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Constable exhibition to come to Salisbury

July 22, 2010 by HisTOURies U.K Tours

SALISBURY will be the talk of the art world next year when a John Constable exhibition is staged at the city’s museum.

The summertime show is being organised to mark the 200th anniversary of the artist’s arrival in Salisbury. His visits to his friend John Fisher, the then Bishop of Salisbury, are widely accepted as inspiring some of his greatest paintings.

The Constable & Salisbury exhibition will see a multi-million pound collection brought together from both private owners and major art museums.

A final list of Constable’s paintings is still to be confirmed, but the show starting in May next year will include some of the artist’s most important work including several depicting the cathedral and the Harnham Water Meadows.

Richard Morgan, who has led a committee of art enthusiasts in developing the project, announced the three-month exhibition this week.

“This will be a 50-piece collection never seen before. It is work that will be gathered from the leading British galleries and others including the Fitzwilliam in the USA, National Gallery Washington and the Louvre in Paris.”

He was guest speaker at a garden party held by Salisbury law firm Wilsons in the grounds of the museum.

Mr Morgan added: “Museums can change places, just as we have seen in Liverpool and St Ives, and we are planning great changes in this museum.”

He said thanks in part to funding from the English Heritage Lottery Fund they hoped to radically change Salisbury Museum and the Constable exhibition was part of this.

Stephen Oxley, senior partner at Wilsons, said his firm had a tradition of supporting the arts in the city and they were delighted to be a sponsor of this project. “We have worked with the museum and its people for many years and when they approached us in 2008 with an idea from Lord Congleton to put on an exhibition, the likes of which had never been done before, we jumped at the chance to be involved.”

Adrian Green, director of Salisbury Museum, said: “It is almost impossible to view Salisbury Cathedral without thinking of Constable, therefore it is surprising that there has never been a major exhibition of his work in the city.

“As an archaeologist I particularly find Constable’s lesser known views of Old Sarum and Stonehenge evocative. One of Constable’s final exhibits at the Royal Academy was a magnificent watercolour of Stonehenge, shown there in 1836, which will be a major highlight of the exhibition for me.”

Salisbury Tour Guide
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Archaeologists unearth Neolithic henge at Stonehenge

July 22, 2010 by HisTOURies U.K Tours

An image detailing the new 'henge'
Archaeologists say the find is “exceptional”

Archaeologists have discovered a second henge at Stonehenge, described as the most exciting find there in 50 years.

 The circular ditch surrounding a smaller circle of deep pits about a metre (3ft) wide has been unearthed at the world-famous site in Wiltshire.

 Archaeologists conducting a multi-million pound study believe timber posts were in the pits.

 Project leader Professor Vince Gaffney, from the University of Birmingham, said the discovery was “exceptional”.

 The new “henge” – which means a circular monument dating to Neolithic and Bronze Ages – is situated about 900m (2,950ft) from the giant stones on Salisbury Plain.

It’s a timber equivalent to Stonehenge”

 End Quote Professor Vince Gaffney University of Birmingham

Images show it has two entrances on the north-east and south-west sides and inside the circle is a burial mound on top which appeared much later, Professor Gaffney said.

 “You seem to have a large-ditched feature, but it seems to be made of individual scoops rather than just a straight trench,” he said.

 “When we looked a bit more closely, we then realised there was a ring of pits about a metre wide going all the way around the edge.

 “When you see that as an archaeologist, you just looked at it and thought, ‘that’s a henge monument’ – it’s a timber equivalent to Stonehenge.

 “From the general shape, we would guess it dates backs to about the time when Stonehenge was emerging at its most complex.

 “This is probably the first major ceremonial monument that has been found in the past 50 years or so.

 ‘Terra incognita’

“This is really quite interesting and exceptional, it starts to give us a different perspective of the landscape.”

 Data from the site is being collected as part of a virtual excavation to see what the area looked like when Stonehenge was built.

 Speculation as to why the 4,500-year-old landmark was built will continue for years to come, but various experts believe it was a cemetery for 500 years, from the point of its inception.

 In 2008, the first excavation in nearly half a century was carried out at the iconic site on Salisbury Plain.

 This latest project is being funded by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology, in Vienna, and the University of Birmingham, and is assisted by the National Trust and English Heritage.

 Professor Gaffney said he was “certain” they would make further discoveries as 90% of the landscape around the giant stones was “terra incognita” – an unexplored region.

 “The presumption was this was just an empty field – now you’ve got a major ceremonial monument looking at Stonehenge,” he said.

 Stonehenge Tour Guide
HisTOURies UK – The Best Tours in British History

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Marden Henge dig uncovers 4,500-year-old dwelling

July 21, 2010 by HisTOURies U.K Tours

A dwelling, thought to be 4,500 years old, has been discovered by archaeologists in Wiltshire.

