Guide to the Megalithic Sites of Britain and Ireland. The latter, which covers over 1,000 of British and Irish prehistoric places, was judged the Current Archaeology Book of the Year in 2019. Both of these books are highly recommded for the traveller to the Saints and Stones locations featured in this website.

Publications (from the December 2021 Homepage): Lindisfarne Scriptorium is a publisher of books and other offerings based on Holy Island. It describes its work thusly: "Taking spiritual and visual inspiration from the work of the monks who created wonderful books like the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Kells, the calligraphy, illumination and illustration we offer you is a merging of old skills with new materials and new techniques inspired by ancient sacred works...Our inspiration is also drawn from the rich Celtic spirituality of Northumbria, our Christian faith, and the beautiful environment of Holy Island. We aim to follow the great Monastic Scriptorium tradition of producing pieces of artwork that give glory to God and help His people to worship." Aside from books, it also produces cards, calendars, CDs, and DVDs.

Websites and Blogs (From the May 2022 Homepage): Pilgrim Paths of Ireland. The Pilgrim Paths of Ireland are a collection of ancient religious routes with well-documented claims of having been used by pilgrims since ancient times. Walking these ageless trails not only offers the opportunity for spiritual renewal, but also provides a link to our past while contributing to sustainable tourism and community development in each area. Pilgrim Paths Ireland is the national representative body for Ireland's pilgrim paths. It was founded at a meeting in Nenagh to represent Ireland's principal penitential paths. Its objective is to promote greater awareness and use of Ireland's historic pilgrim routes. The Irish pilgrim logo has been adopted as the symbol for pilgrimage in Ireland. It comes from a cross-slab near Ballyvourney, Co Cork showing a Maltese Cross in a circle with a tonsured figure, probably a pilgrim, above it. The Maltese Cross has been identified by archaeologist Peter Harbison as an important early symbol of pilgrimage. Map with links to paths.

Podcasts (From the March 2021 Homepage): This website recommends an excellent podcast this month that comes from British broascaster Melvyn Bragg's excellent long-running radio program, In Our Time and is a discussion of the life of St. Cuthbert, one of the most venerated English saints who evangelized Northumbria.

Organizations (From the December 2021 Homepage): The Lindisfarne Centre is the ideal starting point for a visit to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. As the Centre describes itself, "Our knowledgeable staff can help you plan your time and provide tips and ideas for making the most of the island: where to go, where to enjoy refreshments and where to stay. Enjoy interactive displays on the history and heritage of Lindisfarne, packed with plenty of children's games and activities. Learn how the monks produced the world-famous Lindisfarne Gospels and see a facsimile of this national treasure. Understand the terror of the Viking raid of A.D. 793, and listen and learn from islanders about community life and the island's special natural history."

Art/Photography (from the May 2021 Homepage): Aidan Hart, a member of the Greek Orthodox Church living in Britain, has been a full-time icon painter and carver for over twenty-five years. He has worked in more than twenty countries of the world and in many cathedrals and monasteries. According to Hart, "My aim, in accordance with the Byzantine icon tradition, is to make liturgical art that manifests the world transfigured in Christ." He has given this website permission to link to his site, Aidan Hart Sacred Icons, which contains a variety of beautiful icons. In particular, the reader is directed to the section of his website featuring Western Saints, many of whom are connected to the Saints Sites visited in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Videos From the December 2022 Homepage): Videos: The Wonder of Skellig Michael. A short aerial view of this famous island and its monastery off the County Kerry coast by Peter Cox Photography. For 600 years, Skellig Michael was an important center of monastic life for Irish Christian monks. An Irish Celtic monastery situated almost at the summit of the 755 foot high rock, built in ca.7th century. Legend associates its founding with St. Fionan. The monastic complex, arrived at after a steep climb of 600+ steps, contains a cluster of six clochans (beehive huts), two oratories, and several small terraces on a plateau approximately 700 feet above sea level.The monastery survived a number of Viking raids in the 9th Century, notably in 823 A.D. The community at Skellig Michael was never large - probably 12 monks and an abbot. Skellig Michael became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. To make the video more enjoyable and eliminate the bothersome ads that pop up at the worst times, go to the website View Pure, where you simply add the YouTube URL of the site you are watching and can watch the programs without interruptions.

