George
Author's posts
Sep 27
Finavon, Angus
Finavon, Angus . Finavon Hill has attracted a great deal of archaeological interest from antiquarians and archaeologists over the years especially since it displayed traces of vitrified rock. It was planned 100 years ago by David Christison and was subject to extensive excavations undertaken by Prof. Gordon Childe between 1933-5. That the fort had been …
Sep 27
Wincobank, South Yorkshire
Wincobank – Sheffield 1903 OS map of Wincobank Location Wincobank (W.R.), Hillfort (SK/378910) 2.5 miles NE of center of Sheffield. Finds in Sheffield Museum. Description “This is an oval fort with an internal area of 2.5 acres. A bank, ditch and counterscarp bank are continuous around it except on the N side where ditch and …
Sep 27
Almondbury Hill Fort
View of Castle Hill, Almondbury, as it looks today with the Victorian tower on the top. Also Varley plan of Almondbury. Another plan of Almondbury, showing the outer ditches
Sep 27
Tap O’Noth, Inverurie
Tap O’Noth Grid ref: NJ 484 293 Ordnance Survey Landranger series sheet no. 37 20 miles W of Inverurie. The approach to this, the second highest fort in Scotland, involves a somewhat arduous walk from Brae of Scurdargue, approximately 1 ½ miles NW of Rhynie on A941 to Dufftown. The site crowns the conspicuous 562 …
Sep 27
Dunnideer, Aberdeen
Dunnideer – Vitrified Fort Grid ref: NJ 612 281 Ordnance Survey Landranger series sheet no. 37 12 miles NW of Inverurie. Access to the group of monuments on Dunnideer Hill is by a signposted footpath from minor road from Insch to Clashindarroch Forrest about 1 mile W of Insch , off the B 992. The …
Sep 27
Clickhimin, Shetland
Clickhimin Broch Location: 1 mile SW of Lerwick, Shetland. Owner: Historic Scotland This site was occupied in several periods, originally late Bronze age between 700 – 500BC. Firstly a simple farmstead which expanded to a blockhouse (fort) and then by a huge circular brock. A population of around 60 lived in this little fortress. Later, …
Sep 27
Craig Phadrig, Inverness
Craig Phadrig – Vitrified Fort Region : Scottish Highlands District : Inverness Town or village : Inverness Grid Reference : NH 640 452 Period : 500 BC-AD 600 Craig Phadraig is a hilltop fort within a Forestry Commission plantation, 2.5km west of Inverness. It occupies a position with excelent views over the Beauly Firth. The …
Sep 27
Vitrified Forts Distribution
Georgraphic Distribution One of the great mysteries of classical archaeology is the spartan worldwide distribution of vitrified forts with the exception of Scotland.. Scotland There are at least 50 such forts throughout Scotland. Among the most well-known are Dunnideer, Craig Phadraig (near Inverness), Abernathy (near Perth), Dun Lagaidh (in Ross), Cromarty, Arka-Unskel, Eilean na Goar, …
Sep 27
Why Vitrify a Fort?
Why was it done and by whom? Practical reasons? Originally it was thought that the forts had become vitrified due to an enemy attack. A theory proposed by Childe in the 1930 thought it was that it was invaders, not the builders, who were assaulting the forts and then setting fire to the walls with …
Sep 27
How to Vitrify a Fort
Vitrification of Hill Forts The Vitrification process Vitrification as seen in hillforts is where the surface of the rampart has been heated to temperature that the stone has melted and bonded with its neighboring stone. In some cases forming a glassy surface. The theoretical and limited practical attempts to recreate vitrification have largely been inconclusive, …
PAS North Yorkshire
- NLM-3644D0 BUTTON POST MEDIEVAL 5 February 2025Silver probable button or cufflink fragment. Oval cast concavo-convex front from an object of probably composite construction with a small central apical boss which serves as the centre of a hexagonal floret. The floret is set between two doubled incised lines passing diagonally across the domed surface, with singly incised lines completing the enclosure of […]
- NLM-367AD7 BROOCH POST MEDIEVAL 5 February 2025Copper alloy brooch. An item of costume jewellery made by the bending of a hollow cylinder of round section into a simple loop whose overlapping ends are presumably brazed to each other; the open and obliquely angled ends of the tube are slightly expanded or flared and blind, being filled with concave insets. The form […]
- NLM-3615C9 DEBITAGE PALAEOLITHIC 5 February 2025Flint possible debitage. An irregular rounded nodule, heavily worn by natural agencies such as rolling by water and stained an orange-tan tint by exposure to or incorporation within ferruginous gravels. This was found near NLM-670938 though is less convincing as an artefact. Three or four large flakes may have been removed by hard-hammer working from […]
- NLM-35E1DF UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT UNKNOWN 5 February 2025Copper alloy unidentified object fragment. A tiny cast flat-sided billet of slightly wedge-shaped profile with one rounded and nicked end and with intermittently grooved or notched sides. Smoothed and rounded overall, as if by wear – perhaps a hint that this had served as part of a dress accessory and has been polished by its […]
- NLM-35C05B COIN ROMAN 5 February 2025Copper alloy coin fragment. Radiate or nummus indeterminate, probably of medium to large module, later Roman issue of 260-330, probably a regular issue.Obverse description: youthful bust right, clean-shaven.Obverse inscription: (----)OAGReverse description: male figure nude save for cloaked shoulders left, with right arm extended and appearing to hold the lead of a small dog – the […]
PAS West Yorkshire
- YORYM-8E1BC7 BUCKLE MEDIEVAL 28 January 2025A complete copper-alloy buckle of medieval date, c.AD 1250 -1500. Meols Type 2.The buckle is a single looped D-shape with a narrowed and recessed strap bar. A grooved pin rest is present on the upper surface of the outside edge of the loop. A circular sectioned pin is fitted around the bar by an open loop. A rectangular […]
- YORYM-8E4F89 BUCKLE MEDIEVAL 28 January 2025A complete copper-alloy buckle of medieval date, c.AD 1250-1500. Meols Type 1.The buckle is a single looped D-shape with a narrowed strap bar. The upper surface of the frame has been decorated with four groups of four parallel incised grooves. A rectangular sectioned pin is fitted around the bar by an open loop. A rectangular plate is looped […]
PAS South Yorkshire
- YORYM-8FC319 HARNESS PENDANT MEDIEVAL 28 January 2025An incomplete copper-alloy gilded zoomorphic harness pendant of medieval date, AD 1200 - 1400.The pendant comprises a D-shaped plate in the form of a forward-facing animal's head, probably a stag, with integral attachment loop. The upper surface is moulded with features including pellet eyes, an elongated raised muzzle, and rounded snout. The reverse is flat and undecorated. The attachment […]
- NMGW-C31C53 CHARIOT FITTING IRON AGE 24 January 2025Addendum to an Iron Age sacred lake assemblage: a Late Iron Age bridle-bit and terret (50 BC - AD 75)1. Two-link bridle-bit, Polden Hill Subtype, bronze, complete Dimensions: maximum length 238.0mm; external rein-ring diameters (1)73.8-74.0mm & (2) 73.5-74.7mm; internal rein-ring diameters (1) 55.6mm & (2) 56.3mm; thickness rein rings – side to side (1) 8.3-9.0mm & […]
