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currentcurrent archaeologycurrent CONTENTS issue 288 (Vol.XXIV, No.12) | March 2014 UP FRONT Letters Your comments, complaints, and compliments 4 4 News 6 6 Roman coffins and rinderpest at Dickens Square, London; Lost Viking loot at the British Museum; Broxmouth hillfort: earliest evidence of steelmaking in Britain; HMS Amethyst: lost and found off Plymouth Sound; A burning question: Pentrefelin’s Medieval mound; Expanding Silchester’s Iron Age hallmarks at the British Museum; Broxmouth hillfort: earliest I s s u e 2 8 8 | M a r c h 2 0 1 4 current current THE UK’S BEST SELLING ARCHAEOLOGY MAGAZINE March 2014 Issue 288 | £4.30 March 2014 Issue 288 | £4.30 www.archaeology.co.ukwww.archaeology.co.uk A l f r e d t h e G r e a t | O n e Million Years e x h i b i t i o n | S t o n e h e n g e Vi s i t o r C e n t r e | D o r n i e r D o 1 7 | R o m a n h e a d h u n t e r s c u r r e nt a r c h a e ol o g y Million Years Million Years Million Years OneMillion Years Million Years Million Years Million Years Rewriting the human story in Britain Rewriting the human story in Britain Searching for Alfred the Great Alfred the Great Alfred the Great A missing monarch and an unmarked grave Headhunters in Roman London? The mystery of the Walbrook skulls Headhunters in Headhunters in Roman London? Roman London? The mystery of the Walbrook skulls Issue 288 001_CA288_Cover_FINAL_SC.indd 1 23/01/2014 12:38 ON THE COVER A reconstructed Neanderthal and Homo sapiens from the Britain:One Million Years of the Human Story exhibition. CREDIT: Natural History Museum Photo Unit Special Report The search for Alfred the Great 10 FEATURES COLONISING BRITAIN One million years of our human story When did our early ancestors first arrive in Britain? The latest findings from a 13-year investigation suggest hominins could have reached these shores twice as long ago as previously thought. 14 REGULARS 48 WELCOME TO THE NEW STONEHENGE Making a Neolithic circle fit for purpose Twenty years after the monument was declared a ‘national disgrace’ by the House of Commons, we visit the brand-new Stonehenge Visitor Centre to learn about how the site’s presentation has been transformed for modern visitors. 22 LAST OF THE MANY 30 Raising the Goodwin Sands Dornier Do17 The chance discovery of the sunken wreck of a German Second World War bomber presented a rare opportunity to archaeologists and conservators. What light can it shed on this dynamic period of aviation history? ROMAN HEADHUNTERS IN LONDON? The mystery of the Walbrook skulls Once interpreted as victims of the Boudiccan revolt, the human skulls recovered from London’s Walbrook river have long been a subject of archaeological speculation. We explore the latest thinking on the origin of 39 skulls excavated in 1988. 38 Conference 42 Further details of Current Archaeology Live! 2014 Reviews The Ruin of Roman Britain;Living and Working in the Roman World; The Emergent Past 44 Sherds Chris Catling’s irreverent take on heritage issues 46 22 30 38 38 Last Word 48 Andrew Selkirk reflects on his recent trip to the new Stonehenge Visitor Centre Odd Socs The West Gallery Music Association 50 2 current archaeology | www.archaeology.co.uk January 2014 | March 2014 |
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www.archaeology.co.uk www.facebook.com/currentarchaeologymag twitter.com/currentarchaeo visit us online at www.archaeology.co.uk WELCOME When was Britain first colonised by early humans? The famous Boxgrove bones, found in the 1990s, date back about 500,000 years. Flints from the Cromer Forest Bed, Norfolk, though, are increasingly pointing to a much longer timeframe. We investigate how the story of human activity in Britain, currently the subject of a major Natural History Museum exhibition, has come to span almost one million years. the subject of a major Natural History Museum exhibition, has come to span You have probably heard that there is also something new to see at Stonehenge. We take a close look at the long-awaited visitor centre, and ask whether its opening marks the dawn of slow tourism or disenfranchises the ten-minute visitor. Chris Catling (p.22) and Andrew Selkirk (p.48) offer two contrasting takes on the successor to facilities once condemned as a ‘national disgrace’. A recent arrival at RAF Museum Cosford is a relic of a very different national crisis. Dornier Do17 bombers were widely used by the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. Now recovery of a unique survivor is shedding new light on a bomber arms-race, and the desperate aerial combat raging over England in 1940. Traces of violence have been detected, too, on skulls deposited on the banks of the Walbrook in London. Dating to the Roman period, do these testify to a previously unknown blip in the pax Romana, or provide a grisly insight into public entertainment, criminal justice, or the treatment of prisoners of war? Also this month, we travel to Winchester for a special news report on the latest attempt to recover the remains of a missing monarch. Our contributors this month THE SEARCH FOR ALFRED THE GREAT KATIE TUCKER Dr Tucker is a human osteologist and archaeologist who works in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Winchester, and also conducts research through the Department’s consultancy arm, ARCA. COLONISING BRITAIN CHRIS STRINGER Prof. Stringer is Research Leader in Human Origins at the Natural History Museum, and was Director of the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain Project. He has published widely on the subject and is a Fellow of the Royal Society. LAST OF THE MANY MICK SHEPHERD Mick served for 38 years as an aircraft engineer with the RAF before joining the RAF Museum, where he mentors and develops the historicaircraft engineering and conservator apprentices at the museum’s Cosford and London sites. | Issue 288 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@archaeology.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 £45 for 12 issues. Foreign subscriptions £55. 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. 220114190 www.archaeology.co.uk | current archaeology 3

