Writing in The Art Newspaper today Emily Sharpe reports that -
“The cleaning of an Elizabethan tapestry map has revealed what may be the earliest depiction of the Rollright Stones, a series of Neolithic and Bronze Age megaliths in the English Midlands, says Maggie Wood, the keeper of social history at Warwickshire Museum. What appears to be a small stone circle is now visible in the lower right-hand corner of the Sheldon Tapestry Map of Warwickshire. Other details, including tiny cottages nestled among the trees, are also now visible. The textile was cleaned and conserved in 2011 in preparation for its inclusion in the British Museum’s exhibition “Shakespeare: Staging the World” (until 25 November).”
Full article here – theartnewspaper.com/articles/Ancient+stones+revealed+on+tapestry/27052 .
That's rather a cool discovery. And they're next to a mill too, like in this picture
themodernantiquarian.com/post/110420/rollright_stones.html
There's not much respect for which way's north! And the stones aren't hugely circular, which is a bit odd.
I suppose the tapestry lady, couldn't not remember, or she did not have enough room. I think the tapestry is fabulous, love the colours...
Perhaps you should make one of your local patch, with your lovely vegetable dyed wools.
The tapestry can be seen at the British Museum, as part of their, Shakespeare: staging the world, exhibition until 25 November (open until 8:30 on Fridays).
There was a lecture by Maggie Wood, Keeper of Social History, Warwickshire Museum Service back in July when she mentioned Rollright, “The Rollright Stones, a Neolithic monument built at a similar time to Stonehenge, appear on the tapestry in the lower right corner. They are very hard to spot! This is probably the first known visual depiction of this ancient site.”
There’s a detail of the Stones and a bit more info on the tapestry and its conservation here – blog.britishmuseum.org/2012/07/26/tale-of-a-tapestry/ It’s big!