December 2023

Books:

Saints

Note: On many journeys since 1998 to England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, I have counted on a number of books to get me where I am going. Below are some of the most useful ones. Please let me know if you have any that are particularly useful.

Britain's Pilgrim Places by Guy Hayward and Nick Mayhew-Smith

Sacred Britain: A Guide to Places That Stir the Soul by Martin Symington

The Spiritual Traveler: England, Scotland, Wales: Guide to Sacred Sites and Pilgrim Routes in Britain by Martin Palmer

Stones

The Old Stones edited by Andy Burnham

How to Read Prehistoric Monuments: Understanding Our Ancient Heritage by Alan Butler

Hidden Histories: A Spotter's Guide to the British Landscape by Mary-Ann Ochota

Note: This issue lists selected authors who have written books that are particularly useful for research prior to traveling to England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Listed are those authors and my favorite book by each of these prolific writers.

Alexander Moffat, Author of The Sea Kingdoms: The History of Celtic Britain & Ireland and other works

Max Adams, Author of The King of the North and other works

Neil Oliver, Author of The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places and other works

James Charles Roy, Author of The Road Wet, The Wind Close: Celtic Ireland and other works

Publications:

Current Archaeology

British Archaeology

Archaeology Ireland

Websites and Blogs:

The Hazel Tree
A blog written by Jo Woolf, who lives by the sea in Argyll, Scotland, where she writes mostly about landscape, nature, and history - in particular the many ancient sites such as standing stones, rock carvings, and early chapels that are scattered around the Scottish west coast and its islands. Highly recommended. Great writing and wonderful photos from that part of the world.

Exploring the Islands of the West: Journeys to the Western Islands of Scotland
Readers are encouraged to check out the highly regarded blog of inveterate traveler to Scotland, fellow Washington State resident Marc Calhoun.

Megalithic Portal
Andy Burnham created and edits this site, funded as a non-profit making independent society that accepts photographic submissions of megaliths from individuals worldwide.

Podcasts:

Prehistory Guys
Podcasts and more from Rupert Soskin and Michael Bott, authors of Standing with Stones.

Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Best podcast on Ireland Archaeology.

BBC In Our Time
Moderated by Melvyn Bragg, this valuable website feastures a wide variety of programs including many related to Saints and Stones topics. Examples: Saints Stones

Organizations:

Scotland's Research Framework for Archaeology (ScARF)
Designed to be the go-to research resource for Scottish archaeology, focusing on Scotland's regions. There are currently six regional research frameworks either completed or ongoing.

University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute
A world-class teaching and research organization dedicated to advancing our understanding of the historic environment through the creation, interpretation, and dissemination of archaeological knowledge. Its website, Archaeology Orkney, periodically issues information on ongoing published research in Orkney. In addition, the Institute has an excellent informative blog by Sigurd Towrie that you can subscribe to.

English Heritage
English Heritage cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments, and sites, including world-famous prehistoric sites.

Art

Sacred Icons
Beautiful icons of Irish, English, Scottish, and British Western saints created by Aidan Hart in various formats.

Photography:

Jim Richardson
Stunning photographs of Scotland and Celtic Lands.

Ken Williams
Stunning photographs of the prehistoric art and monuments of Ireland.

Museums:

England: British Museum

Scotland: National Museum of Scotland

Wales: National Museum Cardiff

Ireland: National Museum of Archaeology

Videos:

Ancient Tracks
Tony Robinson walks the oldest roads to find the truth behind the megaliths, burial sites, ley lines, and hidden caves along their paths, and connects the clues left hidden in the British landscape.

Digging for Britain
A British television series in its 10th season on BBC presented by Professor Alice Roberts.

Megalithomania UK
Great aerial photos of megalithic sites in the UK and Ireland.

