Archaeolog No 3 June 1978

The Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain

[iruPS l Jrr4neologic,nl Q;roup NO.

3

.J U NE

1 97

B

Editor:

ANGELA

CLARKE

(CONTENTS) COVER

PHOTOGRAPH

A Comp1ex of Sit•• in the (Mino1ta SR1v. 4x orange.

Photographed

by Eric

North Mid1ands P1u• X 400 ASA)

Hou1der

LRPS

COVER EDITORIAL THE MECHANICS OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

by Eric Boulder LRPS ROMANFORTS OF THE SAXON SHORE 1 a address) (Report on Prof.

Cunliffe PROGRAMME1 78 LETTER NOTES AND NEWS DURHAMPROFILE • • • from the BOOKSHELF MEDICAL SCULPTURE IN HINDU TEMPLES (Report on Prof.

Shewty'• lecture) AVEBURY REPORT "What would we have done without marmalade?"

REAR COVER PHOTOGRAPHS

2

)

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

EDITORIAL The ideal romantic ruin, medical sculpture in faraway India, and Alexander Keiller, the marmalade king - all unlikely subjectsfor the Archaeological Group's bill of fayre, but surprisingly they have been part of our activities and this edition of "Archaeolog" will be reporting on them.

Professor CUNLIFFE 1 s address on ROMANFORTS OF THE SAXON SHORE was very well attended with eager listeners spilling into the window sills and tables to take part in a lively discussion . after the talk.

It is hoped in future to liaise with Professor Cunliffe on other ventures.

In marked contrast, Professor SHETTY'S, MEDICAL SCULPTYRES IN HINDU TEMPLES took us far away beyond the British shores and a photograph to record his visit is published in this edition.

THE AVEBURYMONUMENTSwere a source of enjoyment to those who embarked on the visit on 6th May to hear Mrs. Faith VATCHER and Clare CONYBEAREtake us back in time.

To all our contributor• - very many thanks.

A feature hopefully marka.

on the mechanics as an incentive

of aerial to would-be

photography is photographers

A reminder too, for all those hesitating not too late to book for the end of the Tony Pearce or Mary Mitchell.

about month.

on page) of cro~-

DURHAM. It'• All queries . to

The next edition of "Archaeolog" will appear in two months' time reporting on STOWE and the CONFERENCE IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND. Copy date is 31st July for those wishing to submit their work.

Your photographs, articles and comments are most welcome.

For all suba~ribers - wherever you are in the world - I wish you a very successful photographic summer and look forward to receiving the fruits of your endavours for later publication.

ANGELA CLARKE June 1978

2

THE

MECHANICS

OF by

ERIC

HOULOER

The two recent hot awmners have tempted many archaeologists, both amateur and professional, to take to the air for the first time.

Unfortunately, their inexperience both in the air and in photography has somewhat negated the results and in some cases made the data acquired almost worthless.

As many of the new aero-archaeologists will continue to fly as opportunity presents itself, it has been thought worth while to briefly set down some advice culled from several years of flying and twenty years of photography.

Obviously, the type of aircraft will be the main factor affecting the quality of the results.

Often there is no choice in this direction and then the best must be made of a bad job.

At all costs, avoid taking pictures through perspex if at all possible, as this not only degrades the image but often adds reflections to the resulting pictures.

Having said this, it must be admitted that some of the best results archaeologically - can be obtained in this way by someone with experience and skill.

For those who can choose, select a Cessna 150.

Before take-off, open the passenger window to its full extent, then gently pull the retaining bar away from the window.

This frees it so that the window can be opened right up to the underside of the wing.

Make sure, however, it is closed for take-off and landing.

As to

cameras, there is no doubt that a good quality ÂŁ100+ 35mm. with an integral light metre suits the type best.

Even better, is a fully automatic model it the shutter speed can be pre-selected.

I personally prefer a single lens reflex with through-thelens metering (SLR with T.T.L.) in which a needle must be aligned with a pointer for correct exposure.

The beat are not cheap but the results make the expenditure worth while, not just for aerial work.

Choose from the top brands like Nikon, Minolta, Canon Olympus and Konica.

Having, hopefully, chosen a camera, two other items are necessary.

The most important of these is a filter to cover the lens and modify the light entering it.

For colour, choose a haze filter and for-monochrome a deep yellow (KJ or No. 12) or orange (02 or Ne. 15).

