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England
Wiltshire
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Sites in this group:
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2 posts
Arn Hill Down Round Barrow(s) |
50 posts
100 sites Avebury & the Marlborough Downs Region |
4 posts
Ballards Copse Long Barrow Long Barrow |
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9 posts
Battlesbury Camp Hillfort |
1 post
Bilbury Rings Hillfort |
9 posts
Bincknoll Castle Hillfort |
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3 posts
Boles Barrow Long Barrow |
1 post
Botley Copse Long Barrow |
2 posts
Boyton Down Long Barrow Long Barrow |
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2 posts
Boyton Down Round Barrow Round Barrow(s) |
17 posts
Bratton Castle & Westbury White Horse Hillfort |
1 post
Broadbury Banks Hillfort |
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1 post
Broome Temple Stone Circle (Destroyed) |
1 post
Budbury Hillfort (Destroyed) |
1 post
Burderop Wood Stone Circle Stone Circle (Destroyed) |
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19 posts
Bury Wood Camp Hillfort |
3 posts
Buxbury Hill Long Barrow Long Barrow |
4 posts
Casterley Camp Hillfort |
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12 posts
Castle Combe Hillfort |
6 posts
Castle Ditches Hillfort |
9 posts
Castle Hill (Broad Blunsdon) Hillfort |
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7 posts
Castle Rings Hillfort |
4 posts
Charlton Down Ditch Dyke |
10 posts
Chisbury Hillfort |
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13 posts
Chiselbury Hillfort |
1 post
Church End Ring Enclosure |
1 post
Clearbury Ring Hillfort |
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20 posts
Cley Hill Hillfort |
25 posts
Coate Stone Circle Stone Circle |
1 post
Cobhill Barrow Round Barrow(s) |
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3 posts
Codford Circle Enclosure |
4 posts
3 sites Cold Kitchen Hill Long Barrow Long Barrow |
6 posts
Colerne Park Round Barrow(s) |
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2 posts
Cop Heap Round Barrow(s) |
2 posts
Corton Long Barrow Long Barrow |
1 post
Cow Down Barrow Cemetery |
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3 posts
Cow Down Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork |
1 post
Easton Down Ancient Mine / Quarry |
4 posts
East Castle Enclosure |
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2 posts
East Down Long Barrow Long Barrow |
1 post
Ebsbury Hill Hillfort |
4 posts
Egbert's Stones Standing Stones |
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5 posts
Enford Round Barrow(s) |
12 posts
Everleigh Barrows Barrow Cemetery |
21 posts
Fairmile Down Long Barrow |
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2 posts
Ferne Hollow Round Barrow(s) |
33 posts
Figsbury Ring Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork |
5 posts
Forest Hill Farm Hillfort |
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40 posts
Fosbury Camp Hillfort |
5 posts
Fussell's Lodge Long Barrow |
24 posts
Giant's Cave Long Barrow |
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2 posts
1 site Giant's Grave (Downton) Long Barrow |
17 posts
Giant's Grave (Milton Hill) Long Barrow |
7 posts
Golden Barrow (destroyed) Round Barrow(s) |
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7 posts
Grafton Disc Barrows Barrow Cemetery |
1 post
Great Bradford Wood Enclosure |
3 posts
Green Barrow Farm Long Barrow |
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3 posts
Grovely Castle Hillfort |
1 post
Gunschurch Round Barrow(s) |
2 posts
Guy's Rift Cave / Rock Shelter |
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2 posts
Hanging Langford Camp Enclosure |
4 posts
Hangman's Copse Round Barrow(s) |
7 posts
1 site Jug's Grave Cairn(s) |
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8 posts
Kington Down Farm Long Barrow |
1 post
King Barrow Long Barrow |
3 posts
Kitt's Grave Long Barrow |
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1 post
Knook Castle Hillfort |
43 posts
Lanhill Long Barrow |
4 posts
Long Ivor Farm Henge |
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46 posts
Lugbury Long Barrow |
2 posts
Marleycombe Hill Round Barrow(s) |
25 posts
Membury Camp Hillfort |
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2 posts
Middle Hill Round Barrow(s) |
10 posts