S
 “It looks as if we have a Neolithic building. We’re talking about four and a half thousand years old – so about 2400 or 2500BC.

Excavation work at the prehistoric site of Marden Henge, near Devizes, started three weeks ago and experts say the find has “exceeded expectations”.

 Marden Henge no longer has any standing stones and is said to be one of Britain’s least understood ancient sites.

 The work is scheduled to last for three more weeks.

 Archaeologist Jim Leary, from English Heritage, said: “It’s absolutely fabulous. It’s exceeded all of our expectations.

I don’t think we’re looking at a normal house. I think we’re looking at something equivalent to a priest’s quarters.””We have some wonderful finds coming up and some very fresh looking flint flakes and some pieces of pottery, but far and away the most exciting find so far is over in trench C.  – English Heritage

 “Up until a few years ago it would have been unique but a couple of years ago archaeologists were digging at Durrington Walls and they found a number of these buildings.

 “I don’t think we’re looking at a normal house. I think we’re looking at something equivalent to a priest’s quarters.

 “We do seem to have a hearth and it seems that whoever lived there was a very clean person and regularly cleaned out the hearth.

 “Just outside the front door we can see this long spread of charcoal and general rubbish material.

“It contains really good fresh flint flakes, pottery, bone pins – things that don’t normally survive on archaeological sites. We’re getting a really good insight into life in that building.”

 Stonehenge Tour Guide
HisTOURies UK – The Best Tours Wiltshire

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Archaeologists virtually excavate Stonehenge

July 20, 2010 by HisTOURies U.K Tours

Archaeologists virtually excavate Stonehenge Archaeologists will map an area of 14km around Stonehenge Archaeologists are carrying out a virtual excavation of Stonehenge to discover what the area looked like when the monument was built. The multi-million pound Euro study will map the terrain and its buried archaeological remains with pinpoint accuracy, organisers claim. The millions of measurements will then be analysed and incorporated into gaming technology to produce 2D and 3D images. The research will take three years. Equipment will be spread over an area spanning 4km this year and a total of 14km over the next three years. Project leader Professor Vince Gaffney, from the University on Birmingham, said: “We aim to unlock the mysteries of Stonehenge and show people exactly what the local area looked like during the time the monument was created. “The results of this work will be a digital chart of the ‘invisible’ Stonehenge landscape, a seamless map linking one of the world’s most famous monuments with the buried archaeology that surrounds it.” Dr Christopher Gaffney, from the University of Bradford, said: “Rather than looking at typically small discrete areas we intend to cover the whole of the World Heritage Site. “We will do this using emerging technology that allows us to pull large banks of sensors behind a quad bike and using real time GPS to locate the measurements.” The study is funded by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology, in Vienna, and the University of Birmingham, and is assisted by the National Trust and English Heritage.

Stonehenge Tour Guide
HisTOURies UK – The Best Tours in History

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3-D Crop Circle, Silbury Hill – Wiltshire

July 15, 2010 by HisTOURies U.K Tours

A floor of chequered tiles stretches down a long, high-ceilinged corridor with doors leading off each side.

And the art of crop circles reaches a new height of sophistication.

The astonishing three-dimensional design, 200ft in diameter, has been created in a wheat field at Silbury Hill, Wiltshire.

Only yards away are the 5,000-year-old West Kennet Longbarrow burial grounds, one of the largest and most impressive Neolithic graves in Britain.

crop circleThe astonishing three-dimensional design, 200ft in diameter, has been created in a wheat field at Silbury Hill, Wiltshire

According to folklore, the mound is traditionally visited at sunrise on Midsummer’s Day by a white figure accompanied by a white hound with red ears.

It has been the setting for several crop circles in the past, including an elaborate 350ft pattern featuring a giant Egyptian mosaic in the shape of two wings, surrounded by symbols which bear a striking resemblance to the Mayan calendar which predicted that the world will end in 2012.

The latest design was photographed by Steve Alexander, who with his wife Karen, a writer, has been researching crop circles for more than 15 years.

crop circleThe art of crop circles reaches a new height of sophistication

Mrs Alexander-said: “It’s one of the most architectural designs we have seen, rather than purely geometric.

“In traditional geometry a square represents material reality and a circle represents the divine or heavenly realm.

“A lot of people are saying this circle represents the passageway through the physical world to the divine world.”

Wessex Crop Circle Tour Guide
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ARCHAEOLOGY WEEKEND – OLD SARUM CASTLE – Sat 24 & Sun 25 Jul 2010

July 9, 2010 by HisTOURies U.K Tours

It’s the Festival of British Archaeology – this is your chance to meet a real archaeologist and to uncover artefacts from Old Sarum’s history. Kids will love getting involved with archaeological activities, including: a sand-pit excavation, to learn how archaeologists uncover, recover and record evidence, and a finds washing, to learn how archaeologists process the evidence! Plus, there are lots of fun and games to take part in like our Beat the Archaeologist Challenge or Guess the Mystery Object from Old Sarum’s past.