January 2024

Books: The Hillforts of Iron Age Wales by Toby Driver. This book provides a detailed introduction to the great hillforts, early villages, and people of Iron Age Wales, showcasing the results of the latest research and discoveries alongside the pioneering investigations of early archaeologists. It examines hillforts and prehistoric life in Wales, focusing on some of the remarkable finds which tell the story of how early Wales developed and how the Romans conquered western Britain. Beyond the more famous sites, Welsh hillforts - with their towering ramparts of earth and stone - are little known and can be difficult for visitors to understand on the ground today. Featuring ground and aerial photographs, vivid reconstructions, maps and plans, this book clearly explains how hillforts were engineered and built, how they were carefully sited in the landscape to oversee resources and territory, and why prehistoric communities chose to live inside fortified villages.

Publications/Publishers: Scotland By-the-Book. An app from the independent Scottish publisher Birlinn, it "brings books on history, geology, mapping, food and drink, fiction, travel, poetry, politics and more to your phone and desktop - for readers at home and around the globe with an interest in Scotland. The app includes an interactive map of Scotland featuring the best books and writers, bookshops and literary events this country has to offer. It is designed for people exploring the country and looking for books connected to a specific area - for those exploring their genealogy perhaps, planning a trip, studying - or simply with an interest in writing on and from that area of the country."

Websites and Blogs: 2024 Current Archaeology Awards. The nominees for the 16th annual Current Archaeology Awards have been announced, and voting is now open. The awards celebrate the projects and publications that made the pages of the magazine over the past 12 months, and the people judged to have made outstanding contributions to archaeology. These awards are voted for entirely by the public - there are no panels of judges - so "we encourage you to get involved and choose the projects, publications, and people you would like to win." Voting closes on February 5, 2024, and the winners will be announced on February 24 as part of Current Archaeology Live! 2024. Nomination Categories: Archaeologist of the Year 2024, Book of the Year 2024, Research Project of the Year 2024, and Rescue Project of the Year 2024.

Podcasts: In Search Of Angels: Travels to the Edge of the World. Listen to award-winning writer and historian Alistair Moffat on this Birlinn Limited Podcast as he travels through the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the steps of the extraordinary Holy Men who first brought the word of God to Scotland when Irish saints brought the Word of God to the Hebrides and Scotland's Atlantic shore. These "white martyrs" sought solitude, remoteness, even harshness, in places apart from the world where they could fast, pray, and move closer to an understanding of places where they could see angels. Columba, who founded the famous monastery at Iona, was the most well-known of these courageous men who rowed their curraghs towards danger and uncertainty in a pagan land, but the many others are now largely forgotten by history. In this book, Alistair Moffat journeys from the island of Eileach an Naoimh at the mouth of the Firth of Lorne to Lismore, Iona and then north to Applecross, searching for traces of these extraordinary men. He finds them not often in any tangible remains, but in the spirit of the islands and remote places where they passed their exemplary lives. Brendan, Moluag, Columba, Maelrubha and others brought the Gaelic language, and echoes of how they saw their world can still be heard.

Organizations: ScARF: South East Scotland Archaeological Research Framework. This new ScARF online resource provides a chronological overview of the heritage of the South East of Scotland. The framework highlights key research questions and recommendations to inform future work and showcases the amazing discoveries in the region. It covers the local authority areas of the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, and the Scottish Borders. The project was led by the South East Scotland Archaeology Partnership (SESAP), namely the local archaeology services of East Lothian Council, City of Edinburgh Council, and Scottish Borders Council. The project was funded by Historic Environment Scotland and supported by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland as part of Scotland's Archaeology Strategy.

