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Brit Archaeol News 10
Title
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Title:
Brit Archaeol News 10
Series
The series the publication or report is included in
Series:
British Archaeological News
Volume
Volume number and part
Volume:
10
Publication Type
The type of publication - report, monograph, journal article or chapter from a book
Publication Type:
Journal
Year of Publication
The year the book, article or report was published
Year of Publication:
1994
Source
Where the record has come from or which dataset it was orginally included in.
Source:
BIAB (The British Archaeological Bibliography (BAB))
Created Date
The date the record of the pubication was first entered
Created Date:
20 Jan 2002
Please click on an Article link to go to the Article Details.
Article Title
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Page
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Abstract
Bronze Age in the smelting pot
Simon Denison
6 - 7
An account of smelting experiments which have provided evidence that the first copper alloys were extracted using the relatively low temperatures achievable in open fires (see also 94/1291). Secondary copper ores smelted in this way produced an arsenical copper similar in composition to that of Chalcolithic period artefacts. The experiments indicate that copper smelting sites could have been very ephemeral, thus accounting for the lack of British metalworking sites before the third millennium BC. By suggesting an earlier origin of metalworking, the results may also help to explain recent early radiocarbon dates for `Bronze Age' artefacts. The plausibility of the hypothesis is challenged by the paucity of evidence for other metallurgical activities and the lack of known ore workings.
Trailing the first explorers
Clive Gamble
Asserts the importance of hominid global colonisation during the Palaeolithic. Far from being an inevitable consequence of chronic environmental or population pressures, the spread of humankind is seen as one of the first major achievements of our species, requiring an enormous degree of social and behavioural adaption.
Mesolithic buildings found in Scotland
Simon Denison
Reports that substantial foundation trenches of three rectangular structures were excavated at Kirkhill, in 1993. The buildings are associated with the first Scottish burnt mound of the Mesolithic period. The flint artefact assemblage dates the site to the latter part of the period and it is thought to represent a transitional phase.
And the waters departed
Simon Denison
Discusses the main points of two recent reports with their respective authors [check: comps? eds?]. The first, by the Humber Wetlands Project (Wetland heritage), looked at the factors which threaten the fragile archaeological deposits of the Humber basin. It is reported that many of the area's known wetland sites have already been damaged or destroyed. The second report, by AOC (Scotland), used nineteenth century excavation records to estimate the rate of decay or destruction of sites: ninety pecent were found to have been destroyed. Action to be taken to counter the threats to these sites in each area is discussed.
It was woad
Simon Denison
Evidence that ancient Britons obtained pigments from woad and weld plants has at last been found on an Iron Age settlement site near Scunthorpe.
Treasure buried at British Museum
Simon Denison
A brief account of how three `lost' Egyptian ritual objects from the Great Pyramid were found to have been in store in the British Museum since 1972 -- their significance apparently not appreciated. Public reaction to this `scandal'.
Bury the A303 under Stonehenge
Jocelyn Stevens
Announces that, following an extensive consultation process, English Heritage and the National Trust have proposed that the A303 should be diverted through a tunnel. The reasoning behind the proposal is noted.
Prehistoric children at work
Simon Denison
Reports the discovery of a probably Mesolithic knapping floor at Coulererach, on Islay. The flint assemblage includes a number of poorly made blades, which are seen seen as evidence that children had been learning the knapper's craft at the site.
Byland tiles
Simon Denison
Notes the failure of attempts to save the thirteenth-century floor from the ravages of atmospheric pollution. Polythene covers have encouraged the growth of algae.
Roman panpipes
Simon Denison
Notes the third set of wooden pipes yet discovered in northern Europe.
Romancing the stones
Simon Denison
British reused Hadrian's Wall: wall forts became British power centres after Romans left
Simon Denison
Reports the discovery of a c AD~400 timber hall and two associated structures at Birdoswald fort. The buildings are dated by finds which included a jet ring, a gold and glass earring, and a penannular brooch. This is thought to indicate that Birdoswald, like Arbeia (South Sheilds), was garrisoned by local warlords after the end of Roman rule.