Old Sarum Hillfort

Discover the story of the original Salisbury and take the family for a day out to Old Sarum, 2 miles north of where the city stands now. The mighty Iron Age hill fort was where the first cathedral once stood and the Romans, Normans and Saxons have all left their mark.

Today, 5,000 years of history are told through graphic interpretation panels on site. Families, heritage lovers and walkers can enjoy a great value day out at Old Sarum- you could even bring a picnic and enjoy the fantastic views across the Wiltshire countryside. The gift shop has a delicious range of ice-creams and exclusive English Heritage gifts and produce. Wooden bows and arrows are also on sale to help the kids imagine what life was like all those years ago!

Don’t Miss…

  • The spectacular view from the ramparts at Old Sarum to the ‘new’ cathedral in the centre of Salisbury
  • Our interesting interpretation panels bringing 5,000 years of history to life
  • Old Sarum’s literary connections- you can buy some of the famous books written about the site in our shop

    Wiltshire Tour Guide
    HisTOURies UK – The Best Tours in British History

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Archaeologists begin dig on buried stone circle TEN times bigger than Stonehenge

July 9, 2010 by HisTOURies U.K Tours

Archaeologists have begun a major dig to unearth the hidden mysteries of a buried ancient stone circle site that is ten times bigger than Stonehenge.

The enormous 4,000 year old Marden Henge, in Wiltshire, is Britain’s largest prehistoric structure stretching for 10.5 hectares, the equivalent of 10 football pitches.

English Heritage is carrying out a six-week dig hoping to reveal the secrets behind the giant henge which has baffled historians for centuries.

Most of the Neolithic henge has been destroyed over the years due to farming and erosion but minor excavations in 41 years ago estimate the site to between 2,000 and 2,400BC.

Archaeologists are due to begin digging at the 4,000 year old Marden Henge, in WiltshireArchaeologists are due to begin digging at the 4,000 year old Marden Henge, in Wiltshire

Marden Henge was once a 45ft high mound surrounded by a water filled ditch which was used for sacrificial offerings.  

Although the henge no longer has its vast stone circle it has a large puzzling sunken circular feature which is almost unheard of at Neolithic sites.

A team of 15 archaeologists and historians believe the dig could show the ancient site is even more significant than both Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles.

Archaeologist Jim Leary, 34, said: ‘Virtually nothing is known about this vast circle. We are starting from point zero.

‘Marden Henge deserves to be understood more partly because of its size, but also due to its proximity to the more famous stone circles at Avebury and Stonehenge.

‘The relationship between the latter two sites – chronology of their construction, whether it is built by the same people, how they were used, is of immense interest.

‘How Marden relates to them is another layer of interest which we want to study.

‘We are potentially looking at a much more intricate system of Neolithic ritual sites in this part of the world than we previously thought.

‘The study of Prehistory is entering a very exciting phase with lots of fascinating research and dating techniques emerging.

‘The stunning discovery of Neolithic houses at Durrington Walls near Stonehenge a few years’ ago, for example, has really turned things on its head.

‘We certainly hope that this excavation will bring more pieces of the puzzle to light.’ 

Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. Marden Henge has lost its stone circle but scientists are confident they will find some remnant of the ancient circle beneath the surface

The dig is the culmination of a two year English Heritage project including aerial, topographic and geophysical surveys.

It has not been touched since an investigation in 1969 by Professor Geoffrey Wainwright which dated the henge from fragments of deer antler found in the area.

Marden Henge is situated near to the source of the River Avon, in Marden, north of Devizes, between Avebury and Stonehenge and close to ancient Silbury Hill.

The henge comprises a well-preserved bank covering 10.5 hectares and an internal ditch.

Unlike Stonehenge and Avebury or Castlerigg, in Cumbria, Marden Henge no longer has any surviving stone monuments.

All that has remained is the evidence of a huge mound similar to a smaller at the centre of the henge, which collapsed in 1806 and was completely levelled by 1817.

Most experts now believe that significant ceremonial or ritual activity occurred within the ditches.

Archaeologists aim to find remnants of the Neolithic age within the remains of the mound.

The entire site is around 15 hectares and set within surrounding fields covering 40 hectares.

The dig began on Monday this week and will continue until August.