Art/Photography/Museums: Kilmartin Museum. The Museum's new visitor experiences offer the chance to journey back through 12,000 years, bringing ancestors' stories to life in bold and captivating ways. Located at the heart of an internationally important landscape on the west coast of Scotland, Kilmartin Museum cares for and displays fascinating ancient artefacts close to the sites where they were discovered. Among the mueum's treasures are some of Scotland's earliest examples of Beaker pottery, incredible quartz tools used to make mysterious prehistoric rock art, and stunningly crafted early metalwork. In 2019, just over half of the 22,000 artefacts in the collections were awarded Nationally Significant status by Museums Galleries Scotland and an independent panel of experts. The re-opening marks the first time many of these important and fascinating artefacts will be publicly displayed. The new exhibition also features stunning objects loaned by National Museums Scotland, the British Museum, Historic Environment Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council. They include beautiful Bronze Age jewellery, symbols of power from the age of the warrior kings of Dunadd, and intricately sculpted medieval crosses. Together with the Museum's collections, these constitute one of the most comprehensive assemblages of ancient artefacts to be displayed in the landscape where they were found. As Sir Tony Robinson has exclaimed, "How many museums can go to to where you can examine a Bronze Age pot and look out of the window and see the burial mound where it came from?" Visited the Museum and the surrounding sites in September 2007.

Videos: Re-discovering a Lost Neolithic Tomb in 2023. Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of an incredibly rare 5,000-year-old Neolithic chambered cairn that was largely destroyed, without record, in the 19th century. According to a UHI Archaeology Institute news article, "...the three-week excavation in Holm, a parish in Orkney's East Mainland, was directed by Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark, National Museums Scotland, and Professor Vicki Cummings, Cardiff University. It revealed traces of a substantial cairn, almost 50 feet (15 meters) in diameter that contains a stone chamber accessed through a 23 foot (7 meter) long passage. The large sub-rectangular chamber was surrounded by six smaller side cells that once had corbelled stone roofs. These features place the Holm structure within the "Maeshowe-type" category of chambered cairn. Only twelve of this type are known in Orkney, including Maeshowe, Cuween, and Quoyness. Although Maeshowe only has three side cells, the Holm cairn's layout is akin to that of Quanterness and Quoyness, which also had six cells. Most survive as upstanding monuments, but the Holm cairn was buried beneath a pasture field as it was largely destroyed in the late 18th or early 19th century to supply building stone for a nearby farmhouse...Despite extensive modern disturbance, 14 articulated skeletons of men, women and children were found in one of the side cells, along with other disarticulated remains. Other human remains and artefacts, including pottery, stone tools and a bone pin, were recovered from the Victorian backfill by students from the University of Central Lancashire and local volunteers."

Updates: Featuring updates to the Saints and Stones sites visited in the past:

Knowe of Swandro (Visited 2017)
Lindisfarne (Visited: 2004, 2013, 2022)
Ness of Brodgar (Visited: 2007, 2017, 2022)
Skellig Michael (Visited: 2008)

February 2024

Books: Prehistoric Britain from the Air by Janet and Colin Bord. Photographs by Jason Hawkes. A magnificent aerial survey of the relics of ancient Britain and a fascinating exploration of the mystery and legends surrounding them. Featuring 135 color photos. The landscape of Britain abounds in the haunting traces of prehistoric Neolithic henges, Bronze Age stone circles, great hill forts of the Iron Age. Seen from the rare perspective offered in Jason Hawkes' dramatic aerial photographs, the sites and structures--from Stonehenge to the Uffington White Horse--take on new significance. Combing the archaeological records, Janet and Colin Bord decode the myths and legends of the ancient past and also explain how each site was used, reconstructing the living patterns of early man.

Publications/Publishers: Dig Ventures: How To Do Photogrammetry For Archaeology. For archaeologists, photogrammetry, the process of digitally overlapping lots of 2D photographs and turning photos of anything from small finds to entire landscapes into 3D models, is a useful art for photographers.

Websites and Blogs: This Homepage features the websites of two of the best photographers around: Jim Richardson and Ken Williams. Richardson's work covers a number of subjects, but it is his Scotland photos that are highlighted in this special issue, especially his Neolithic Orkney photos for National Geographic. Williams concentrates on Ireland, especially prehistoric art and monuments.

Aside from Jim Richardson, Ken Williams, and Jason Hawkes cited above and Paul Caponigro, Marcus Green, and Hedley Thorne cited below, there are many excellent photographers on the web. Many contribute to sites such as the Megalithic Portal and the Modern Antiquarian, two of the most popular websites for stone sites. Many others are done by individuals whose passion is visiting various saints and stones and uploading information and photos to their personal websites.

