Stray Finds Research Articles

Excavations in Zone VII Peat at Storrs Moss, Lancashire, England, 1965–67

Within recent years pollen-analytical studies carried out in lake sediments and raised bog peats around the head of Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, have disclosed extensive evidence for anthropogenic change at the British Pollen Zone VIIa–VIIb (Atlantic–Sub-Boreal) boundary, including characteristic ‘Ulmus Decline’, and Landnam phenomena (summarized by Oldfield, 1963). The question immediately arose as to the archaeological identity of the prehistoric communities responsible. The beginnings of Neolithic settlement in north-western England were quite obscure, and have largely so remained. The principal archaeological evidence for any Neolithic penetration of the region derives from the accidental discovery, nearly a century ago, of a bog-site at Ehenside Tarn, close to the west Cumberland coast (Piggott, 1954, 295–9; Walker, 1966), and to the presence of numerous stone axes occurring as stray finds throughout the region. More recently, the discovery of ‘stone axe factories’ on the high screes of Great Langdale and Scafell, and the wide distribution of Group VI axes therefrom, have emphasized the potentialities for further investigation (Fell, 1966, and refs. therein).

Radiocarbon Dates and the Scottish Iron Age

Within the past two years the chronology of the later prehistoric period in Scotland has been given a new precision by no less than 24 C14 dates obtained from nine different sites, most of which are conventionally assigned to the pre- Roman Iron Age. Previously the identification and dating of the cultures and sites of this period had depended almost entirely on various exotic bronzes and the time that they and other traits were estimated to have reached Scotland from further south in Britain and from the Continent. The last phase of the Late Bronze Age was fairly confidently assigned a start in the mid-6th century BC on the basis of links with the continental Halstatt Iron Age [I] but the bronzes concerned are nearly all stray finds or from hoards and cannot be tied to any contemporary structures or material cultures except at Covesea and, tenuously, at Traprain Law. The same is true of the various examples of decorated Celtic metalwork which have been found in Scotland: these can be given rough dates on stylistic grounds but were stray finds and unconnected with other aspects of the contemporary material cultures. The dating of hillforts and domestic sites of late pre-Roman times has had to rely on the rare examples

Sutton Hoo Excavations, 1965–7

The first aim of this new excavation was to complete the study of the largest of the mounds. It was not known what the original shape of the mound was, whether oval or circular, what its height had been before excavation, whether it was surrounded by a ditch, or what structural or ritual features it might possess. It was also an aim to obtain more information about the site in general by cutting away the grass and bracken and making a fresh and sensitive survey of the surface features. In the process the number of barrows recognizable rose from 11 to 16. It was also an aim to sound the flat ground between and near the barrows to see whether ordinary burials, whether cremation or inhumation, could be located, and to establish the nature of the Neolithic-Bronze Age occupation plentifully attested on the site by stray finds.

Hjulgraven fra Storehøj ved Tobøl i Ribe Amt

Hjulgraven fra Storehøj ved Tobøl i Ribe Amt

Glass from Sardis

Previous articleNext article No AccessGlass from SardisAxel von SaldernAxel von Saldern Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by American Journal of Archaeology Volume 66, Number 1January 1962 The journal of the Archaeological Institute of America Views: 1Total views on this site Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2307/501475 Views: 1Total views on this site Copyright © 1962 by the Archaeological Institute of America. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Bahrain

Bahrain

A Late Bronze Age Find near Stuntney, Isle of Ely

For more than seven years the Fenland Research Committee has been investigating the post-glacial history of the Fenland with a view to correlating archaeological remains and recent geological deposits. By this means evidence has been collected which bears upon the age of early phases of human settlement in East Anglia and upon the natural conditions prevailing at different periods. It has sometimes been possible to undertake systematic and purposive excavations at key sites in the confident anticipation of definite results, but stray finds made in the course of drainage works or of agriculture have also played an important part. The Stuntney hoard, which it is the primary purpose of this report to record, was discovered by a man ploughing near Stuntney Hall in January 1939.