Stonehenge Tour Guide
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Posted in british history, History, Stonehenge, Stonehenge private tours, Wiltshire | 2 Comments »

Stonehenge Summer Solstice Celebrations 2010

June 30, 2010 by HisTOURies U.K Tours

More images will be uploaded shortly…
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Long lost theory on Silbury Hill is uncovered

June 29, 2010 by HisTOURies U.K Tours

Letters that lay undiscovered in national archives for more than 230 years suggest that Silbury Hill, the enigmatic man-made mound that stands between Marlborough and Beckhampton, may have originally be constructed around some sort of totem pole.

Historians have uncovered in the British Library in London letters written in 1776 that describe a 40ft-high pole which once stood at the centre of Silbury Hill. Europe’s largest man-made mound.

The letters detail an 18th century excavation into the centre of the man-made mound, where archaeologists discovered a long, thin cavity six inches wide and about 40ft deep.

A separate excavation found fragments of oak timber within the cavity leading historians to believe that the mound was built around the pole dating from around 2,400 BC.

David Dawson, director of the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes, said: “This is important, lost information dug out of the library, rather than through field work.

“It tells us that in one of its earliest phases some kind of totem pole was erected on the mound, then subsequent additions to build the hill up were piled up around that timber.”

The 18th century letters, written from Edward Drax to Lord Rivers, described excavations Drax had supervised at Silbury Hill.

He oversaw the digging of a vertical shaft from top to bottom that is sometimes claimed to be the work of the Duke of Northumberland.

Drax, a wealthy landowner who lived in Bath, had hired a team of miners to dig a shaft from the top of Silbury Hill, to the centre of the hill, 125 feet below.

To begin with the miners found little but chalk and pieces of deer antler, but 95 feet down – some 30 feet above where they expected the base of the mound to be – they stumbled upon a deep, narrow cavity.

The hole was six inches across but Drax noted: “We have already followed it already about 20 feet, we can plumb it about eleven feet more.”

In his letter he wrote that “something now perished must have remained in this hole to keep it open”.

Together with a later, independent account of fragments of oak timber found at the centre of the mound, the evidence adds weight to the totem pole theory.

Last year English Heritage completed a £2 million restoration programme on the mound to prevent it from collapsing after previous excavations, including the one by Drax, had left the structure weakened and prey to erosion.

Drax’s letters have been published for the first time in the new volume of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine.

I highy recommend a visit to Silbury Hill if you are visiting the Stonehenge and Avebury area – the best view of Silbury Hill is if you walk up to West Kennet Long Barrow.

Nicholas – Avebury Tour Guide
HisTOURies – The Best Tours in History

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(Not so much) peace and love: Farmer’s fury as crop circle appears next to heart-shaped wood on Summer Solstice

June 29, 2010 by HisTOURies U.K Tours

The summer solstice is traditionally a time of peace and love.

So it was particularly fitting that this crop circle should appear in a field in Wiltshire yesterday – right next to a heart-shaped wood.

But the sentiment wasn’t exactly shared by the farmer whose land the circle appeared on. He blasted the design an ‘act of vandalism’.

Unusual: The 200-foot crop circle appeared alongside a heart-shaped wood on the Summer SolsticeUnusual: The 200-foot crop circle appeared alongside a heart-shaped wood on the Summer Solstice

A man claiming to be Gavin Davies, the farm’s manager, posted an angry message on a website run by crop circle enthusiasts, urging them not to encourage people to visit the field.

He said: ‘I have this morning noticed the circle on land that I manage.

‘I do not support this vandalism, and demand that this circle, and the location are not reported on your website. 

‘We will be posting notices on the field stating we do not allow access to the circle, and will regularly monitor the field to ensure this is obeyed.’

Mr Davies said he was concerned visitors could trample on his crops, destroying them in the process.
More…

 He said: ‘At this stage, the crop remains harvestable, and as a result, we will leave the circle intact.

‘If visitors to the site ignore our notices, and continue to walk into the crop, we will mow out the circle.

‘I will be taking advice from the local police, and legal advice from our solicitors to counter this act of vandalism. 

‘Please let the teams behind the circles know they are not welcome here.  If we get anymore, we will be forced to mow them out to avoid the hassle. I thank you for your assistance.’ 

Detailed: The design is striking - but it has angered the farm manager, who branded the crop circle an 'act of vandalism'Detailed: The design is striking – but it has angered the farm manager, who branded the crop circle an ‘act of vandalism’

Crop circle fans were earlier trying to de-code the 200 foot design which sprung up in a field near Marlborough on the longest day of the year.

Crop circle expert Karen Alexander said: ‘It appears to be a complicated mathematical formula and there have been several circles in the area over the years that represent Pi.

‘The fact it has appeared next to a heart-shaped wood suggests there is something more significant to the message, especially as it appeared on the Summer Solstice – the longest day of the year.’

Nicholas – Crop Circle Tour Guide
HisTOURies UK – The Best Tours in History

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