To prevent unwanted light film, a good lens-hood is

reaching vital.

AERIAL

the

PHOTOGRAPHY LR

PS

Choose a metal one as rubber hoodscan be distorted, and obscure part of the subject if unwittingly touched on the window frame during exposure.

Many people try to manage without the hood, but just try with and without shots sometime, and note the increase in contrast and saturation which the hood provides.

Finally, some method of fastening the camera to the p e rson is needed.

For this an ordinary camera strap around the photographer's neck is hard to beat.

When it comes to a choice of films, everyone has a dif'ferent opinion.

My own choice for what it is worth, is to use Ilford FP4, or Kodak Plus X for monochrome and Agf'acolor for colour.

Contrasts are reduced in aerial photography so it is important to use colour film of medium to high contrast.

If large quantities are to be used, it is cheaper to buy film in JO m. lengths and load it into cassettes yourself, though this requires some manipulative skill and experience.

Techniques vary too, and a~ain I can only repeat what has proved successf'ul for me.

Set the camera shutter at 1/500 and if necessary use sellotape to hold it there; adjust the lens to inf'inity again use tape.

Try to photograph from the same altitude each time, an.rl try to make each shot as near vertical as possible.

It is most important thnt nothing above the photographer's waist touches any part of the aircraf't.

Now an d then check the light with the camera meter.

Circle each site to determine the best position - there is only one - and make a note on a knee-pad of the frame numbers expended on each site.

It helps identification to make the last shot of each site a loc at ion picture, i.e. a high oblique from, say J,000 f'oet.

If' a camera must be re-loaded in flight, carry a chinograph pencil to mark the cassette as it comes out.

Leave the rewind crank unfolded to provide a visual check that the film is going through the camera.

Finally, before landing, place all cameras back in thoir cases somewhere safe to prevent damage to equipment and perso~s if the landing is a rough one.

Occasionally, a film can be torn out of the cassette necessitating a visit to a darkroom.

This can be costly and timewasting in the flying season, so a useful insurance is a light-proof' changing bag.

Naturally, carry one and it is never needed, but forget it once, and •• J

3

ROMAN

FORTS

OF THE

SAXON

SHORE

LECTURE

REPORT

On the 6th February 1978, Professor Barry Cunliffe, (University of Oxford) addressed the group at the Society's house in London.

The following report i• a synopsis of the evening'• subject.

The Claudian invasion of in A.D. 43 indicated the intention of a prolonged

Britain Romana• stay.

Richborough in Kent was their bridgehead and within 20 years Roman control of more or less the whole of southern England was complete.

But by the end of the )rd century A.D. their tenacy of Brittania was less secure.

Harrassed

by Saxon raiders, the ·Romans were compelled to build a number of shore-forts from the Isle of Wight in the south to the Wash on the East Anglian coast, in a determined attempt to protect their interests on the western flank of the Roman Empire.

The rounded projecting

corner• baationa.

were

to

become

Since the height of the fort was already considerable, it was necessary at the beginning of the Spring season te build the bastions up to the existing wall level.

Only when both structures were of equal aeight were they keyed into each other, and then extended upwards.

It is evident by studying one of the corners that the masons did not take adequate account of the settlement of the bastion which was later to fall away from the walls.

Of the shore-forts which are recorded, Professor Cunliffe aelected three which demonstrate contrasting architectural and geo-physical features, namelys RECULVER (Regulbium}; STUTFALL CASTLE (Portu• Lemanie); PORTCHESTER CASTLE (Portus Adurni}.

REC UL VER , one of the

earliest forte is thought to have been constructed c. A.D. 210.

Situated on the north coast of Kent, the dominant feature of the site is no longer a monument to the English coastal defence system, but to 20th century mass production.

A two-acre caravan park embraces what the sea has spared from erosion, which is less than half the original enclosure.

The significant remains of today are the s. and E. gates with their accompanying walls, a guard chamber and the later twin 12th century towers.

It would appear that the original scheme was to build a squareshaped fort with rounded corners, but when work stopped for the winter, Professor Cunliffe suggests that a change of plan arrived from Rom~.

4

In many ways, STUTF ALL CASTLE, Lympne is the antithesis of Reculver.

On the south coast of Kent, situated on the slopes of a hill overlooking Romney Marsh, Profeasor Cunliffe believes it to be one of the most delightful of the shore-forts.