MOD Durrington Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork |
8 posts
Mount Scylla Settlement Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork |
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3 posts
Naish Hill Hillfort |
1 post
North of Hebden Farm Long Barrow (Destroyed) |
3 posts
Norton Bavant Long Barrow Long Barrow |
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1 post
Oldhat Barrow Round Barrow(s) |
22 posts
Old Ditch Longbarrow Long Barrow |
36 posts
Old Sarum Hillfort |
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3 posts
Old Wardour Castle Grotto |
1 post
Park Hill Camp Hillfort |
5 posts
Pertwood Down Long Barrow Long Barrow |
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1 post
Pheasant Hotel Barrow Cemetery |
11 posts
Ringsbury Hillfort |
2 posts
Robin Hood's Bower Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork |
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9 posts
Scratchbury Hillfort |
3 posts
Scrubbity Barrows Barrow Cemetery |
1 post
Sheer Barrow Long Barrow (Destroyed) |
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1 post
Sherrington Long Barrow Long Barrow |
3 posts
4 sites Sidbury Hill Hillfort |
1 post
Silk Hill Barrow Cemetery |
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3 posts
Smay Down Long Barrow (Destroyed) |
4 posts
Snail Down Barrow Cemetery |
4 posts
South Down Round Barrow(s) |
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4 posts
Stanton Fitzwarren Standing Stone / Menhir |
162 posts
60 sites Stonehenge and its Environs |
2 posts
Summer Down Round Barrow(s) |
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6 posts
Sutton Veny Barrows Round Barrow(s) |
8 posts
Three Kings Barrows Round Barrow(s) |
15 posts
Tidcombe Long Barrow Long Barrow |
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9 posts
Tilshead Lodge Longbarrow Long Barrow |
Tinhead Hill
Long Barrow
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6 posts
Tinkley Earthwork Enclosure |
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1 post
Totney Hill Round Barrow(s) |
18 posts
Tow Barrow Long Barrow |
2 posts
Trow Down Round Barrow(s) |
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3 posts
Upton Great Barrow Round Barrow(s) |
8 posts
Weather Hill Henge |
9 posts
White Barrow Long Barrow |
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21 posts
White Sheet Hill Causewayed Enclosure |
1 post
White Sheet Hill Long Barrow |
1 post
Wick Ball Camp Hillfort |
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19 posts
Winkelbury Hillfort |
10 posts
Woodcutts Common Settlement Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork |
3 posts
Woodlands Earthwork Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork |
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29 posts
Yarnbury Castle Hillfort |
Sites of disputed antiquity:
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3 posts
The Bloodstone Standing Stone / Menhir |
3 posts
Bushy Barrow Round Barrow(s) |
1 post
East Knoyle Natural Rock Feature |
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11 posts
Kenward Stone Carving |
News |
 Add news |
Chippenham exhibition to explore pre-historyA winter exhibition of artwork inspired by the pre-history of Wiltshire titled The Past is Another Country will be showcased at Chippenham's Museum and Heritage Centre early next year... continues... |
Posted by scubi6331st December 2011ce |
Wiltshire Heritage Museum faces ruin!WILTSHIRE Heritage Museum in Devizes could be"effectively bankrupt" in two to three years unless Wiltshire Council comes to its aid... continues... |
Posted by tjj28th December 2011ce Edited 28th December 2011ce |
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John Aubrey: Wiltshire Antiquary A lecture by Professor Michael Hunter FBA (author of John Aubrey and the World of Learning) and recently retired Professor of History at Birkbeck, University of London will be held at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes from 2:30pm on Saturday, 24 March 2012. More here - http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=706&prev=1 |
Posted by Littlestone11th December 2011ce |
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Salisbury Plain a Hidden Archaeological Gem Fascinating article about Salisbury Plain and the protection of monuments against the military presence there.... Not able to copy so you have to go to the link..... http://www.heritagedaily.com/2011/11/salisbury-plain-a-hidden-archaeological-gem/ |
