British Archaeology (120)

Describes a rare gold lunula '“ a crescent-shaped neck ornament '“ found by a metal-detectorist in a cultivated field near Garlieston, Dumfires & Galloway. Unlike many object types of their era, these artefacts seem rarely to have been placed in graves, nor lost or hidden on settlements, so are usually found alone, and this proved to be the case with the Garlieston lunula. Despite thorough investigation of the field, no more metalwork was found, nor any evidence for why the lunular might have been buried there. LD

Round-up of archaeological news from around Britain. LD

Discusses a mini-series recently broadcast on BBC1, Planet of the Apemen: Battle for Earth. This dramatised scenes depicting Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, designed to set up interpretations of archaeological evidence for the Neanderthals' demise. Also looks briefly at Amazon and an episode of art show Imagine, both shown on BBC4. The former covered prehistoric petroglyphs in the Amazonian jungle, provoking a reconsideration of political ecology, whilst the latter pondered identity, politics and heritage in Egypt. LD

Edited extract from The Planning of Roman Roads & Walls in Northern Britain, discussing the methodology of Roman surveyors and engineers and the need for more research to correctly identify Roman roads. LD

Discusses recent damage done to one of the Neolithic Priddy Circles, a Scheduled Monument, by its owner; a recent decline in the number of new designations of archaeological sites as Scheduled Monuments; and a speech by a council leader in Cambridgeshire who planned to remove requirements for archaeological investigation ahead of development. The argument that each of these cases reflects no more than ignorance and that the problems could be avoided through better education is briefly considered; however, it is stated that there are more positive and powerful ways to involve a wider public in archaeology. LD

Discusses the religious significance of fresh water in Britain in the Neolithic period. Focuses on sites in Wiltshire but also mentions examples from elsewhere, including Dorset, Yorkshire, County Meath in Ireland, and Perthshire. LD

The Rhynie Environs Project, directed by archaeologists from the University of Aberdeen and the University of Chester, is investigating the area surrounding a unique collection of early medieval Pictish symbol stones found south of the village of Rhynie, Aberdeenshire. This article summarises the historical background to the Picts and introduces the enigmatic symbol stones before describing the findings of the project. Evaluation trenches revealed a system of defensive enclosure boundaries, and within these, a ring ditch structure and evidence for one or more timber buildings. Some of the finds from the outer enclosure ditch, including a sherd of glass from an imported drinking bowl and fragments from a Roman amphora of the late fifth to mid-sixth century, imported from the Mediterranean, suggested high-status activity with fine dining and drinking. Detailed post-excavation work and further phases of fieldwork are planned. LD

A major new project at University College London, the University of Nottingham and Winchester University aims to define governance in Anglo-Saxon England through physical remains and placenames. This article discusses the historical administrative and justice systems and demonstrates how placenames can provide fundamental clues to early administrative subdivisions. Although early medieval assembly places have not been comprehensively studied as archaeological sites, some have been excavated; examples at Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire and near Folkestone in Kent are discussed. The present project will include site visits and historical research by local societies and private researchers, and the creation of an online gazetteer. LD

Discusses the present situation regarding archaeology and the planning system, against a background of widespread concern regarding the potential weakening of protection for archaeology both at a national level and within local authorities. A new localism bill will have a significant impact on the future English planning system, but is itself dependent on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Planning Policy Statement 5 (PPS5), only recently introduced, represented a significant distillation of previous planning policy guidance notes on archaeology and the historic environment. The proposed NPPF will reduce the text of PPS5 still further. However, an All Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group has given archaeologists far better connections, ensuring that the voices of organisations such as the Council for British Archaeology and The Archaeology Forum have been heard. LD