The tumbled mass of its walls, partially buried and weed-grown still retains the characteristics of the ideal romantic ruin.

In the late Roman period the fort was built on a sloping hillside of clay; later land-slips and hillwash caused part of the southern liait of the walls to slide down into the mareh.

Their settlement at curious angles made interpretation of the original plan difficult.

An octagon shape was considered.

However, it now seem • likely that the fort va • rectangular in plan, mea • uring so•• 200m. x 17Sm., with accompanying bastions.

Th• recent discovery of' tile ment • , stamped CL BR (Classie

frag-

Britannica or the British fleet), suggest • a ba • e of' prime importance, while the silted marshland is enthusiastically regarded as a protective covering for harbour installations lying beneath it.

The 1978 excavation season ia hoped to reveal such potential lurking beneath the surf'ace_.

Its design leaves nothing to the imagination as the def'ence walls and gates are remarkably well preserved.

Rising to a height of' six metres, and being 3.1 metres thick, the enclosure walls are no trif'le.

The f'act that 14 of' the original 20 bastions still stand today is evidence alone of' the Romans' grasp of' competent construction.

It may also be observed that where the dif'f'erent construction gangs worked, variations in the layers of' bonding tiles are noticeable.

1s It is thought that Portchester lif'e as a f'ort was short-lived, and subsequently a civilian population settled on th f: site f'rom an early date.

The complexity of' excavation is compounded by the super-imposed levels of' later occupation - the priory, the Norman church, the c.

17th century drainage system making an assessment of' the castle's history a conf'using business.

But coin evidence, along with the f'ascinating presence of' a large collection of' early shoes, and children's bones in t h e stratif'ied remains, clearly sug g e st an established thriving set tlem ent, without military trappings, by t h e end of' the 4th century A.D.

:slope..ol- hiU.

PORTCHESTER - i s perhaps the fiaest and most complete of' the surviving forte of the Saxon shore.

Although reposing on a promontory, jutting out into Portsmouth harbour, it haa been spared the ravages of' erosion and silted isolation , to emerge as an impressiv e mon ument to Roman fort architecture.

N-;;f

I

I

:I

Sen.

I I I

:---iugl\UJ!lP.F I I

I I I

/- . .-- ___, ,'

PROGRAMME Weakend

Sat.

23rd

Mon. 2nd

Fri. Sun.

)0th 2nd

June July

Based at the University of Durham, the conference will provide alternative programmes for those who•• interest lies in pictorial representation of' Hadrian's Wall and other monuments, or improving their technical understanding of' archaeological photography.

DURHAM CONFERENCE

September

GARDEN PARTY Another chance for archaeologists and photographers to get together at the home of' Mr. and Mrs. Michael Leonard, near Sevenoaks, Kent.

October

NEW EQUI P MENT

WOODLAWN

EVENING

a demonstration of' new professional

by Mr. John "Bill" Williams.

equipment

5

NE\1\/S I am more Group has

excited about the Durham done :for some time.

Congresa

It is a conference in the NORTH, about the devised by our members living in the North and their colleagues working in the North.

than

about

anything

rich antiquities and presented

the

o:f the North, entirely by them

Tom Middlemas and his committee "up there" have collaborated on the business of' the con:ference, with Tony Pearce and his supporters "down here" and Mary Mitchell has the money.

As a result o:f this collaboration and o:f the quality of the programme itself, the Group has f'or the :first time brought together in a major enterprise its southern and northern elements.

In terms of ability and vigour, we are much stronger in the north than many members realise.

We must get together :frequently.

It has been suggested that a scheme of "mutual hospitality" by which :from time to time some o:f us have "bed and breakfast" in each others• homes, would make the Group's programme more easily accessable to members living at a distance from a particular event.

May I suggest we discuss this :fully at Durham?

A friend, i:f I may use that expression, of such a person, has suggested that my obvious enthusiasm about the Durham Conference is due to the fact that I have not done very much work on it.

This is a charitable slander but emphasises the :fact that I intend to enjoy myself thoroughly and hope you all do likewise.

There is still not yet booked.

time

to

phone

Tony

Pearce

or Mary Mitchell,

Angela Clarke, of "Archaeolog" fame, wants this journal, Please send her prints from use them she will return them promptly.

photographs to time to time.

if

you have

publish If she

in cannot

ROBERT PITT Chairman

CHANGE

OF

TELEPHONE

NUMBER

Tony Pearce would like all those who might contact him to note that his office telephone number is now obsolete.