Posted by moss7th November 2011ce |
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Talk: Prehistoric Wiltshire: An Illustrated Guide "This Sunday!!! Chance to hear Bob Clarke talk about his book 'Prehistoric Wiltshire: An Illustrated Guide', followed by a book signing. Sunday 6th November, 2:30 – 4:30 Entrance £3 – to cover cost of venue and includes tea/coffee and cakes." http://www.facebook.com/WiltshireHeritageMuseum/posts/10150353681564195 |
Posted by goffik4th November 2011ce |
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Ancient artefacts unearthed in Tisbury At last we have an example of a metal detectorist doing the 'right thing'. http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/9336972.Ancient_artefacts_unearthed_in_Tisbury/?ref=mr |
Posted by tjj 4th November 2011ce Edited 4th November 2011ce |
Replica Chiseldon cauldrons returning homeA REPLICA of a globally important iron age artefact from Chiseldon is to be made for display in the village. Funds for the project have come from an anymous donor... continues... |
Posted by tjj 27th September 2011ce Edited 27th September 2011ce |
The Past is Another Country: an Exhibition by the Elementals Art Group.The Past is Another Country: an Exhibition by the Elementals Art Group. Artwork inspired by the pre-history of Wiltshire at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes from 10:00am on Saturday, 5 November 2011 until Monday, 2 January 2012... continues... |
Posted by Littlestone 26th August 2011ce |
Flint knapping and Bronze age metal working demo - Thu 28 JulyAn exciting opportunity to participate in hands-on activities and learn skills in practical archaeology techniques & activities with specialists; Neil Burridge who will be demonstrating ancient metal working techniques and Karl Lee who will be giving demonstrations of flint knapping... continues... |
Posted by Chance25th July 2011ce |
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Sarsen Trail and Neolithic Marathon Last few days to register for the Sarsen Trail and Neolithic Marathon on Sunday 1st May 2011 - in support of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Register by 18th April at: http://www.wiltshirewildlife.org/ |
Posted by tjj 11th April 2011ce Edited 11th April 2011ce |
Landscapes of Thomas Hardy's Wessex"An exhibition of works by Rob Pountney, Dave Gunning and David Inshaw depicting the spectacular landscapes and ancient archaeological sites that feature in the novels and poems of Thomas Hardy... continues... |
Posted by Littlestone 3rd April 2011ce Edited 3rd April 2011ce |
Wiltshire Henge HopperDavid Dawson, the Director of the Wiltshire Heritage Museum has obtained funding to run a 'henge hopper' initally for a three month period this summer. http://www.stonehenge-avebury-bus.org... continues... |
Posted by tjj 2nd April 2011ce Edited 3rd April 2011ce |
Award to Wiltshire Heritage MuseumWriting in the The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald yesterday, Lewis Cowen reports that, "The Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes has been awarded £58,200 to work on plans to create new Bronze Age galleries... continues... |
Posted by Littlestone 30th March 2011ce |
Introduction to Experimental ArchaeologyThe Wiltshire Heritage Museum will be running an eight-week evening lecture course (and a Saturday workshop) consisting of a, "…series of classes, combining lecturing and practical activities, to teach the aims and techniques of Experimental Archaeology... continues... |
Posted by Littlestone 3rd March 2011ce |
'The Invention of Prehistoric Sacred Places' - Talk by Bob TrubshawAs part of the BBC 'Hands on History - The Ancients' series, author Bob Trubshaw will be at the Central library in Swindon, Wiltshire on Thursday 24 February at 7... continues... |
Posted by tjj 16th February 2011ce Edited 16th February 2011ce |
Hands on History week - ChippenhamAs part of the national "Hands on History" week run in conjunction with the BBC, Chippenham Museum & Heritage Centre will be running the series of half term activity workshops as shown below.... continues... |
Posted by Chance 13th February 2011ce Edited 13th February 2011ce |
"THE DRUIDS" a lecture by Professor Ronald HuttonThis year's annual lecture on behalf of the Wiltshire Victoria County History Trust,(Registered Charity No 1102882), will be on the theme of The Druids... continues... |
