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CONTENTS ISSUE 398 (Vol.XXXIV, No.2) ❙ May 2023 18 FEATURES 18 AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD Exploring early medieval asceticism on the Skelligs Just off the west coast of Ireland sits an isolated monastery perched precariously on top of a rocky islet. What was early monastic life like on the fringes of the medieval Christian world, and how was this amazing feat of architecture achieved? 28 THE GLOUCESTER Piecing together the story of a royal wreck Almost 350 years ago, the Gloucester struck a sandbank off the nor th Norfolk coast and sank – almost taking the future King James II and VII with it . Since the wreck was rediscovered in 2007, analysis of recovered ar tefacts has been illuminating the experiences of those on board, as a new exhibition reveals. 42 3636 4 36 STANDING IN THE PRESENCE OF A SAINT Reconstructing the shrine of Thomas Becket Following on from last month's feature about research focused on the elaborate mosaic that lay in front of the shrine of Thomas Becket, what has the same project revealed about the shrine it self, and Canterbury Cathedral's two chapels associated with the saint? 42 KING’S LYNN UNDER SIEGE How a small field in North Lynn illuminated Civil War fortress engineering What can recent excavations tell us about how the imposing ear thworks that once defended 17th-centur y King's Lynn were constructed, and the history of the town's earlier fortifications? 48 REIMAGINING THE GOVAN STONES Placing archaeology at the heart of a Glasgow community Govan Old Parish Church is home to one of the most significant collections of Viking Age car ved stones in Britain. We learn about the latest fieldwork in the churchyard, and an ambitious initiative to transform the building itself into a heritage centre that will engage and invigorate the local community. MAY 2023
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13 13 CONTENTS 8 UPFRONT 3 EDITOR’S LETTER 6 LETTERS Your comments, complaints, and compliments 8 NEWS The Colchester Vase re-examined; Iron Age comb made from human skull bone among A14 finds; Roman place of worship found under Leicester Cathedral; Work begins on reassembling the Newport ship; Unusual artefact from Vindolanda re-investigated; Science Notes; First residue analysis of a medieval stone cresset; Finds Tray 14 COMMENT Joe Flatman excavates the CA archive 16 CONTEXT Spring cleaning at Fishbourne Roman Palace 56 60 57 58 CULTURE 52 REVIEWS Winters in the World: a journey through the Anglo-Saxon year; 50 Finds from Somerset: objects from the Portable Antiquities Scheme; The Emperor Nero’s Pottery and Tilery at Little London, Pamber, by Silchester, Hampshire: the excavations of 2017; The Coffin Roads: journeys to the West; Medieval Bridges of Southern England: 100 bridges, 1000 years; Treasures of Roman Yorkshire 56 MUSEUM NEWS The latest on acquisitions, exhibitions, and key decisions 57 EXHIBITION Stories of St James’s Burial Ground at St James’s Church, Piccadilly in London 58 CALENDAR Our selection of exhibitions and events, as well as historical, archaeological, and cultural resources from around the world that are still available online 60 CONFERENCE A round-up of what happened at CA Live! 2023 62 GO DIGGING! An array of upcoming archaeological opportunities 64 SHERDS Chris Catling’s irreverent take on heritage issues 66 ODD SOCS 3 9 8 M a y Wealden Iron Research Group ON THE COVER Monastic ruins on Skellig Michael. S k e l l i g M i c h a e l T h e S h r i n e THE UK’S BEST-SELLING ARCHAEOLOGY MAGAZINE Skellig Michael Skellig Michael kellig Michael Skellig Michael Religious life at the edge of the world Religious life at the edge of the world eligious life at the edge of the world eligious life at the edge of the world ligious life at the edge of the world of fe d l h d h l l i i i eligious life at the edge of the wor eligious life at the edge of the world Religious life at the edge of the world o f CREDIT: © Photographic Archive, T h o m a s B e c k e t C i v i l W a r K i n g ’ s L y n n G o v a n O l d Issue 398 ❙ May 2023 ❙ £5.95 National Monuments Service, Government of Ireland PLUS Digs Guide 2023 The Gloucester: a royal wreck ❙ ❙ Civil War defences at King’s Lynn .95 £5 ❙ 398 Issue ISSUE 398 5

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 398

(Vol.XXXIV, No.2) ❙ May 2023

18

FEATURES

18 AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD

Exploring early medieval asceticism on the Skelligs Just off the west coast of Ireland sits an isolated monastery perched precariously on top of a rocky islet. What was early monastic life like on the fringes of the medieval Christian world, and how was this amazing feat of architecture achieved?

28 THE GLOUCESTER

Piecing together the story of a royal wreck Almost 350 years ago, the Gloucester struck a sandbank off the nor th Norfolk coast and sank – almost taking the future King James II and VII with it . Since the wreck was rediscovered in 2007, analysis of recovered ar tefacts has been illuminating the experiences of those on board, as a new exhibition reveals.

42

3636

4

36 STANDING IN THE

PRESENCE OF A SAINT Reconstructing the shrine of Thomas Becket Following on from last month's feature about research focused on the elaborate mosaic that lay in front of the shrine of Thomas Becket, what has the same project revealed about the shrine it self, and Canterbury Cathedral's two chapels associated with the saint?

42 KING’S LYNN UNDER SIEGE

How a small field in North Lynn illuminated Civil War fortress engineering What can recent excavations tell us about how the imposing ear thworks that once defended 17th-centur y King's Lynn were constructed, and the history of the town's earlier fortifications?

48 REIMAGINING THE GOVAN STONES

Placing archaeology at the heart of a Glasgow community Govan Old Parish Church is home to one of the most significant collections of Viking Age car ved stones in Britain. We learn about the latest fieldwork in the churchyard, and an ambitious initiative to transform the building itself into a heritage centre that will engage and invigorate the local community.

MAY 2023

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