Podcasts: The ArchaeoTech Podcast. Chris Webster and Dr. Paul Zimmerman interview guests to discuss the intersection of archaeology and technology, including many episodes dealing with photography: AI, photogrammetry, kites, drones, best practices, among other topics.

Organizations: Bradshaw Foundation: British Prehistory Photos. The Bradshaw Foundation is a non-profit organization, which provides an online learning resource. Its "main areas of focus are archaeology, anthropology and genetic research, and its primary objective is to discover, document and preserve ancient rock art around the world and promote the study of early humankind's artistic achievements...by presenting a digital archive for current and future generations to access." Aside from its concentration on rock art, it also features the work of various photographers. An example is the black and white photography collection of Paul Caponigro who explores the various configurations of prehistoric monuments - from standing stones, tumuli, and cairns to circles, alignments and the enigmatic dolmens in Britain. The Bradshaw Foundation website is well worth viewing.

Art/Photography/Museums: English Heritage: English Cathedrals Photographs by Marcus Green. Photographer Marcus Green had a plan to visit all of the Anglican and Catholic cathedrals in England and Wales in 2019 and if needed, to spread it out into 2020, the Year Of Cathedrals. He managed to visit a number of them, starting with Blackburn Cathedral. Cathedrals Visited and Photographed by Marcus Green. At the bottom of each page, you can scroll to the next cathedral he visited.

Videos: Another photographer worthy of mention is Hedley Thorne who works with drone technology, which, he says, "creates new possibilities for aerial photography." Drones operate at much lower altitude and generate higher resolution imagery over smaller areas. Thorne "utilises the interplay of low altitude, camera angles, light conditions, shadow, and colour to produce images of stunning clarity and visual interest." Working with the landscape painter Anna Dillon, Thorne's photographs "open up the detail and remind the viewer that every place has a unique character as well as a timeless presence." See his film Elevating Wiltshire.

March 2024

Books: Hadrian's Wall: Creating Division by Matthew Symonds. Over its venerable history, Hadrian's Wall has had an undeniable influence in shaping the British landscape, both literally and figuratively. Once thought to be a soft border, recent research has implicated it in the collapse of a farming civilisation centuries in the making, and in fuelling an insurgency characterised by violent upheaval. Examining the everyday impact of the Wall over the three centuries it was in operation, Matthew Symonds sheds new light on its underexplored human story by discussing how the evidence speaks of a hard border scything through a previously open landscape and bringing dramatic change in its wake. The Roman soldiers posted to Hadrian's Wall were overwhelmingly recruits from the empire's occupied territories, and for them the frontier could be a place of fear and magic where supernatural protection was invoked during spells of guard duty. Visited in 2004 and 2006.

Publications/Publishers: The Lintel is "a newsletter all about heritage!" that is issued every three months and focuses on what Historic Environment Scotland's heritage directorate is doing. Its contributors include art and architectural historians, archaeologists and planners as well as specialist technical and support staff. "What we do is always interesting, and may even be controversial at times. Our work is key to increasing knowledge and understanding of Scotland's historic environment and ensuring that it is looked after for generations to come. Whether it's about a newly listed building, advice we've given about change to a historic place, or a newly discovered archaeological site, Lintel is where it will be." Sign up to receive the newsletter.

Websites and Blogs: Bamburgh Bones: St Aidan's Remarkable Journey in Death. Saint Aidan was well-travelled, and something of a pioneer. He journeyed from his native Ireland to Iona on the west coast of Scotland before he famously accepted King Oswald of Northumbria's invitation to convert the pagan English to the new faith. But the Irishman's journey in death was every bit as remarkable as the one he made in life. Bede reports that he fell ill outside his monastic cell in Bamburgh, thought to be the site of the present village church that still bears his name. A tent was erected against the western wall, perhaps because moving him would have hastened his end. He died on the 31st of August 651 A.D. It was the fiery vision of the Irishman's soul being taken up to heaven that is said to have inspired Cuthbert, watching sheep in the Lammermuir Hills at the time, to take holy orders. Click on the website for the rest of the story.