Posted by Chance 23rd January 2011ce |
Lunchtime Talk - Sir John Lubbock, 1st Lord Avebury1:00 pm, Wednesday, 10 November, 2010 An illustrated lecture by Adrian Green, Director of Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum. Come along to the story of this busy Victorian. Sir John Lubbock was born in 1834 and brought up near Downe in Kent... continues... |
Posted by goffik 4th November 2010ce Edited 4th November 2010ce |
White Horses and Hill Figures - Day SchoolWiltshire Heritage Museum Saturday, 24 July 2010 A Day School exploring the chalk figures carved into the landscape of Britain with leading experts. Accompanying our summer exhibition White Horses and Hill Figures, the White Horses and Hill Figures Day School will feature talks by leading experts on the subject... continues... |
Posted by goffik 13th July 2010ce Edited 13th July 2010ce |
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Talk by Paul Devereux - 17th June, Swindon Library Paul Devereux will be giving a talk on Sacred Geography in the reading room of Swindon's superb new Central Library on 17th June at 7.30pm. http://www.pauldevereux.co.uk/ Admission: £2.00 (£1.50 conc) |
Posted by tjj 14th June 2010ce |
A Green Treasure from the Magic MountainsAs part of the Devizes Festival, on Tues, 15th June... continues... |
Posted by tjj 14th May 2010ce Edited 14th May 2010ce |
Prehistoric GeographyOne for the diary as this is some time off - Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Land use in the Solent Drainage System. An illustrated lecture by David Field, to be held at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes from 2:30pm on Saturday, 20 November 2010... continues... |
Posted by Littlestone 13th May 2010ce Edited 14th May 2010ce |
The Great Stones Way to link Avebury and StonehengeApproval and funding have been granted for the advanced planning of The Great Stones Way (GSW)... continues... |
Posted by Chance 10th April 2010ce |
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The green treasures from the magic mountains A lecture entitled, The green treasures from the magic mountains: the 'life story' of the magnificent Neolithic axehead from Breamore, will be given by Alison Sheridan at Devizes Town Hall, Wiltshire, from 7:00 pm on Tuesday, 15 June 2010. More here - http://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/the-green-treasures-from-the-magic-mountains/ |
Posted by Littlestone 1st April 2010ce |
Wiltshire Heritage Museum Summer Exhibition: White Horses and Hill FiguresOn Saturday I visited the Summer Exhibition at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum: White Horses and Hill Figures I hesitated to post on it as many of the white horses in the Wiltshire area are not that old. The most recent is the Devizes horse which was cut to mark the millenium in the year 2000... continues... |
Posted by tjj 30th March 2010ce Edited 30th March 2010ce |
Lecture: The Parkers of HeytesburyHere's one for the 'common man' LECTURE: The Parkers of Heytesbury: The First Field Archaeologists Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes 2:30 pm, Saturday, 06 March, 2010 A lecture by Paul Everill about Stephen and John Parker, labourers from Heytesbury who helped William Cunnington with his excavations... continues... |
Posted by tjj 15th February 2010ce Edited 16th February 2010ce |
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Recent Discoveries in Archaeology in Wiltshire Some way off, but Recent Discoveries in Archaeology in Wiltshire by Melanie Pomeroy-Kellinger, Wiltshire County Archaeologist, at the Lecture Hall - Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum on, 9 March 2010 from 19:30, may be of interest. More here - http://www.salisburymuseum.org.uk/what-s-on/lectures/57-recent-discoveries-in-archaeology-in-wiltshire.html |
Posted by Littlestone 4th December 2009ce |
Wiltshire Heritage Museum - lectures in Dec/JanuarySaturday, December 19th 2009 at 2.30pm LECTURE - Illicit Antiquities: the scandal of our age, by Chris Chippendale £4.00 (£3.00 WANHS members) Booking advised Wednesday, 13th January 2010, 1.10pm-1.50pm LUNCHTIME TALK - by David Dawson Stonehenge - latest developments £2... continues... |
Posted by tjj 28th November 2009ce Edited 29th November 2009ce |