;!!! calls

to

home only

- 01-221

1164.

FACES

For the t'irst time "Arohaeolog" puts a :face to our Chairman, Robert Pitt, and the Society's retiring President, Mr. Derrick Knight.

(See the rear cover.)

PHOTOGRAPHS Mr. Peter

Vasa, sculptor and photographer recently won first prize with hi• photograph of the AVEBURY STONES in the "Historic Britain" photographic competition organised by the DoE and the Amateur Photographer magazine.

As a small

compensation for those frustrated by the bad weather on our visit to the Avebury moauments on the 6th May, and a visual record for those who were not able to join us, Mr. Vass• photograph appears on page 12.

exhibition JOHN STUBBINGTON has an exhibition of his photographs L.R.P.S. Safll-on Walden Museum until 20th July

6

at

the

1978.

--- DURHAM PROFILE--Mr. Frank

Atkinson, who will be lecturing the Conference, is the Director of the North of England Open Air Museum, at Beamish, nr. Stanley.

To many people, Durham is but a name a city in~he North of England, not ~ar from Lindisfarne or the birthplace o~ the Stockton and Darlington Railway, and well on the way to the Scottish border.

His devoted work for the last decade has built a museum wh:i.ch is a "living" representation of the industrial and social hi•tory of the North of England during the 19th century.

But it is much more than that.

It is a city full o~ treasures, juxtaposed to each other in a setting so varied and exciting that a weekend is barely enough time to grasp and absorb the full flavour o~ its personality.

Not content with glass cases, "Don't Touch" signs and "Keep off the Grass" notices, Mr. Atkinson has created a fascinating, working house and park, where a drink in his "pub", a ride on the steam railway and demonstrations are all part of this bustling centre.

For those energetic explorers, eager to make the most of the time, I have abstracted a ~ew musts, and several possible•, which supplement the already published programme.

DURHAM CATHEDRAL - is one of Europe I s greatest Norman buildings.

Proudly and majestically overseeing the river Wear, it dominates the skyline.

The pillar• provide a fascinating study in the decoartive art of the period.

The pointed arches across the nave are the first of their kind in English architectural history and the ribbed vaulting of the roof, the first example of its use in England.

For the patient photographe r it is a gold-mine of potential.

Anyone who is interested in beamengines and industrial archaeology par excellence will not be disappointed i~ a special detour is made to Two beam-engines (1868) restored and the museum illustrate aspects of water-pumping.

La s t , but not least, is HADRIAN'S Needing no introduction or publicity from me, I will leave all discussion on these revered remains to the specialists.

I do hope that some of our group will tackle the photographing of some of these magnificent features, and that "Archaeolog" may publish them perhaps with a footnote from the author as to how the photographs were successfully accomplished.

DURHAM

CASTLE

Bailey• provide meandering.

-

But in case a background book or two may be helpful, I can suggest the following, by the d i rector of excavations at the site of Vindolanda, Robin Birley; and Brian Dobson, Staff Tu*or in Archaeology, Department of Extra Mural Studies Durham along with David Breeze, the no w Inspector of Ancient Monuments in Scotland.

and its a source of happy

The Tudor fronted shops, the Tithe Barn along with the Corn Mill are all part of the adjacent buildings within easy walking distance.

BUGGE

STE

•

Birley

by Tham••

Publi•hed at £9 • .50 (1977)

BADRLUf'SYALL DaTid Pub1iahed by

~.

by

Breeze illen

and

Both will plenty of

provide a good read with photographs and drawings.

REA DING

VDO>QLANDAaA Roman Frontier

by Robin

WALL.

Hudson

Post in

on Hadrian's the

New Aspects

Wall of Antiquity

series

and Brian Dobson Lane, 1976 at c.5.9.5

A little booklet called THE _9ITY OF DURHAM - AN OFFIQi\L GUIDE, is available fro• th• Durham tourist Office at 13 Claypath, Durham (Tel. Durham 3720) and the ••ini-guide" also which is free - or from the publishers, Bel. J. Burrow and Co. Ltd., Publicity House, Streatham Hill, London, SW2 4TR.

7

,_,_,_from the BOOKSHELF TONY P~ARCE has been and has chosen three

browsing through the bookshe1ves books for this month's feature.

