Name: Current Archaeology 405
Brand: Current Archaeology
SKU: CA405
Availability: InStock

Description

Highlights:

From the Editor:
Our cover story travels to Llanddwyn Island, off the coast of Anglesey, where archaeologists have been documenting traces of two remote and self-sufficient communities: a medieval monastery, and the lighthouse keepers and their families who overlooked the Menai Strait in more recent centuries. We next travel to Stonehenge to share a little-known episode of this world-famous monument’s past: the colourful dahlia festivals that saw crowds of up to 10,000 people flocking to the site in the 1840s.

Eagle-eyed readers might spot that we don’t have a museum or exhibition review this month; this is because two of our features focus on recently opened heritage attractions. The first is Ad Gefrin in Northumberland, which tells the story of the early medieval kingdom of Northumbria and the royal centre at Yeavering; the other is Avalon Archaeology, an innovative open-air museum in Somerset.

You will also doubtless have seen the sad news about the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree. We have taken this as a springboard to explore three different perspectives: how ideas of ‘iconic’ views of Hadrian’s Wall have changed over time, the archaeological context of the tree itself, and how its loss can help us to reflect on current environmental issues.

Finally, tickets are now on sale for the next Current Archaeology Live! – join us in London on 24 February for our annual conference, featuring a full day of talks from leading experts about the latest discoveries and research. See http://www.archaeology.co.uk/live for more information.

Cover Date: Dec-2023, Volume 34 Issue 9

Cover Story

Uncovering a lost landscape: The archaeology of Llanddwyn Island Located off the south coast of Ynys Môn (Anglesey), Llanddwyn Island was home to a small monastic community for more than 1,000 years. Now a decade of archaeological investigations have…

Features

A Victorian rock garden: Celebrating ‘dahlia-mania’ at Stonehenge For a brief snapshot of the mid-19th century, flower festivals drew thousands of visitors to Stonehenge, long before the Neolithic…

Ad Gefrin: Distilling the spirit of Northumbria’s Golden Age In the early medieval period, Yeavering was the site of seasonal gatherings by the Northumbrian royal court, whose palatial halls…

Avalon Archaeology: A new open air archaeological museum in Somerset An eight-year effort by a dedicated band of more than 100 volunteers has borne fruit with the recent opening of…

Rooted in the future: A cultural ecology of the Sycamore Gap tree Do archaeological remains represent static monuments, or do they remain ‘alive’ in their natural and cultural landscapes? Emily Hanscam and…

The tale of a tree: An archaeological history of Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall The Sycamore Gap tree was an immediately recognisable feature of the central section of Hadrian’s Wall. Jim Crow, who directed…

Alternative views: Exploring ‘icons’ of the Hadrian’s Wall landscape In the aftermath of the felling of the famous tree at Sycamore Gap, David Breeze examines how artistic interest in…

Comment

Excavating the CA archive Joe Flatman explores over half a century of reports from the past.

Sherds CA 405 Christopher Catling, Contributing Editor for CA, delves into the eccentricities of the heritage world.

News

Highlights from the CARD Fund: Community radiocarbon-dating fund delivers fresh results

World News

‘Glencoe Massacre’ coin hoard discovered

Brownfield site yields unexpected finds in Cambridge

Second World War catapult found in Oxfordshire

Revealing the lives of Iron Age and Roman farmers in Nottinghamshire

Science Notes: Determining the textures and colours of the Parthenon Sculptures

Stonehenge Altar Stone is probably not from Wales

Pair of rare Roman-era swords found in Gloucestershire

Views

Current Archaeology’s November Listings: exhibitions, events, and heritage from home There are lots of great opportunities to get stuck into history and heritage this autumn, whether you’re looking for conferences,…

CA 405 Letters – November Your thoughts on issues raised by CA.

Clearing the cairns – Carn Glas, Inverness In March and August this year, members of the North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NOSAS) worked together with local volunteers…

Pipe up for Pipe Organs Thomas Hardy’s second novel – Under the Greenwood Tree (1872) – is a masterpiece of rural comedy with a tragedy…

Finds Tray: Early medieval brooch This is an early medieval brooch made from a gilded silver penny, which was found over a year ago by…

Museum news and exhibitions The latest on acquisitions, exhibitions, and key decisions

Reviews

The Bone Chests: Unlocking the secrets of the Anglo-saxons REVIEW BY KK For those not familiar with the eponymous ‘bone chests’, they are the – rather innocuous-looking – wooden…

Ballynahatty: excavations in a Neolithic monumental landscape REVIEW BY VICKI CUMMINGS Six miles from Belfast city centre is the monumental complex at Ballynahatty. Today, the circular earthwork…

The Forgotten Cemetery: excavations at Ranelagh, Co. Roscommon REVIEW BY CH In the 4th century AD, a modest defended farmstead was established close to what is now Roscommon,…

The Archaeology of Ironbridge Gorge in 20 Digs REVIEW BY AB Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire might be a peaceful spot today, but this steep valley on the River…

Roman Towns REVIEW BY KK Rogers’ book serves well as a succinct introduction to the Roman towns of Britain. It starts by…

The Living Stone: stories of uncanny sculpture, 1858-1948 REVIEW BY CH This magazine should reach you in November, bridging the period between Hallowe’en and Christmas – both dates…

Current Archaeology 405