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

Get the TMA Images feed
vulcan's Latest Posts

Latest Posts
Showing 1-50 of 69 posts. Most recent first | Next 50

Priddy Circles (Henge) — Folklore

A follow up on Rhiannon story of Jesus in Priddy. I heard a story many years ago that the local people of Priddy would use the phrase, " As sure as the Lord walked in Priddy". This would be used in the same way as someone today might use the phrase " Is the pope Catholic?".

Faulkland (Standing Stones) — Images (click to view fullsize)

<b>Faulkland</b>Posted by vulcan

Bathampton and Claverton Downs (Standing Stones) — Images

<b>Bathampton and Claverton Downs</b>Posted by vulcan

The Bulwarks (Minchinhampton) (Dyke) — Images

<b>The Bulwarks (Minchinhampton)</b>Posted by vulcan

Uley Bury Camp (Hillfort) — Fieldnotes

Uley Bury Hill fort 1-Aug-2004

We entered Uley Bury Hill fort from approx ST782981. There is a bridle path here which is basically a narrow gully that leads up to the top of the hill. Due to the fact that there appears to be a gateway into the fort at or near the top of this gulley, then I assume the gully to have been made as a passageway to the fort rather than natural, which would probably make it unique. At the bottom of the gully there is medium sized dressed stones that shore up the earth banks but whether they are original work, I don't know, but they do remind me of the small visible wall found at South Cadbury Camp.
As one travels up the gulley there are small irregular stones that appear as stone walling and these may be original work?
As one reaches the top of this passageway/gully, you are greeted by a huge steep natural defence to the camp proper. You should note that there is a path between two artificial mounds that was probably once the gateway into the camp.
The camp itself is about 30 acres in size and although it's fenced off you can still walk around the perimeter and take in the fabulous views.
To the Northwest one can see Cam long down and the isolated Peaked down, which has Arthurian connections. On the Southside of Cam long down and on the top there appears to be earth defences.

Uley Bury Camp (Hillfort) — Images

<b>Uley Bury Camp</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Uley Bury Camp</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Uley Bury Camp</b>Posted by vulcan

Priddy Circles (Henge) — Links

The Megalithic portal and Megalith Map


Aerial Photo of three of the henges. The unfinished henge is not seen.

Banwell Fort (Hillfort) — Miscellaneous

Although I've never seen it myself, there is suppose to be an huge cross cut into the bedrock on or near this hillfort. This would be similar to the way bedrock was cut out on nearby Dolebury Warren.

Aveline's Hole (Cave / Rock Shelter) — Miscellaneous

Experts have just declared Aveline's Hole to be "Britains oldest cemetery". a study of over 800 bone fragments found about 100 years ago have revealed that they are about 10,400 years old. Included amongst the bones is one that show signs of osteoarthritis, the oldest case on record.

Cadbury Camp (Nailsea) (Hillfort) — Images

<b>Cadbury Camp (Nailsea)</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Cadbury Camp (Nailsea)</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Cadbury Camp (Nailsea)</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Cadbury Camp (Nailsea)</b>Posted by vulcan

Blaise Castle (Hillfort) — Images

<b>Blaise Castle</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Blaise Castle</b>Posted by vulcan

Ashton Court (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) — Images

<b>Ashton Court</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Ashton Court</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Ashton Court</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Ashton Court</b>Posted by vulcan

Priddy Circles (Henge) — Images

<b>Priddy Circles</b>Posted by vulcan

Priddy Nine Barrows (Barrow / Cairn Cemetery) — Images

<b>Priddy Nine Barrows</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Priddy Nine Barrows</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Priddy Nine Barrows</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Priddy Nine Barrows</b>Posted by vulcan

Maes Knoll (Hillfort) — Images

<b>Maes Knoll</b>Posted by vulcan

Dolebury Warren (Hillfort) — Images

<b>Dolebury Warren</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Dolebury Warren</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Dolebury Warren</b>Posted by vulcan

Felton Hill Longbarrow (Long Barrow) — Fieldnotes

Using the GPS co-ordinates from TMA I took myself off to Felton Common in search of this Longbarrow. The GPS guided me to roughly the position as suggested, and after the best part of what seemed like an half mile walk through scrubland, I couldn't see anything about so a little searching led me too what I can only think is, or was, a derelict Longbarrow. IF this is the longbarrow, and I've every reason to believe it is, then it's probably in one of the worse conditions I have seen. The stones that are in the field would have made for a large Longbarrow in it's day. Felton Common is quite large and seems to be favourite for dog walkers. it's not a place where you should go to far out of your way to see though.
I will go back oneday because the common hold a secret that very few people probably know, until now, in that it's a very good place to watch planes landing because one is directly under the flight paths of very low incoming planes. Now what can be better to waste some time on than that!!!

