Excavations of the Allasdale Dunes on the island of Barra, in the Western Isles of Scotland, were undertaken by Wessex Archaeology and funded by Videotext Communications Ltd., in May of 2007. The site, which include findings from the Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age periods, was unearthed after a storm blew away the sand dunes and revealed the site. Barra has a vast archaeological history, and the excavation of this site yielded great findings, including pottery, worked stone, human remains and more.
According to the site report provided by Wessex Archaeology, several methods of geophysical survey were undertaken by GSB Prospection prior to excavation. GSB used both resistance and magnetic survey to assess the site. The agency also used ground penetrating radar (GPR) to access the subsurface of the site. GSB surveyed three separate areas in the Allasdale Dunes. Henry Chapman, of the University of Birmingham, set out the survey grid for the excavations, which was tied into the Ordnance Survey grid, a mapping agency of the government of Great Britain, using global positioning system (GPS). In his own report on the site on Barra, in which he analyzes the archaeological value of paraeosols (layers of soil from a previous age preserved deep within the earth) on the site, Chapman states that GPR survey, topographic modelling, and a borehole excavation were using in his analysis of the site (Chapman, Adcock, Gater 2009). A deflation hollow, where blown sand creates a depression in the ground, was separated into three separate areas for archaeological survey, which were excavated by hand and with the use of metal detectors. A fourth area, located 100 meters north-east of the area labelled “Area 2”, was investigated after previous arc...
... middle of paper ...
...aeosols of the Atlantic seaboard in Northwest Europe using GPR, geoarchaeology and GIS and the implications for heritage management. Journal of Archaeological Science, 36 (10): 2308-2313. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2009.06.015).
Craig, O.E. and G. Taylor, J. Mulville, M.J. Collins, M. Parker Pearson
2005 The identification of prehistoric dairying activities in the Western Isles of Scotland: an integrated biomolecular approach. Journal of Archaeological Science, 32 (1):91-103. ().
Lamb, Hubert
1991 Historic Storms of the North Sea, British Isles and Northwest Europe. Cambridge University Press, New York.
Wessex Archaeology
2008 Allasdale Dunes, Barra, Western Isles, Scotland Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results. Wessex Archaeology. Submitted to National Monuments Record for Scotland, Code 65305. Copies available from Wessex Archaeology.
In 1991, all shoreline portions of Woodard Bay NRCA, all flat areas within 60 meters of the shore, existing trails inland from the shore, and NRCA boundaries were the subject of archaeological reconnaissance, which yield a total of 21 prehistoric archaeological sites.
We saw that there was vegetation, which had been planted on the sand dunes near Dunwich Heath. There is also fencing around the dunes to stop them being eroded through people walking on them. Coastal Protection At Aldeburgh Text Box: Fig 4.1Text Box: In Aldeburgh however, the types of protection involve 'hard' protection. These are man-made objects. At Aldeburgh, three hard protection methods have been employed, and one soft method.
The Chilean site, known as Monte Verde, is on the sandy banks of a creek in wooded hills near the Pacific Ocean. Even former skeptics have joined in agreeing that its antiquity is now firmly established and that the bone and stone tools and other materials found there definitely mark the presence of a hunting-and-gathering people.
However, the artefacts brought to England from Benin in 1897 were an anomaly. The craftsmanship and sophistication were such that some were reminiscent of the beautiful figures in the Hofkiche, Innsbruck 1502-1563 (plate 3.1.12. Visited...
There is a prehistoric and mysterious monument on Salisbury Plain about which we have restrict-ed information: Stonehenge. For years there have been claimed plenty of arguments about Stone-henge; some people think that it was created by aliens and many people associate it with Druids and Merlin. On this paper, it will be instructed when Stonehenge was built, by whom it was built and what theories were about Stonehenge’s mystery.
About 800 years ago, a great civilization inhabited the land in west Alabama, located along the Black Warrior River, south of Tuscaloosa. It encompassed a known area of 320 acres and contained at least 29 earthen mounds. Other significant features include a plaza, or centralized open area, and a massive fortification of log construction. The flat topped, pyramidal mounds ranging from three to 60 feet, are believed to have been constructed by moving the soil, leaving large pits that are today small lakes. As major ceremonial center, up to 3000 people inhabited the central area from 1200-1400 AD. An estimated 10,000 lived around the stockade, which surrounded three sides of the civilization (Blitz 2008:2-3; Little et al 2001:132).
The geology, its history, and the presence of past civilizations contribute to much of the significance of Mesa Verde National Park. The interconnectedness of these aspects should also be noted. If not for the weathering processes and changes in sea level this formation would not exist. Without it, the ancient people would not have been able to reside within Mesa Verde. This National Park now serves as a tool to help conserve the remains of these past civilizations as well as to help educate today’s society on the significance behind this astonishing geologic
In Crow Lake, Mary Lawson portrays a family who experience a great tragedy when Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are killed in a car accident. This tragedy changes the lifestyles of the seven years old protagonist Kate Morrison and her siblings Matt, Luke and Bo. The settings are very important in this novel. Though there are limited numbers of settings, the settings used are highly effective. Without effective use of themes in this novel, the reader would not have been able to connect with the characters and be sympathetic. Lawson uses an exceptionally high degree of literary devices to develop each character in this novel.
According to Kamp 1997, Sinagua is described as archaeological culture that originated from parts of Northern and central Arizona. The book covers extensively process on the archaeological investigation. This is where Kamp take the reader through selection process of research area and site. She also shows importance of complying with archaeological excavation laws and regulations. The book also offers a good insight on the excavation strategies, site mapping as well as artifact analysis and dating methods (Kamp, 1997). She explains in details and relate successfully archaeological dating methods that include stratigraphy, seriation and absolute dating methods with Lizard Man Case (Kamp, 1997). The information offered is well explained and of great importance even to
Archaeology is a continuously evolving field where there is a constant stream of new branches and excavation methods. Due to the influx of new technologies and innovations in recent decades, archaeologists have been able to excavate previously inaccessible areas. For example, new diving equipment and tools such as proton magnetometers, side-scan sonar, sub-bottom profiler, and miniature submarines have allowed archaeologists to dive into the deep depths of the ocean. As a result, the branch of underwater archaeology was created to search for shipwrecks and other artifacts on the ocean floor. Underwater archaeology’s role has increased in recent years as it allows archaeologists to more accurately interpret the past by supplementing information gained through traditional land excavations.
Newgrange is an astounding example of a Neolithic passage tomb and is one of three such tombs found in the Brú na Bóinne region of County Meath, with the other two passage tombs being Knowth and Dowth. Research tends to focus most heavily on Newgrange due its preservation, highly debated reconstruction, rich history, and the varying myths and theories concerning its construction. In addition, this passage tomb is also aligned in such a manner that during the midwinter solstice, rays of light from the sun illuminate the entire chamber. “Newgrange is one of the finest examples, not only in Ireland, but in Western Europe, of what is known as a passage tomb,” and was likely erected near 3200BC making the structure older than the Pyramids of Giza. This paper will seek to delve into the general structure, history and myths, archaeology, and subsequent reconstruction of Newgrange.
At Avebury, the massive Henge, containing the largest prehistoric stone circle in the world, and Silbury Hill, the largest prehistoric mound in Europe, demonstrate the outstanding engineering skills which were used to create masterpieces of earthen and megalithic architecture.”
sand the artefacts of discovery are drawn as the vindication of truth occurs in the realms of
News, CBC. "Signs of Atlantis found in southern Spain." CBCnews. 14 Mar. 2011. CBC/Radio Canada. 24 Feb. 2012 .