"Inspired by Stonehenge" exhibition and Julian Richards talkWith distinct sense of deja vu ... The "Inspired by Stonehenge" exhibition started at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery from 3rd October 2009 - 27th March 2010. Admission free: I have already seen this exhibition which is on tour from the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum and can recommend it... continues... |
Posted by tjj 2nd November 2009ce Edited 2nd November 2009ce |
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Stonehenge road closure gets go ahead Druids delight as Stonehenge road closure gets go ahead http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6860253.ece# |
Posted by ginger tt4th October 2009ce |
The Stonehenge Riverside Project - Recent Results"The Annual General Meeting of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society will take place at Devizes Town Hall, commencing at 2.30pm (10 October, 2009). This will be followed by a lecture from Prof. Mike Parker Pearson. "Mike's talk is entitled 'The Stonehenge Riverside Project - Recent Results'... continues... |
Posted by Littlestone 18th September 2009ce |
Keeping Up Appearances"About 4,500 years ago some inhabitants of Britain suddenly started wearing and being buried with jewellery. Subsequent centuries saw objects being fashioned out of amber, jet, gold, copper, bone and faience in a bewildering variety of forms... continues... |
Posted by Littlestone 8th September 2009ce |
Grant for the Wiltshire Heritage MuseumCulture minister Barbara Follett has announced a £150,000 grant for the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes. The grant will be used to create a new Bronze Age Gallery to house material excavated from the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. More here - continues... |
Posted by Littlestone 3rd September 2009ce |
Inspired by StonehengeAn exhibition featuring memorabilia about Stonehenge opened at Wiltshire Heritage Museum on 16 May and runs to 20 September 2009. "Inspired by Stonehenge focuses on the changing ways the monument has inspired and been experienced by visitors throughout the past two centuries... continues... |
Posted by Littlestone 31st May 2009ce Edited 1st June 2009ce |
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OUTING: Archaeological Walk on Salisbury Plain "A walk led by Roy Canham to explore the archaeology of Salisbury Plain Training Area. "A rare opportunity to see the historic landscape in areas that are usually closed to the public. This year the walk will be to the group of Neolithic Long Barrows and earthworks around Tilshead Lodge." More here - http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=397&prev=1 |
Posted by Heritage Action17th April 2009ce Edited 17th April 2009ce |
LECTURE: The Invisible Stone Circle: To See or Not to SeeA lecture by renowned archaeologist Aubrey Burl. at Wiltshire Heritage Museum. 2:30 pm, Saturday, 21 March, 2009 There are hundreds of stone circles in the British Isles. Every year hundreds of thousands of people visit them. Sometimes there is a sign, usually uninformative, occasionally inaccurate... continues... |
Posted by moss 10th February 2009ce Edited 10th February 2009ce |
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Devizes, Wiltshire Heritage Museum. David Gunning: A Retrospective The exhibition includes a number of David Gunning's works on the theme of Neolithic monuments, including those at Avebury and Stonehenge. The exhibition is in the Museum's Art Gallery until 26 October 2008. More at - http://www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/events/index.php?Action=2&thID=330&prev=1 |
Posted by Littlestone 7th August 2008ce Edited 8th August 2008ce |
Inspired by Stonehenge"A survivor of one of the most audacious invasions of Stonehenge has turned up in time for this week's solstice celebrations, more than 40 years after all the perpetrators were believed to have perished in a fire... continues... |
Posted by Littlestone 21st June 2008ce Edited 25th June 2008ce |
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All About Stonehenge An exhibition of over forty images of Stonehenge now on display at Devizes Museum, Wiltshire until the 27 August 2007. |
Posted by Littlestone 17th August 2007ce Edited 17th August 2007ce |