Podcasts: The Picts. In this episode of the BBC radio program In Our Time from 2017, host Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Picts and, to mark its twentieth season, that discussion takes place in front of a student audience at the University of Glasgow, many of them studying this topic. According to Bede, the Picts with the English, Britons, Scots and Latins, formed one of the five nations of Britain, "an island in the ocean formerly called Albion." The Picts is now a label given to the people who lived in Scotland north of the Forth-Clyde line from about 300 A.D. to 900 A.D., from the time of the Romans to the time of the Vikings. They left intricately carved stones, but there are relatively few other traces. Who were they, and what happened to them? And what has been learned in the last twenty years, through archaeology? Guests are Katherine Forsyth of the University of Glasgow, Alex Woolf of the University of St. Andrews, and Gordon Noble of the University of Aberdeen.

Organizations: World Heritage UK is the only organization exclusively focused on World Heritage in the UK, and the only one that is led by the sites themselves. World Heritage sites are so globally special and unique that they are worthy of protecting and celebrating. There are 20 World Heritage sites in England including such sites as Bath Abbey and Stonehenge; 6 World Heritage sites in Scotland such as St. Kilda and the Heart of Neolithic Orkney; 4 World Heritage sites in Wales such as Gwynedd Castles and Town Walls; and one in Northern Ireland; and several sites in the UK's Overseas Teritories. In addition, there are a number of sites in the UK that have been nominated to be World Heritage sites, such as York and the Shetland's Iron Age sites.

Art/Photography/Museums: Britain's Faith Museum. Sitting in the historic Scotland Wing of Auckland Castle in the Durham County town of Bishop Auckland, the Faith Museum spans two floors and "explores the myriad ways in which faith has shaped lives and communities across Britain, inviting visitors to consider how people across history have encountered faith. Leading visitors on a journey through British history, the museum comprises four dynamic gallery spaces with an active programme of changing displays and temporary exhibitions. The Faith Museum showcases over 250 objects from 50 lenders across England, Scotland and Wales, including rarely seen objects, national treasures, personal mementos and contemporary commissions. The museum's story begins 6,000 years ago and takes visitors on a journey through time, considering the ways faith has shaped lives throughout history and continues to do so." The Faith Museum is just one of several heritage attractions, galleries, gardens, and parkland in Bishop Auckland.

Videos: Gobekli to Stonehenge. Readers may recall that the April 2023 Homepage featured the Prehistory Guys (Rupert Soskin and Michael Bott) soliciting support for their next project: a collection of films that will tell the story of the first farmers, the people who were inspired and audacious enough to express themselves in stone, to be megalith builders. They have recently visited Gobekli Tepe, a Neolithic archaeological site in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey inhabited from c.9500 to at least 8000 BCE. The site is the beginning episode of their project. As they recount their visit, "During the filming for the first leg of Gobekli to Stonehenge, it became overwhelmingly obvious to us that this place wasn't some seasonal cult centre in the middle of nowhere. People, many people, were living here on a more or less permanent basis and the signs of their day-to-day lives are everywhere to see - if you are able to explore the site beyond the areas that normal visitors are confined to. We were privileged to have been given access to the whole site under the guidance of Dr. Lee Clare." Soskin and Bott are looking for continued support as their project moves on to Greece and the Adriatic. Support the project here.

Updates: Featuring updates to the Saints and Stones sites visited in the past:

Iona Visited 2004 and 2007
Old Deer Visited Old Deer Old Kirk 2013

April 2024

Books: The Ancient Books of Ireland by Michael Slavin. The Ancient Books of Ireland features illustrated excerpts from sixteen of the finest examples of early Irish literature. Many of the original manuscripts are housed at Trinity College Dublin, the National Museum of Ireland, and the British Museum and have never been brought into the public domain. Michael Slavin describes the stories and legends in these books and also traces how these 1,000-year-old manuscripts have survived Ireland's tumultuous history. Among the most important manuscripts described are the 6th Century Cathach, the oldest Irish book in the world; the 7th Century Book of Durrow; the 8th Century Book of Kells; the 9th Century Book of Armagh, which contains the earliest accounts of St Patrick's coming to Ireland; and the 11th Century Book of the Dun Cow, the earliest surviving copy of Ireland's most revered stories and legends. Book of Catach: Visited 2009; Book of Armagh: Visited 2009; Book of Kells: Visited 2009.

