Stonehenge Riverside Project Excavations 2007
August 20, 2007 - 11:33 pmThe 2007 Stonehenge Riverside Project dig began today and despite the occasionally unpleasant weather, around one hundred and fifty students and volunteers turned out to assist with the excavations and other related tasks. The areas currently under investigation are Durrington Walls, the Cuckoo Stone and the western end of the Cursus.
At Durrington Walls, Professor Mike Parker-Pearson and his staff are extending the trench he opened last year and the year before in a search for more Neolithic huts. As well as discovering a small part of a vast prehistoric village, last year’s excavations also produced evidence of some Iron Age activity at the site, so the current dig will almost certainly unearth a great deal more of interest to anyone who is aware of Durrington Walls and its relationship in prehistoric times to nearby Stonehenge.
Furthermore, in the southern quadrant of Durrington Walls closest to Woodhenge, two trenches are being dug in an attempt to locate the position of the now ploughed-out bank and ditch of the colossal earthwork.
The Geophysics staff attached to the Stonehenge Riverside Project have carried out magnetometer and resistivity surveys between Woodhenge and the nearby long barrow. Test pits have already revealed the presence or existence of at least two ring ditches, so excavations will be carried out on these features over the coming week.
The Cuckoo Stone to the west of Woodhenge is a solitary sarsen, so-called because it is out of place, while no excavations have ever been carried out in its vicinity despite it being a standing stone or megalith in the Stonehenge landscape. Test pits have been dug nearby, revealing the beginning of one large feature believed to be Roman, while on the other side, a posthole has been revealed whose age is as yet unknown.
Excavations are also taking place at the western end of the Cursus and perhaps this year, firm evidence might come to light of the bluestone monument that may once have stood there. This lost monument is presumed to have existed on account of the large quantity of bluestone fragments unearthed by J.F.S Stone during his 1947 excavation at the Cursus, but you can find out more about this, if you wish, by entering a search on this site.
A trench dug across the ditch today found what is thought to be a terminus, possibly from Stone’s 1947 ditch, but when we find out more, we’ll report it here. On the opposite side of the Cursus, but further to the west, another trench has been opened, while as a result of magnetometer and resistivity surveys, a trench has been opened in the middle of the Cursus. Finally for now, another trench has been opened across the ditch at the western end of the Cursus, but we’ll update this site with any finds or discoveries that are made there.
There will be an Open Day this coming Bank Holiday Weekend with displays of archery, Neolithic food, flint knapping and other activities. Families are most welcome, so if you know anyone with children who might be interested, then please click on this link from the Salisbury Journal and pass it on. Whatever the weather, it should be a great weekend for everyone and a great chance to see this fascinating site, and we might see you there!
Words by Dennis Price. Photographs copyright Pete Glastonbury 2007.
8 Responses to “Stonehenge Riverside Project Excavations 2007”
Indeed one of Stone’s stones is very like! one of the SH buestones!
The roman structure at the cuckoo stone @ durrington walls was most probably a small 3rd century roman shrine. I was the “tame” metal detecorist on site and managed to save many 3rd century roman coins from the evils of the NightHawkers. They appear to have been “offered” to the cuckoo stone by Romans intent on hedging their bets with the local gods. This seems more likely than them being a scattered hoard due to their dispersal around the stone. Evidence of a much earlier lynchett which detours around the stone indicates that the coins would probably have not been dispersed by ploughing. The evidence of the Lynchet curving round the stone also seems to dispel any rumours that the stone had been moved in modern history
Hi Lee,
Thanks for the update.
A shrine sounds about right. How many coins did you find in the end?
We will be covering the subject of Metal Detectorists working with Archaeologists in a future post here.
It was nice to meet you and see your finds this year, see you again next year?
PeteG
Ive been away at sea for a bit, has the metal detectorists working in archaeology been posted yet? ps submitted a lovely bronze age dagger tip to my FLO last week!
Hello Lee,
I tried contacting you but without sucess but have found this site while browsing. I gather that you are getting some sea time in ! I wish that I could be down at Durrington this year but am up at Roman Vindolanda instead. Give me a bell at busharm@btinternet.com.
Your tent neighbour Eddie (ex RN)
Hello from Russia
[...] work & let 100 professionals work for you. Brandseye – Online reputation monitoring tool …Eternal Idol Blog Archive Stonehenge Riverside Project …The Greatest Story Never Told … Stones' bluestones do indeed include acid volcanics and tuffs (but [...]
Care to comment?
Stones’ bluestones do indeed include acid volcanics and tuffs (but no dolerites) but there are only half a dozen or so and from quite a wide area in and around the cursus/Fargo Wood area.. I have just finished doing the detailed petrography of them. They are unlike anything found last year at the cursus but are like some of the described SH monoliths. Some may be bluestones.
It will be good to see what lithics are found in situ within the cursus.