From utter darkness to a thin mist: Early Excavators at AveburyLecture by Dr Ros Cleal on Wednesday, 28 March at the University of Bath in Swindon. "This lecture looks at the work of early investigators of Avebury from the mid-17th century to the mid-20th century... continues... |
Posted by Littlestone 23rd March 2007ce Edited 23rd March 2007ce |
Devizes Museum - Lecture on My Landscapes by Peter Fowler - 5th May 2007This event will consist of two halves: a short lecture exploring relationships between landscape and art, with particular reference to Wiltshire and to 'my landscapes', in both senses, as viewed over 40 years by an old archaeologist and over 4 years by a young painter... continues... |
Posted by moss 19th March 2007ce |
Devizes Museum; Uncertainty At Wiltshire HeritageJust before Christmas the Wiltshire Archaelogical and Natural History Society, which maintains the Wiltshire Heritage Museum, library and gallery in Devizes, heard from the county council that their grant for 2006/7 (£24,500) would not be renewed in 2007/8... continues... |
Posted by moss 11th February 2007ce Edited 14th February 2007ce |
Rampart find excites historiansA dig near Malmesbury town walls has uncovered a substantial stone-fronted defensive rampart and a deep ditch which could date to the Iron Age. Archaeologists believe the prehistoric hill fort would have had impressive multiple defences rising above the valley of the River Avon... continues... |
Posted by The Eternal20th May 2006ce |
Burial Mound Preserved For FutureFrom an article published on the BBC News web site on 2nd February 2005: A burial ground on a Wiltshire farm has been protected from plough damage by an agreement between the farmer and Defra... continues... |
Posted by Kammer4th February 2005ce Edited 17th February 2006ce |
New Road Reveals Stone Age SiteFrom BBCi Archaeologists believe they may have stumbled upon a major Stone Age site - on the route of a new bypass. The site dates back between 250,000 and 300,000 years and may even provide evidence of one of the earliest uses of fire... continues... |
Posted by Jane6th October 2003ce Edited 10th February 2006ce |
Exhibition at Devizes MuseumCurrently showing at the museum in Devizes is a small exhibition taken from their amazing library... continues... |
Posted by Rhiannon9th June 2003ce Edited 17th February 2006ce |
Wiltshire Heritage Museum FundingThis was posted today to the Stones Mailing List by Littlestone... continues... |
Posted by Holy McGrail23rd March 2003ce Edited 17th February 2006ce |
Wiltshire Bronze Age Pot Project at Devizes Museumgleaned from 'WeirdWiltshire.co.uk' 15 FEB - 22 APRIL, DEVIZES: The current exhibition at Wiltshire Heritage Museum reviews the progress of the five year project, Repairing the Past, the Wiltshire Bronze Age Pot Project, funded chiefly by the Heritage Lottery Fund, to conserve 105 prehistoric pots from Wiltshire... continues... |
Posted by Rhiannon 25th February 2003ce Edited 17th February 2006ce |
Preserving Pitt Rivers' Bronze Age Pots in WiltshireA major conservation project by Wiltshire County Council and two Wiltshire museums to preserve over 100 Bronze Age pots has reached the halfway point... continues... |
Posted by phil 5th January 2003ce Edited 10th February 2006ce |
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North Wessex Downs AONB - Bus walksTen walks accessible by bus taking in some of the archaeology of the North Wessex AONB. |
Posted by tjj 12th September 2011ce |
The Druidical Temples of the County of Wilts By Rev. E. DukeA web page of the 1846 book giving interpretations of various sites such as Avebury, Silbury Hill and others in Wiltshire |
Posted by Chance 11th September 2011ce |
Henge Hopper: the Stonehenge-Avebury bus |
Posted by tjj 2nd April 2011ce Edited 3rd April 2011ce |
Thomas Guest and Paul Nash in Wiltshire: Two Episodes in the Artistic Approach to British AntiquityAn excellent essay by Sam Smiles from the Tate Research Journal. |
Posted by fitzcoraldo10th May 2009ce Edited 10th May 2009ce |
Wiltshire and Swindon Sites and Monument RecordsA fine website, with an easy search engine. Once a site is found, there is a link to a local Ordnance Survey map of the area, with zoom facilities. The best bit is that all the sites are marked with their features on top of the existing modern features. Check out the Stonehenge Avenue for instance. |
Posted by The Eternal 31st January 2008ce |
Latest posts for Wiltshire |
Showing 1-10 of 4,188 posts. Most recent first | Next 10 
Membury Camp (Hillfort) — Fieldnotes |