Publications/Publishers: Archaeology Ireland provides a constant stream of articles, news and features, covering many areas in archaeology including science, art, architecture, history, geography, economics, sociology, anthropology, religion and more. This magazine offers readers a broad range of well-researched, lavishly illustrated articles on a range of topics at an accessible level to all, whether one has a passing or professional interest. Archaeology Ireland is a key reference guide for students, visitors from abroad, those in the field, and all archaeology fans with an interest in Ireland's archaeological wonders. The magazine was founded 1987 with, among others, Gabriel Cooney, Claire Cotter, Nick Maxwell, Una MacConville and Emer Condit and is one of Ireland's key archaeological resource. Click to see the contents of the latest issue.

Websites and Blogs: Tuatha. Founded by award-winning archaeologists and travel writers, Tuatha is a "rich source of reliable and in-depth knowledge from leading experts in the field, providing a detailed guide to an Ireland most people never see. A membership with Tuatha helps you to see the sites and monuments of Ireland in a whole new way. As a member you will have instant access to all our content, including our in-depth articles that are filled with the hidden details and incredible stories that make these places special. Our unique filter helps you search by accessibility, public transport, suitability for children and more, helping you to always find a perfect day out. You can also explore further with our exclusive itineraries that feature the iconic landmarks with hidden gems. They come with a map and all the practical information to help you turn a roadtrip into an epic adventure. A great resource especially for the first-time visitor to Ireland." Click here to join. Tuatha is run by Abarta Heritage. See below.

Podcasts: Amplify Archaeology Podcast. Simply the best podcast for Ireland archaeology, it provides the listener with a wide variety of topics including Archaeological Theory and Practice, Excavations & Research Projects, and Site Types, Periods and Places.

Organizations: Abarta Heritage. This organization's mission is "to make the past, present," and it does an amazing job for those of us interested in Ireland. Its website provides excellent resources including Self-Guided Audio Tours and Audio Guides, Downloadble Walking Tours, and Archaeology and Irish History Audiobooks. To quote the organization again, "...we want to help to advocate for the importance and value of Ireland's archaeological, built, cultural, natural and intangible heritage. We want to make heritage accessible to people by helping them to discover the wonderful stories that can be found around almost every corner of the island, and we want to empower communities to be able to celebrate and protect their own local monuments and stories. This not only provides opportunities for education, but also for sustainable heritage tourism." Sign Up for Abarta Heritage Newsletter.

Art/Photography/Museums: National Museum of Ireland-Archaeology is located on Kildare Street in Dublin. The museum's archaeological collections are outstanding. To give you an idea of its holdings, click on Top 10 Things to See. The museum also features both permanent and special exhibitions on various topics, the latest being a special exhibition about the Glendalough monastic site. Permanent exhibitions include Viking Ireland, The Treasury, Ireland's Gold, Kinship and Sacrifice, Prehistoric Ireland, and Medieval Ireland, among others. Of interest is the museum's Collection List, which is divided by time periods. Admission is free. Note: for those unable to attend in person, there is a Virtual Visit that highlights the museum's holdings.

Videos: Two videos this month, both about Skellig Michael off the coast of County Kerry. The first, spectacular Drone Footage of the Skellig Islands. The second, The Edge of Europe: The Story of Skellig Michael, an historical documentary that traces the story of early Christian monks who lived, worked, and worshipped on the magnificent isle. Presented by Paddy Bushe and featuring the monks of Glenstal Abbey. Skellig Michael: Visited 2008

Updates: Featuring updates to the Saints and Stones sites visited in the past:

St. Moluag's Cathedral on Lismore Visited 2022
The Book of Deer Project Visited Old Deer Old Kirk 2013

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