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

WELCOME

When was Britain first colonised by early humans? The famous Boxgrove bones, found in the 1990s, date back about 500,000 years. Flints from the Cromer Forest Bed, Norfolk, though, are increasingly pointing to a much longer timeframe. We investigate how the story of human activity in Britain, currently the subject of a major Natural History Museum exhibition, has come to span almost one million years.

the subject of a major Natural History Museum exhibition, has come to span

You have probably heard that there is also something new to see at Stonehenge. We take a close look at the long-awaited visitor centre, and ask whether its opening marks the dawn of slow tourism or disenfranchises the ten-minute visitor. Chris Catling (p.22) and Andrew Selkirk (p.48) offer two contrasting takes on the successor to facilities once condemned as a ‘national disgrace’.

A recent arrival at RAF Museum Cosford is a relic of a very different national crisis. Dornier Do17 bombers were widely used by the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. Now recovery of a unique survivor is shedding new light on a bomber arms-race, and the desperate aerial combat raging over England in 1940.

Traces of violence have been detected, too, on skulls deposited on the banks of the Walbrook in London. Dating to the Roman period, do these testify to a previously unknown blip in the pax Romana, or provide a grisly insight into public entertainment, criminal justice, or the treatment of prisoners of war?

Also this month, we travel to Winchester for a special news report on the latest attempt to recover the remains of a missing monarch.

Our contributors this month

THE SEARCH FOR ALFRED THE GREAT KATIE TUCKER Dr Tucker is a human osteologist and archaeologist who works in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Winchester, and also conducts research through the Department’s consultancy arm, ARCA.

COLONISING BRITAIN CHRIS STRINGER Prof. Stringer is Research Leader in Human Origins at the Natural History Museum, and was Director of the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain Project. He has published widely on the subject and is a Fellow of the Royal Society.

LAST OF THE MANY MICK SHEPHERD Mick served for 38 years as an aircraft engineer with the RAF before joining the RAF Museum, where he mentors and develops the historicaircraft engineering and conservator apprentices at the museum’s Cosford and London sites.

| Issue 288

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@archaeology.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 £45 for 12 issues. Foreign subscriptions £55. 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. 220114190

www.archaeology.co.uk | current archaeology

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