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Membury Camp is one of those sites I've 'seen' many - goodness knows how many - times from the M4 services of the same name.... but never got around to visiting. Well, you know how it is? Probably not much there, better places on the 'list' etc.... However I decide to remedy that today, inspired, I guess, by tjj's images back in October. Which is what TMA is all about, is it not? I approach from the north, so, leaving the M4 at Junction 14, I take the A338 toward Wantage, almost immediately turning left upon the B4000. At Lambourn Woodlands, where the b-road veers sharply right, continue upon a minor road past Fox Farm, parking at the entrance to a farm track on the left. Follow this, past a house, to pick up a public footpath crossing the M4 via - you'll no doubt be pleased to note - a bridge. The stony track continues, passing a prominent wood and with the nissen huts of the former RAF airfield to the left, towards another phalanx of trees concealing the hillfort. The track becomes path and, eventually, affords access to the enclosure. Jeez, it's a big one, Dyer quoting a very impressive 12 hectares, although I'm arguably more impressed by the sheer size of the defensive bank encountered by the traveller. Initially I take the enclosure to be bi-vallate - that is protected by two concentric banks; however Dyer cites the outer as being a counterscarp to the massive ditch. Whatever.... splitting hairs, perhaps. As with all hillforts, the only real way to appreciate the form and substance of the defences is to walk them.... suffice to say, despite the vegetation being, relatively speaking, not that prohibitive - at least in winter - a circuit takes me over an hour, such is the circumference of this massive earthwork. In fact it is only the distant hum of the M4 which provides an indication of where exactly I am. Are we there yet? No. Are we there yet? Shut-up. Not that this is exactly a hardship, not with Nature having taken over the ramparts to do her thang, occasional pieces of flint lying provocatively upon the bank, as if to say 'for all you know I'm an ancient tool'. But therein lies the problem... I'm no expert. Sigh. Following lunch, I'm just about to complete my second, and final circuit when the hitherto hidden, entirely unwelcome side of a visit to Membury raises its head. To be fair, I guess she was only doing her job, but I'm suddenly confronted by a 'plummy' middle-aged woman with dogs (I'd seen her about half an hour earlier and thought nothing of it - guess it took some time to summon the bravery to confront me, then... honestly). In short, it appears that I've strayed from the path (I know), that this is very bad (she has no answers to my demands to know why this should be and why the estate wish to forbid me access to my heritage) and that if 'security' catch me I'll be sorry. Oh dear, threats. I assure her I most certainly will not be - sorry that is - that I had no idea walking the ramparts was an issue (there are currently no signs or fences when approaching from the north) and as I've been on site for some three hours, 'security' aren't exactly a formidable unit, are they? I complete my exploration of the defences and have a wander inside the massive enclosure before leaving this exceptional hillfort. So, there you are. Sadly it seems that here we have another 'high end' landowner who has a problem having a (very) fine example of England's heritage upon his/her land. How damn inconvenient, what? Now there are many ordinary - dare I say 'common' - landowners/ farmers throughout this land who, from experience, I know do not see this as an issue and consequently apply a morally decent attitude to access. Work with the people who want to see your stuff and attitudes invariably improve on both sides, do they not? Yeah, I know. It's plain common sense. Unfortunately such intelligent reasoning, although prevalent somewhere as off the beaten track as the environs of Loch Fyne, for example, does not appear to have caught on yet at Membury. Guess it takes time to filter down.... |
Posted by GLADMAN4th February 2012ce |
Membury Camp (Hillfort) — Images (click to view fullsize) |
        
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Posted by GLADMAN 4th February 2012ce |
Showing 1-10 of 4,188 posts. Most recent first | Next 10
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