The impressive photograph of a We1sh the reader interested in archaeo1ogy Bord 1 s THE SECRET COUNTRY, (Pa1adin, This book, however, is far removed it does centre on the ancient sites

do1men on the front cover 1ures to investigate Janet and Co1in £1.95p. paperback}.

from academic of Britain.

archaeo1ogy,

a1though

In recent years much serious scientific research has been devoted to devination and the investigation of earth currents.

Much is a1ready known and understood, but more is sti11 beyond the limit of man's know1edge.

The theme of the book dwells in the imaginary more than the proven.

Scientists wi11 probab1y read the authors' ideas with curiosity; I fear that archaeologists will simply dismiss them.

These theories centre on the premise that an earth force (now faded) was once a powerful influence in rural communities who knew how to use this energy for the benefit of crops, feti1ity and health.

The idea proposed by the authors is that the great stone structures of the neolithic communities were "power points" where men could tap the earth force.

It is proposed that legends of giants, fairies, dragons, and folk rites associated with ancient sites and the "old Religion" can be recognised as faded memories of this earth force.

Whether or not one gives credence to the theories and conclusions, the research of the stories, histories and 1egends is exce11ent, and i• copious1y i11ustrated by photographs often from the authors' oo11ection.

The•• photographs frequent1y show inspiration and pictoria1 f1air, but, I suspect, are done injustice by the printers.

Many have come out very dark, perhaps by design to add mystery to the subject, but, aa a resu1t, are simp1y si1houettes of the subject.

Neverthe1ess, I can hearti1y recommend reading "The Secret Country" - but do so with an open mind •

•• •• •• •• From the fringes of science and understanding, I move to David excellent review of the use of SCIENCE IN ARCHAEOLOGY, recently in paperback under that title

by Pe1ican.

The book techniques ested in

covers in detai1 in archaeo1ogy, this subject.

the deve1op~ent and and is a first-class

Wilson's repub1ished

current use of scientific summary for those inter-

• ••••••• Fina1ly, if heading for little book price 9.5p.

you are going out with the fami1y this summer and you are some of Britain's cast1es, H 1 M.s.o. have pub1iahed a good for chi1dren called CASTLES - A GUIDE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE,

The book is wel1 illustrated, and in addition to describing different types of castles, defending, besieging, and daily life in them, it inc1udes a game, quiz and model.

If you pop this in your camera bag, it might quel1 some of the boredom amongst the youngsters, whilst you are trying to focus on those rather fine stone carving too1 mar.ks, and hence improve your photographs.

For the addicted Romanist, another pocket-sized guide may be of interest A GUIDE TO THE ROMAN REMAINS IN BRITAIN by noger J.A. Wi1son Published

by Constab1e, 1975, price £2.95p.

8

(Ed.)

Medicine LECTURE

1n Hindu

Temple

Sculpture

REPORT

OD Monday, 6th March, Professor Prakash Shetty of the Dana Clinical Nutrition Centre, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, talked to members of the Medical and Archaeological Groupe at the Society's House in London.

Professor

Shetty

writes

as

follows

-

From the earliest times, one sees innumerable examples of medical subjects being portrayed in every conceivable medium paintings, prints, sculptures and frescoes.

Much of medicine's long evolution can be read in art, for a relationship has always existed between the visual art forms and medicine.

It is perhaps, true to state that, "art and medicine are as old as Man, but disease has always been the inseparable companion of Life".

The present study was an attempt to trace one such relationship between medicine and Indian art forms as revealed in the sculptures of Hindu Temples, particularly those in southern India.

Disease and deformity which manifest themselves externally on the human body can be readily depicted by the sculptor; so also can diagn<lltic techniques and, or manipulations carried out by the physicians.

It would be important to strictly exclude any depiction of the vast pantheon of Hindu gods who are very often attributed with abnormal physical configurations fro• the scope of this study. study of over 350 Hindu and Jain temples in southern India enabled us to document a number of sculptures which definitely illustrated or depcited certain diseases or deformities well recognised in medicine.

Among the congenital malformat i ons and monstrosities resulting from multiple pregnancies were numerous examples such as Thoracophagus - that is Siamese twins connected at the chest.

Others were Cephalo-thoracophagus syncephalus - monster twin with one head, two or four arms and four legsJ Dicephalus-dipes-dibrachius monster with two heads, two arms and two legs etc.

