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currentcurrent archaeologycurrent CONTENTS issue 275 (Vol XXIII, No.11) | February 2013 UP FRONT Letters Your comments, complaints, and compliments 4 4 News Staffordshire Hoard field: new Saxon finds; Artificial isles of wonder; Roman outreach; An Iron Age Canterbury tale; Longer in the tooth; Star Carr’s star finds; Monumental changes at Stonehenge; 6 6 I s s u e 2 7 5 | F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 3 current current THE UK’S BEST SELLING ARCHAEOLOGY MAGAZINE February 2013 February 2013 Issue 275 | £4.25 Issue 275 | £4.25 www.archaeology.co.ukwww.archaeology.co.uk O r k n e y S p e c i a l: N o l t l a n d | T h e C a i r n s | N o r t h S e a | R o u s a y ORKNEY SPECIALORKNEYSPECIALORKNEY SPECIAL Discovering the secret shrines in a Neolithic home Discovering the secret shrines in a Neolithic home Orkney’s Venus c u r r e nt a r c h a e ol o g y North Sea odyssey How seafaring changed the tides of history 001_CA275_Cover final_SC.indd 1 Staffordshire Hoard latest Stunning Saxon finds from the same field Issue 275 19/12/2012 12:19 ON THE COVER Rock chick: known as the Orkney Venus or Westray Wife, this figurine is one of the most celebrated finds from the Links of Noltland. CREDIT CREDIT: Historic Scotland FEATURES SANDS OF TIME Domestic ritual at the Links of Noltland Contemporary with the Ness of Brodgar’s ritual monuments, what can this settlement tell us about everyday life in prehistoric Orkney? THE CAIRNS From broch builders to Viking traders A riot of Iron Age archaeological remains are proving more important than the site’s antiquarian discoverer could have dreamed – as well as shedding light on Scandinavian incomers. 12 20 CONNECTED BY THE SEA The early history of seafaring Balancing the often land-based focus of our island story, we explore tales of heroism and prehistoric travellers in foreign lands. 26 ROUSAY Racing against sea and tide Coastal erosion has revealed a wealth of archaeological material from brochs to burnt mounds. What can rescue excavations reveal about the island’s prehistoric population? 34 20 26 34 REGULARS 46 Conference Further details of Current Archaeology Live! 2013 42 Reviews Monuments of Orkney – avisitor’s guide;Archaeology:a very short introduction;Flint and Stone in the Neolithic Period;The Antiquarian Rediscovery of the Antonine Wall 44 Sherds Chris Catling’s irreverent take on heritage issues 46 Last Word Andrew Selkirk talks about archaeological funding and the private purse 48 Odd Socs The Computer Conservation Society 50 2 current archaeology | www.archaeology.co.uk February 2013 |
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www.archaeology.co.uk www.facebook.com/currentarchaeologymag twitter.com/currentarchaeo visit us online at www.archaeology.co.uk WELCOME Orkney could be an open-air archaeology museum. Sites such as Skara Brae fire the imagination with their spectacular preservation. Yet while many of the archipelago’s big-name sites were dug in the first half of the 20th century, fieldwork has not rested on its laurels. Today, Orkney plays a lead role in attempts to tease out our prehistoric past. In this issue we celebrate the latest discoveries. Britain is studded with major Neolithic monuments, but opportunities to pry into the Britain is studded with major Neolithic monuments, but opportunities to pry into the first farmers’ home life remain rare. Now excavations at the Links of Noltland have revealed a near-complete Neolithic house, where a seemingly innocuous blocked doorway revealed a unique hidden shrine, and a new side to prehistoric life. In 1901 the Reverend Goodfellow delved into a low mound at the Cairns, reportedly exposing a souterrain. The 1960s brought further reports of a subterranean structure in the same field. A project seeking to establish exactly what was discovered has struck unexpected archaeological riches, including a massive broch-like monument. To what extent has the sea shaped island life? Following the story from the inundation of Doggerland through to the arrival of the Vikings, we examine how the North Sea served as a conduit for ideas and exotica, as well as an arena where personal prowess could be proved. The sea is also damaging numerous sites on Rousay. A multinational team is racing against time to learn what they can before these monuments are lost forever – and overturning some long-held theories along the way. Finally, see p. 42 for all the latest on the Current Archaeology conference. It would be great to see you there! Our contributors this month SANDS OF TIME HAZEL MOORE Hazel is a partner in EASE Archaeology with a particular interest in the archaeology of Orkney and Shetland, where she has conducted numerous field projects over the last 25 years. She lives in Orkney with her family. THE CAIRNS MARTIN CARRUTHERS Martin is a lecturer at Orkney College, University of the Highlands and Islands. He is course leader for the Masters in Archaeological Practice and director of the Windwick Landscape Project. Interests include later prehistory, field archaeology, and souterrains. ROUSAY STEVE DOCKRILL Steve is a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Bradford. His research centres on the archaeology of the Northern Isles, and he is an active member of the North Atlantic Biocultural Organisation (NABO). | Issue 275 archaeologycurrent Editorial Editor: Dr Matthew Symonds matt@archaeology.co.uk Tel: 020 8819 5580 Contributing editor: Christopher Catling chris@archaeology.co.uk Art editor: Mark Edwards mark@currentpublishing.com Designer: Justine Middleton Assistant Editor: Carly Hilts carly@currentpublishing.com Sub editor: Simon Coppock Editor-in-chief: Andrew Selkirk 9 Nassington Road, London NW3 2TX andrew@archeology.co.uk Tel: 020 8819 5584 Managing director: Robert Selkirk Commercial Advertising sales: Mike Traylen mike@currentpublishing.com Tel: 020 8819 5360 Production manager: Maria Earle maria@currentpublishing.com Marketing manager: Emma Watts-Plumpkin emma@currentpublishing.com Tel: 020 8819 5575 Commercial director: Libby Selkirk Current Publishing Lamb House, Church Street, London W4 2PD Tel: 020 8819 5580 (office hours) Fax: 020 8819 5589 Web: www.archaeology.co.uk Subscriptions Current Archaeology is published monthly for a subscription of £44 for 12 issues. Foreign subscriptions £54. Subscriptions should be sent to: Current Publishing, Lamb House, Church Street, London W4 2PD Tel: (office hours) 020 8819 5580 Fax: 020 8819 5589 Subscription queries to: subs@archaeology.co.uk or online at: www.archaeology.co.uk Back issues: £5 each / £6 non-UK Binders: (hold 12 copies) £15 / £20 Slip Cases: (hold 12 copies) £15 / £20 Printed in the UK by William Gibbons Unauthorised reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without written permission. The publisher, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services which may be advertised or referred to in this issue. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently or where it has proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue. 191212170 www.archaeology.co.uk | current archaeology 3

