The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

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One man and his Sausage Dog

I stumbled across the Modern Antiquarian website 2 years ago after visiting the long man of Wilmington and doing a Websearch I quickly discovered how rich in Archaeology Britain actually is, and it has stirred a major pastime and passion in me for all things Neolithic. The buzz of finding sites has overtaken me and I have visited some fantastic places in this short time I am in danger of becoming a megarak.
The following weblog is a back to basics for me nothing fancy just some good old Neolithic sites and a chance for me to take some time out and just enjoy the sites as they are today and feel the vibes here.
Today was a lovely sunny day so nothing planned except for my first site the rest of the day would just happen and wandering aimlessly is what I do best!

Burwains Camp — Images

26.03.04ce
<b>Burwains Camp</b>Posted by treehugger-uk<b>Burwains Camp</b>Posted by treehugger-uk<b>Burwains Camp</b>Posted by treehugger-uk

Burwains Camp — Fieldnotes

26.03.04ce
Visited this site a couple of weeks ago and had a long chat with the Farmer on the adjacent land who wasn't happy about me not getting permission for access to the site at first but was happy to see I hadn't climbed through the hole in the wall which some idiots had made for easier access. The farmer also gave me some info about this site the henge type structure on top of the hill is actually known as Burwains Camp locally. Although it is on Shuttleworth pasture and the circle of stones at the bottom of the hill is known as Burwains stone circle although not a true stone circle.
So that is why the site name has been changed to reflect this.
I also visited this site yesterday got a couple more pictures of the low henge looking a little more obvious now the undergrowth has died back some more and at the circle the rubble bank has revealed itself to be mainly large fallen kerbstones covered with turf but now more discernable.

Worsthorne Hill — Fieldnotes

26.03.04ce
A very sorry site this at the edge of a landfill, with a quietly sad ambience about it, 2 large fallen kerbstones are visible at first glance. On closer inspection and with a little kicking of the turf 3 more smaller stones are revealed. I cant believe a landfill was authorised here, this area is so rich in history I say a few words and apologise and move on to my next site. The ringstones

Ring Stones — Images

26.03.04ce
<b>Ring Stones</b>Posted by treehugger-uk<b>Ring Stones</b>Posted by treehugger-uk

Ring Stones — Fieldnotes

26.03.04ce
I arrived at the Ringstones just a short walk from Worsthorne Stone Circle with its clearly discernable banks, ditches and avenues, im not quite sure what this was but am told its an old farmstead possibly late Bronze Age, early Iron Age which has more than likely been raided to make the stone walls round here it has two enclosures with avenues connecting both one leads away from the larger enclosure a good 40/50 metres into the field leading to hameldon pasture the other avenue leading into the next field to a smaller enclosure. Ive sketched a rough map to give some perspective. A nice little place to sit and gather your thoughts. I'm sat here looking towards twist hill knowing there's another similliar farmstead up there and a bronze age barrow curiosity gets the better of me and I head off to Twist castle

Twist Castle & Barrow — Images

26.03.04ce
<b>Twist Castle & Barrow</b>Posted by treehugger-uk<b>Twist Castle & Barrow</b>Posted by treehugger-uk<b>Twist Castle & Barrow</b>Posted by treehugger-uk<b>Twist Castle & Barrow</b>Posted by treehugger-uk

Twist Castle & Barrow — Fieldnotes

26.03.04ce
A nice little hike to the top of Twist Hill for me and my dog When we reached the summit were greeted by 5 very beautiful Shire horses who follow me around and share my sandwiches which was a lovely touch on this gorgeously sunny day.
This is my first visit here and I certainly wasn't disappointed it's the Remains of another Farmstead mid to late Iron Age commanding excellent strategic views of the surrounding area it also overlooks an old sandstone quarry (which has got a little too close to the structure for my liking) and Swinden Reservoir I cant help but wonder what antiquities the reservoir has swallowed in its greed to quench our thirst. Twist castle is very peaceful consisting of two enclosures with more stone left than the ringstones and a couple of hundred yards away is a robbed and ruined Bronze Age barrow.
I sit here for a while being gently prodded by horse heads, my dogs a little unsure of the Horses so I decide to set off in search of Delf Hill Stone Circle

Delf Hill — Images

26.03.04ce
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Delf Hill — Fieldnotes

26.03.04ce
After jumping a gate and sneaking over the back of a working quarry avoiding all manner of diggers workmen and industrial plants I hummed the Mission Impossible theme as I laughed to myself i'm on a mission and nothings going to stop me! I was just about to give up hope of finding the circle, when I stumbled right across it perched on top of Delf Hill at the back of the quarry by a wall and tractor tracks with fantastic views across the valley.
Its 5pm and the machinery has stopped. Finding this is my highlight of the day. A beautiful little circle with a central cist/depression an internal ditch and embankment with a ring of seven stones. I sat here for an hour and sketched the circle what a lovely place the grass all around is a very lush green it so peaceful here. On my way back from the circle as the light began to fade I came across a curiously carved boulder which was about 3 feet high at the bottom of the hill. I took a few snapshots and decided to take in Hambledon Pasture barrows before the light completely faded.

Hambledon Pasture — Images

26.03.04ce
<b>Hambledon Pasture</b>Posted by treehugger-uk

Hambledon Pasture — Fieldnotes

26.03.04ce
The daylight has now all but gone and I reached my final site of the day there's the remains of two Bronze Age barrows here both uniquely different to each other ones on a circular raised embankment with a curb of stones the other dips down like a bowl barrow also with kerbstones and both have central depressions with stones in the centre there's a structure in the field below which resembles a beacon but then again why is it below the hill I sit on? It could easily be seen from the Ringstones or Twist Castle and the hills around so maybe it is a beacon others may interpret it differently. My dog informs me that were hungry and we fed our lunch to the horses on Twist Hill its time to go and my perfect day ends.
treehugger-uk Posted by treehugger-uk
26th March 2004ce

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