Condolences, journeys and trees its antiquarian discovery and the presentation of its monuments to the public is no less fascinating, and my favourite site has to be Temple Wood stone circle; planted with trees in the shape of a half moon in the 19th century, it has a wonderful ambience. The museum will reopen in 2023 after a major refit – their own journey of creation.
the director assessed, but the challenge was made real to me when I walked over the parched grass, seeing cracks in the peat and exposed Bronze Age wood. In 2020 the Scottish Crannog Centre on Loch Tay suffered a major fire: in just six minutes the wooden Iron Age timber crannog (island dwelling) went up in flames. The centrepiece of their visitor centre, its loss was a devastating blow. But like a phoenix from the ashes the Crannog Centre will rise again. It has received funding from the Scottish Government to relocate to a larger site, where it will continue its educational work and over time develop three new crannogs. 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of work starting at Butser Ancient Farm. The Council for British
Our patron King Charles III The Council for British Archaeology has written to His Majesty King Charles iii as our patron to express our deepest condolences to him and the whole Royal Family at this sad time. We, like so many others, mourn the loss of the Queen and honour her many years of dedicated and courageous service to the country. Her Majesty was, for us all, an enduring symbol of our national traditions and heritage, and has left a legacy which will continue for generations into the future. We are, as ever, extremely grateful for His Majesty’s patronage of our work championing public participation in archaeology and safeguarding our archaeological heritage. As the Queen said in her Christmas Day speech of 1999: “We can make sense of the future – if we understand the lessons of the past”. The Council for British Archaeology expressed our heartfelt support for His Majesty.
Flag Fen is all about the dark soil – peat and the preservation of wood and other organic material. Subjected to groundbreaking excavation and conservation in the 1970s and 80s by Francis and Maisie Taylor, Flag Fen continues to inspire today. But it also faces major challenges in looking after the remains of the prehistoric timbers that survive across the site. This is being from
Above right: Temple Wood stone circle Right: Flag Fen
My festival journey With a theme of Journeys the 2022 Festival of Archaeology (July 16–31) was a huge success. You can read more about it in Archaeology active (see page 52). I was able to visit several incredible archaeological sites and projects over the festival’s 16 days, including Kilmartin Glen in Argyll, the Scottish Crannog Centre on Loch Tay, Flag Fen near Peterborough and Butser Ancient Farm in Hampshire. Each site seeks to inspire us through the amazing archaeological landscapes, features and activities they present. From hands-on research and reconstructions to cutting-edge museums they help us imagine and encounter archaeology directly, transforming excavation and research into new experiences and meanings. Each site has had its own journey – stories of discovery, imagination, vision and tenacity. I was struck by how they have all forged their own communities to help tell their stories and shape the places they inhabit today. Kilmartin is one of the finest archaeological landscapes in the British Isles, somewhere you can enter deep time and marvel at incredible rock art or inspiring monuments. The story of
6|British Archaeology|November December 2022