A detailed

Among other congenital anamolies depicted among the sculptures were achondroplaeias, a condition characterised by dwarfing or s ·-iortness of extremities in relation to the size of trunk or head.

Many such sculptures have been extensively used as secular, decorative motifs from the earliest times.

Amelias or phocomelias, conditions where one or more limbs fail to develop partially or completely and congenital dwarfism were seen also.

Several examples of amyotonia congenita, a disease char n cterised by hyperexteneibility of joints, head and extremities were observed1 often referred to as "India rubber men" neurological disorders like muscular dystrophies and nerve palsies as well as disorders of the muaculo-skeletal system were seen.

Also documented were sculptural illustrations of surgery and midwifery in practice.

From the location of these sculptures in specific architectural components of the temple complexes, one can safely arrive at the conclusion that the most important function of such sculptures was essentially one of alankara; which by etymological connotation stands for magico-protective or auspicious functions - that is to ward off and to protect the temple structures or the premises from the "evil eye".

Perhaps these sculptural caricatures of human figure• with disease and deformity subvert the "evil eye".

In the context of the important social and cultural role that a temple acquires in a village or town, one cannot exclude the possibility that these images demonstrating disease are reminders of the "'social responsibi l ity of individuals in any community.

9

THE

AVEBURY

MONUMENTS

VISIT-

The first of our summer meetings was held on Saturday 6th May at Avebury, Wiltshire.

The weather was'not as enthusiastic as the 40 or so members from the Society - represented by the Archaeological, Colour and Pictorial groups - who, in spite of the grey mist, drizzle and cold braved the elements to hear Mrs. Faith de M. Vatcher and Miss Clare Conybeare guide us through the intrigues of the Neolithic complex and ~onuments.

Mrs.

Vatcher

explains:

"Between 4,000 and 5,000 B.C. the Neolithic farmers settled in Avebury because the chalk shelf facilitated their agriculture.

Pottery and bone are most important evidence of trading right up as far as Cumberland, Wales and Cornwall the rock areas of Britain - even in that very early period.

Later on these people had more time to spare and built Windmill Hill Causeway enclosure, just as they built other enclosures, along the area.

"Now with this occupation and the farming settlement, of course people were dying.

The fashion was to build very fine tombs.

You may not have looked very much in life, but you were going to look pretty good in death.

West Kennet Long Barrow is one of the finest Neolithic chambered tombs in this country.

"After that we get a slight pause, and Silbury Hill.

We don 1 t know why it was built, but only know how.

It is really a copy of one of the pyramids at Giza, Egypt, built about 100 years earlier.

Clearly there must have been an enormous amount of trade or contact between Egypt and Wilts 1lire.

"The hill contains fascinating material for the archaeological scientists seeds, snails, and grass are preserved in the turf, as though they had been put in yesterday.

Some things which are not usually found in excavations appear at Silbury - branches which still bendJ ants with their wings on.

"Covering all this were layers and layers of chalk and soil which show a beautiful striped section.

Now having done all that, the builders decided that that wasn 1 t nearly good enough and so filled in the ditch and started again.

With the chaps who came from Giza,who knew more than they did, they covered the mound wi.th chalk to make a flat surface, and then clamped that down with the best wet chalk to make a step.

They then built six more steps, which gave a spider 1 s web effect.

"What is in the It was excavated

10

rest l,st

of the hill? century 1 and

this.

"But personally find out what time.

I don't is inside

think we shall in our life-

â&#x20AC;˘That's the story of Silbury.

After that came Avebury.

It is one of the henge monuments built around 2,SOO B.c. Ye still donâ&#x20AC;˘t know exactly what it was all about except that it must have been a religious centre with all these lovely stones, which came from the Marlborough Downs and "Laat of all we must not forget the West Kennet Avenue, and the Beckhampton Avenue.

West Kennet ended up at the Sanctuary which is another circular structure wi.th an inner and outer ring.

Finally, over about 500 years after that you still get the round barrows being built in the area."

Clare Conybeare took us to the much acclaimed West Kennet Long Barrows There are about 250 megalithic tombs in England and Wales.

West Kennet is trapezoid in shape, built of chalk rubble from flanking ditches and contained within a mound lOOm. long.

At the west end it tapers to house 5 burial chambers which branch off an axial passage.

A semi-circular forecourt is flanked with a facade o~ stones.

A surprising 46 individuals were found buried in the tomb by Dr. Troope in the 17th century.

