Coming Soon
We are currently writing and researching a series of new works for future publication. Keep your eyes peeled for updates.
Staverton – Part 2: Landscapes and Skyscapes
This work will thoroughly explore how three distinct and ancient landscapes from the late antique – early medieval period fit within the wider ritual landscape and are all integrated within a designed landscape that is oriented around primary and mythological celestial events. Looking at Rendlesham, a wholly unique site and the richest longest lived settlement in England of the period, Staverton, one of the most important surviving areas of woodland pasture in England and home to a mysterious earthwork of questionable origin, and Burrow Hill, an island minster site containing pseudo boat burials.
Roman Forts and Shrines were typically designed on a standardised rectangular form along the empire’s frontier across much of Great Britain. However, we know that there were unusual geometric exceptions to this. We will explore the design exceptions to this, paying close attention to the square Fort of Hardknott in Cumbria that was oriented to the sunrise and sunset on the summer and winter solstices, the triple ditched rhombus shaped Fort at Pakenham in Suffolk, the hexagonal Shrine near Winchester in Hampshire, and the decahexagonal / sixteen-sided polygonal Temple at Silchester, also in Hampshire.
The Black Ditches at Risby and Cavenham in Suffolk are the most easterly of 5 such dykes and ditches that stretch out across Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The Black Ditches are believed to have been up to a staggering 4.5 miles in length, yet their origin, date and purpose remains somewhat unclear. Described as either Roman sewers or more typically as being built in the late 6th century as a defensive measure against invasion and designed to protect the ancient Icknield Way, a key line of communication and transport at the time. However, this standard military and defensive interpretation for many such ancient linear earthworks is now being called into question. New research suggests that these linear monuments are far older, potenitially early Iron Age, and formed part of a ritual landscape that was dotted along their course with sacred sites, springs, burial mounds and temples, often having heath and woodland at their southern ends with springs and votive offering sites at their northern point.
Castlerigg Stone Circle set in the Lake District in Keswick is generally considered to have been raised in about 3000 BC, 5000 years ago during the Neolithic period. According to recent archaeological analysis, new findings indicate that its first phase of construction may be far older and predate Stonehenge, approximately 3100 BC by as much as 600 years. Part of the circle, known as the ‘Sanctuary’ replicates in stone many smaller rectangular Neolithic structures in Ireland and Yorkshire. These were built with timber and used from around 5700 to 5600 years ago. We will explore how this transitional phase of ritual architecture developed and transformed over the centuries and across the country.
