Work is now underway at
Hawksley Hill; our second community archaeology project being run under the
aegis of the Archaeological and Architectural Society of Durham and
Northumberland.
In 2000, local archaeologist, Paul Brown, identified two
‘panels’ of Rock Art at the western edge of Hawkesley Hill, a few miles
north-west of Barnard Castle . The motifs consist variously of cups, rings,
grooves, isolated peck marks, and other more heavily eroded features, some of
which may be of natural origin. A number of earth-fast boulders were also found
in the nearby vicinity.
Excavation around rock art sites has been fairly limited until quite recently, but investigations in Scandinavia, Ireland, Scotland and England area now beginning to challenge our previous perceptions of how these sites was used. There is now considerable evidence of activity associated with carved rocks sites, including pavements of mud and cobbles, often associated with large quantities of quartz. Other identified features include pits containing burnt animal bone and other charred remains. Stone tools, quartz, and waste material has also been found jammed into surrounding natural rock fissures. While it is unclear if this material dates to the same period as the carving of the stones, it does suggest that rock art was the focus of related activities, perhaps including fire, feasting and offerings. For more information on Rock Art visit the excellent 'England's Rock Art' website at http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/era/
The Hawksley Hill project will entail the detailed recording
of the two known panels, using the latest photogrammetric techniques, as well an
open area excavation focusing on the principal panels. The aim of the latter is
to expose any related archaeological deposits which might elucidate how the
rock art was produced and any activity associated with their use.
Work began on Friday 23rd October with the laborious and
back-breaking task of de-turfing which was carried out with surprising speed by
our excellent volunteers - well done guys, de-turfing is a job everyone hates! Over
the next few days the plan is to trowel back the surface and see what (if
anything) is revealed.
The Hawksley Hill project will be running until Tuesday the
3rd of November if you are interested in joining. Contact Penny at
pm@naa.gb.com for further details
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