www.archaeology.co.uk www.facebook.com/currentarchaeologymag twitter.com/currentarchaeo visit us online at www.archaeology.co.uk

WELCOME

Orkney could be an open-air archaeology museum. Sites such as Skara Brae fire the imagination with their spectacular preservation. Yet while many of the archipelago’s big-name sites were dug in the first half of the 20th century, fieldwork has not rested on its laurels. Today, Orkney plays a lead role in attempts to tease out our prehistoric past. In this issue we celebrate the latest discoveries.

Britain is studded with major Neolithic monuments, but opportunities to pry into the

Britain is studded with major Neolithic monuments, but opportunities to pry into the first farmers’ home life remain rare. Now excavations at the Links of Noltland have revealed a near-complete Neolithic house, where a seemingly innocuous blocked doorway revealed a unique hidden shrine, and a new side to prehistoric life.

In 1901 the Reverend Goodfellow delved into a low mound at the Cairns, reportedly exposing a souterrain. The 1960s brought further reports of a subterranean structure in the same field. A project seeking to establish exactly what was discovered has struck unexpected archaeological riches, including a massive broch-like monument.

To what extent has the sea shaped island life? Following the story from the inundation of Doggerland through to the arrival of the Vikings, we examine how the North Sea served as a conduit for ideas and exotica, as well as an arena where personal prowess could be proved.

The sea is also damaging numerous sites on Rousay. A multinational team is racing against time to learn what they can before these monuments are lost forever – and overturning some long-held theories along the way.

Finally, see p. 42 for all the latest on the Current Archaeology conference. It would be great to see you there!

Our contributors this month

SANDS OF TIME HAZEL MOORE Hazel is a partner in EASE Archaeology with a particular interest in the archaeology of Orkney and Shetland, where she has conducted numerous field projects over the last 25 years. She lives in Orkney with her family.

THE CAIRNS MARTIN CARRUTHERS Martin is a lecturer at Orkney College, University of the Highlands and Islands. He is course leader for the Masters in Archaeological Practice and director of the Windwick Landscape Project. Interests include later prehistory, field archaeology, and souterrains.

ROUSAY STEVE DOCKRILL Steve is a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Bradford. His research centres on the archaeology of the Northern Isles, and he is an active member of the North Atlantic Biocultural Organisation (NABO).

| Issue 275

archaeologycurrent

Editorial Editor: Dr Matthew Symonds matt@archaeology.co.uk Tel: 020 8819 5580 Contributing editor: Christopher Catling chris@archaeology.co.uk Art editor: Mark Edwards mark@currentpublishing.com Designer: Justine Middleton Assistant Editor: Carly Hilts carly@currentpublishing.com Sub editor: Simon Coppock Editor-in-chief: Andrew Selkirk 9 Nassington Road, London NW3 2TX andrew@archeology.co.uk Tel: 020 8819 5584 Managing director: Robert Selkirk

Commercial Advertising sales: Mike Traylen mike@currentpublishing.com Tel: 020 8819 5360 Production manager: Maria Earle maria@currentpublishing.com Marketing manager: Emma Watts-Plumpkin emma@currentpublishing.com Tel: 020 8819 5575 Commercial director: Libby Selkirk

Current Publishing Lamb House, Church Street, London W4 2PD Tel: 020 8819 5580 (office hours) Fax: 020 8819 5589 Web: www.archaeology.co.uk

Subscriptions Current Archaeology is published monthly for a subscription of £44 for 12 issues. Foreign subscriptions £54. Subscriptions should be sent to: Current Publishing, Lamb House, Church Street, London W4 2PD Tel: (office hours) 020 8819 5580 Fax: 020 8819 5589 Subscription queries to: subs@archaeology.co.uk or online at: www.archaeology.co.uk Back issues: £5 each / £6 non-UK Binders: (hold 12 copies) £15 / £20 Slip Cases: (hold 12 copies) £15 / £20

Printed in the UK by William Gibbons

Unauthorised reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without written permission. The publisher, editor and authors accept no responsibility in respect of any products, goods or services which may be advertised or referred to in this issue. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently or where it has proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue. 191212170

www.archaeology.co.uk | current archaeology

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