A few were articulated and where the bones had been tidied, skulls were found in a row, alongside a pile of bones and vertebrae, with the toe and finger bones in the wall crevises.

One skeleton of an elderly man was found in the N.E. chamber, wi.th arrowhead iR his throat.

Interestingly, the males were between 5 1 2"/S 1 8" highJ the females between 4 1 10"/5 1 4".

1 - 4 excavation attempts in the 18th/ 19th centuries, 1922 - Sir Flinders Petrie hoped to discover the tomb entrance, 1967 Prof.

Atkinson tunnelled the hill in a BBC-tv sponsored mining operation.

what

would

Hot quite Alexander would not

we

have

done

ae :tunny as it sounds.

Ae Keiller, is all I can say' exiat, nor would much of

But in spite of a aystery reat of this

of other great men's today as always, and page will reveal.

...

endeavours, a subject

without

marmalade?

:cher said, "thank God for ;hout him the Avebury Museum excavation have been achieved. of

Silbury curious

Hill remains fascination

as much as the

COBBLERS?

MUS I NG OF A COMMUTER

(the Daily Telegraph Monday, August 19th,

During the recent successful visit to the combined attractions of West Kennet Long Barrow, Silbury Hill and Avebury by members of the Archaeological, Pictorial and Colour groups, the question of the building of Silbury Hill was raised once again.

Not the why, but how?

Sl'LBURY

1968)

HILL

Sir - Prof.

Richard Atkinson confesses to not having discovered why Silbury Hill was built, but we "moonrakers" have always known; we learned the reason at our.mothers• knee.

The town of Devizea, six miles away had annoyed the devil so much that he determined to bury it, and was known to be making towards Devizes carrying a huge shovelful of earth with the intention of burying the town.

Devizes was in a panic, but their wise old counsellors devised a ruse.

Selecting the oldest inha~itant, they dressed him in the oldest threadbare clothes and wornout boots and set him on the road whereon the devil was striding · towards Devizes.

"Well, zur", said the old man, "I was but a boy when I zet out from that town and I 1 ve been walking ever since".

Noting the old clothes and worn-out boots of this old ancient, the devil said wearily, "I can't walk all that way," and dumped the shovel of earth at the roadsides Silbury Hilll Yours faithfully, DUDLEY CHANDLER, Capt., R.N. (Thank you reeearching Ed.)

JAS RAWLINGS £or your archives.

••• OR TINKERS

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Folklore on Silbury Hill abounds.

Janet and Colin Bord have collected over 100 tales and write of some of them on pages 98 - 100 of their book THE SECRET COUNTRY which Tony Pearcp reviewed on page 8.

His favourite was the old man who wore out a sack of old boots trying to find Devi~••• Whereupon the angry Devil threw down his earth and the Hill vaa formed.

Various sources refer to large numbers of men (running into the hundreds) engaged for very long periods on the construction of the hill.

If this were the case, the numbers involved imply a larger population than current estimates for the period suggest.

This in turn raises anoth~r question - that of voluntary labour (in the sense that it was paid) or conscripted labour (not necessarily slave labour).

Voluntary labour in the numbers suggested by various authors would pose a logistical problem beyond the capabilities of the local communities.

On the other hand, a resident conscripted labour force working on the basis of so many days per lunar month £or example, would, to a very large extent, be accommodated and fed.

Further, I do not feel that it would necessarily follow that a conscripted labour force would not possess the required skills to build a monument such as Silbury.

The modern construction crew consists of architect/engineer, craftsmen and labourer~ Excavations have revealed considerab1e evidence of architectural knowledge and building skil1s.

I suggest a smal1, vo1unteer hardcore of architect and craftsmen backed by a large force conscripted by local chieftains.

Excavations have also revealed certain construction techniques which bear a marked similarity to those emp1oyed in pyramid construction in the Middle East.

The point was raised on Saturday, as to whether an architect from Egypt was responsible for the design and constructioft of Silbury Hi11.

It is an interesting line of thought, a1though it was refuted on the grounds that, to date, no Egyptian artefacts have been excavated in this country.

Persona11y, I do not feel this follows.

A well-travelled architect, be he Egyptian or otherwise, would not necessari1y arrive in England with a suitcase of grave goods for burial by, or with him.

Does anyone e1se have any ideas on the subject?

JAMES LOCKE

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