Archaeologists find prehistoric skeleton in the Dales

From Bakewll Today:

A human body, thought to date from the Iron Age, has been unearthed by archaeologists during a dig at a Peak District beauty spot.

The prehistoric skeleton emerged as volunteers, who were taking part in a lottery-funded dig, excavated the site of an ancient hillfort near Monsal Head.

Ann Hall, Longstone Local History Group project manager, said: "We quickly stopped everything, then archaeologists spent a very careful afternoon excavating the body."

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Excavation uncovers evidence of Iron Age fort

From the Wiltshire Times & Chippenham News:

An excavation to uncover evidence of the Iron Age in Bradford on Avon has been hailed a success after the edge of a hill fort was found along with medieval pottery.

The three-week dig got underway on July 20 in the garden of Peter and Jane Mann, of Budbury Place, who live in a house thought to be the former Budbury Manor, dating back to the 16th century.

Led by former Wiltshire archaeologist Roy Canham, 66, and coinciding with an Iron Age exhibition at the town’s museum, the dig has uncovered more evidence of the fort in the Budbury area, which first came to light in the 1960s.

Mr Canham and his team had to dig through a stone floor, which the Manns first discovered buried in their garden in the spring, while planting trees.

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Discovery of Iron Age log boat shows how sea levels rose in past

From the Yorkshire Post:

THE DISCOVERY of a prehistoric boat which had been buried for more than 2,000 years beneath a farm field has already provided historians with an insight into Iron Age life in Yorkshire.

But now academics say the vessel which dates back to 300BC is also helping to show how the face of the region would change in future if the sea levels continue to rise.

As a debate rages over plans to allow land around the River Hull to revert to a swamp in an attempt to protect urban areas from a repeat of the 2007 floods, a group of scientists can provide a unique insight into what wide-spread flooding of the East Yorkshire countryside would look like.

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Museum artefacts to go on public display for first time

From Northampton Chronicle & Echo:

New items including 3,000-year-old bronze axe heads have gone on display to the public at Daventry Town Council Museum.

The museum is showing the items among many from the Moot Hall Museum Store, taken over recently by the town council.

The store houses most of the items previously owned by Daventry District Council's Moot Hall Museum, however, many of the artefacts have not been on display before. Pieces on display this weekend include artwork completed for the 1991 Daventry Arts Festival, Celtic bronze axe heads dating from 1,000BC found on Borough Hill and mosaic pieces discovered in the town.

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Historic find in Gloucestershire field

From This is Gloucestershire.co.uk:

A Cotswolds history buff has unearthed a piece of weaponry believed to be among the rarest ever discovered in Gloucestershire.

Steve Taylor, from Hatherley, stumbled across the treasure, part of an ancient sword handle, while metal detecting on a farm near Cirencester.

The bronze head, which would have been fitted to the end of a Celtic sword to keep the blade in place, is worth about £5,000.

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Caithness Broch Centre to open

From Leisure Opportunities.com:

The Caithness Broch visitor centre in the Highlands, Scotland has reopened to the public.

Formerly known as the Northlands Viking Centre, the updated facility will showcase the prehistory of the north coast of Caithness, focusing on the construction of brochs - defensive round towers built in the Iron Age.

An exhibit displaying 150 items, including gaming pieces, painted pebbles, spindle whorls and stone balls, donated by National Museums Scotland will tell visitors the story of the community from the establishment of the brochs 2,000 years ago to the present day.

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Celts and Romans exhibition opens in Kirkintilloch

From Kirkintilloch-herald.co.uk:

A NEW exhibition has opened at Kirkintilloch's Auld Kirk Museum.

'On the Frontier' puts the spotlight on the clash bewteen the Celts and the Romans and aims to challenge people's perceptions of East Dunbartonshire's heritage.

Sculptor Tom Allan aims to explore the conflict and interaction between the Celts and Roman forces along the Antonine Wall.

The museum is actually sited on the line of the wall, which was built by the Romans in the second century AD and was recently recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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