Felton Hill Longbarrow (Long Barrow) — Images

<b>Felton Hill Longbarrow</b>Posted by vulcan

Bratton Castle & Westbury White Horse (Hillfort) — Images

<b>Bratton Castle & Westbury White Horse</b>Posted by vulcan

Cadbury Castle (South Cadbury) (Hillfort) — Miscellaneous

Look out for 'Arthurs Well' as you go up through the lane to the fort - Like me and my first trip to the fort, most people don't know its there.

Cadbury Castle (South Cadbury) (Hillfort) — Images

<b>Cadbury Castle (South Cadbury)</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Cadbury Castle (South Cadbury)</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Cadbury Castle (South Cadbury)</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Cadbury Castle (South Cadbury)</b>Posted by vulcan

Banwell Bone Caves (Cave / Rock Shelter) — Images

<b>Banwell Bone Caves</b>Posted by vulcan

Cadbury Hill (Congresbury) (Hillfort) — Images

<b>Cadbury Hill (Congresbury)</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Cadbury Hill (Congresbury)</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Cadbury Hill (Congresbury)</b>Posted by vulcan

Cadbury Hill (Congresbury) (Hillfort) — Miscellaneous

Cadbury Hill fort - AKA CadCong
-------------------------------------

The fort on Cadbury Hill was built about two and a half thousand years ago. It went out of use during the Roman occupation of Britain, but was subsequently resettled during the Dark Ages.

Cadbury Hill was probably occupied by members of the Dobunni tribe. Gradually they developed their hill settlement into a fortified camp by constructing a multiple ditch and rampart system of earthwork defences topped by a stone wall rampart.

Cadbury Congressbury is one of five like-named Iron Age forts in the Southwest area. The name is Anglo Saxon and means 'Cadda's Camp'


Recent excavations not only uncovered its Iron Age beginnings but also important facts about its subsequent history. Despite the Celts fierce will to resist, their hillforts were a poor defence against the highly trained Roman legions. Thus, Cadbury Hill, like most others was abandoned during the Roman occupation (AD 43-410). Nevertheless, under a stable Roman administration the Congressbury region experienced a flourishing growth in population, settlements and land use. Recent fieldwork in Congressbury parish uncovered evidence of a large number of lowland settlements dating from this period, including a group of kilns which manufacture large amounts of a distinctive grey pottery. Their products can be found widely distributed in the region.

To the North of the hill in Henly woods a pagan Roman temple was built. After it fell into ruin in the fifth century, local people who had presumably been converted to Christianity, were buried at the site over earlier pagan graves

Unlike most other hillforts, Cadbury Congresbury, also referred to as CadCong, gained a new lease of life in the Dark Age with large scale reoccupation between AD 410-700. Evidence of several rectangular as well as circular buildings has been found. judging by the number of people that nay have been living here, cadbury was a Dark Age settlement of some importance.

An intriging find from this period was the foundations of a very large circular hut. It seems to have had a ritual purpose of some kind, but it is now known if this was Christian or pagan.

Dark Age settlement of the site was confirmed by the discovery of amphorae (large ceramic wine jars) still being imported from the Mediterranean lands despite the breakdown of the Roman empire.

The nearby settlement of Congressbury was founded in the Saxon era by St Congar, a Celtic holy man from Cornwall.

According to legend St Congar plunged his staff into the ground where upon it took root. To this day there is an ancient yew tree in the churchyard known as 'St Congar's walking stick'. Such a miracle persuaded Ine, the Saxon king of wessex to grant land used for a monastery.

Cadbury Hill is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Portbury (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Miscellaneous

The story on the plaque of the Portbury Stone is as follows
===================================


On the 27th of september 1987 this ancient standing stone was recovered from the field below the church after having been buried in an old dew-pond since the early 1950's.

It is thought that the stone was originally erected in the late Neolitic period, ie around 2000 BC. It's precise purpose is not fully understood.

The stone is of a type found commonly in this area and would most likely have been quarried near to Conygar Hill.
The rock itself is of a type called Dolomite Conglomerate
and would originally be reddish-brown arising from the iron deposits in the soil.

Re-erection of the stone was carried out by members of the PORTBURY ASSOCIATION so that it might be preserved for posterity. Thanks are due to many people in the village who assisted in the rescue
project

Worlebury (Hillfort) — Images

<b>Worlebury</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Worlebury</b>Posted by vulcan

Cheddar Gorge and Gough's Cave (Cave / Rock Shelter) — Images

<b>Cheddar Gorge and Gough's Cave</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Cheddar Gorge and Gough's Cave</b>Posted by vulcan

Aveline's Hole (Cave / Rock Shelter) — Images

<b>Aveline's Hole</b>Posted by vulcan<b>Aveline's Hole</b>Posted by vulcan
Showing 1-50 of 69 posts. Most recent first | Next 50
vulcan hasn't added a profile


My TMA Content: