Boltby is a very important ancient site IMO. A gold “hair braid”, was found there, linking it to the Amesbury Archer, buried with two similar hair braids. This also provides a link to the founding of Stonehenge, which helps set a potential scene for a possible “zeitgeist”, of the day.
Category: Promontory fort
Nov 23
The Story of Boltby Scar
- Filed under Brigantes, Brigantia, Brigantia England, Britain, Bronze Age, Celtic Tribes, Defensive Dike, Defensive Walls, Dike, Europe, Fort, Hair Braid - Ring, Hill Fort, Iron Age, Landscape Archaeology, Linear Earthworks, Mining Landscape, Promontory fort, Stories of Brigantia
Swaledale
- Filed under Brigantia, Brigantia England, Britain, Cairn, Europe, Flint Scatters, Geology, Geomorphology, Hill Fort, Iron-Age, Megalithic, New Sites, Promontory fort, Ring Cairn, Rock Art, Univallet Hillfort
Swaledale occupies the long, sinuous valley carved by the River Swale on its 45-kilometre descent from Nine Standards Rigg (662 m) on the Pennine watershed to Richmond in lower Teesdale. The dale narrows between rough gritstone scarps near Keld, broadens to a patchwork of hay-meadows around Muker and Gunnerside, then opens into a tree-fringed flood-plain west of Reeth before the river cuts through the Carboniferous escarpment to meet the Vale of Mowbray.
- Arkengarthdale, Bainbridge, Barns, Benedictine, Blakethwaite Smelt Mine, Brigante, Brigantes, Brigantia, Bunton, Buttertubs, cairn, Cateractonium, Catterick, Cistercian, Corpse-way, Crackpot, Craclpot, Cup-mark, Deer Park Wood, Downholme, Dyke, Dykes, East Gill Force, Ellerton Abbey, Enclosure Acts, field-barns, Fort, Fountains Abbey, Franciscan, Fremington Edge, Fremmington, Friary, Gangs Flats, Gill, Great Pinseat, Great Scar, Great Scar Limestone, Great Shunner, Greyfriars, Grinton, Grinton Moor, Gunnerside, Gunnerside Gill, Harkerside Moor, Hay-meadow, hay-meadows, Healaugh, Herkersdie Moor, Hill Fort, Hind Rake, How Hill, Humber-Flanders export route, Hunter Gatherer, Hush, Hushes, Iron Age, Ivelet Bridge, Keld, Keldside, Kisdon Force, Kisdon Hill, Lead Mining, Lead-veins, Lower Teasdale, Lower Teesdale, Maiden Castle, market, Marrick Priory, Marske, Marske Deer Park, Marske Hall, Meadow, Mine, Mining, monk, Monks, Muker, Norse, North Yorkshire, nun, Nuns, Old Gang, Packhorse Bridge, Parliamentary Walls, Penine Watershed, Pennine watershed, Reeth, Richmond, Rievaulx Abbey, Ring Cairn, River Swale, Rock, rock-art, Roman, Sheep, Shunner Fell, Skeb Skeugh, Smelt, smelting, St Martin's Priory, Stainmore, Standards Rigg, stone, Swale, Swaledale, Tan Hill, Tan Hill Pub, terraces, Thwaite, Trajanic Lead Pig, vale of Mowbray, Walburn, White Rigg, Wool, Yorkshire Dales
- Leave comment
Jun 10
Guide: Hillfort Mounds of Europe
- Filed under Archaeology, Castro Hillfort, Contour/Plateau Fort, Europe, Guide, Hidden Remains, Hill Fort, Landscape Archaeology, Landscape feature, Multivallete Hillfort, New Sites, Oppidum, Promontory fort, Slavic Gord, Univallet Hillfort, Vitrified Fort
Guide: Common Features of Iron Age Hillforts This article attempts to serve as a guide for many of the features of the hillforts found in Britain, in Read more Guide: Iron-Age minting: Ceramic Pellet-mould trays This article explores the most tangible evidence we possess for indigenous minting north of the Humber: the smashed ceramic “pellet-mould” …
Drumanagh Promontory Fort – First Ever Intact Roman Pot Found in Ireland
- Filed under Agricola, Amphora, Bone Comb, Defensive Structures, Fort, Gaming Pieces, Hill Fort, Ireland, Iron Age, Late Iron Age, Leaders, News, Promontory fort, Roman pottery
RTE Ireland has reported that more recently they have made yet another remarkable discovery—an intact Roman pot. the first one to be uncovered on Irish soil, and providing more tantalising clues about ancient Roman-Irish interactions.
Although the Roman Empire they never reached Ireland (except, seemingly, in myth). That does not mean, that Roman influence and goods did enter Ireland, and it means that Drumanagh continues to headline as one of Irelands most tantalising archaeological sites for that same reason – exactly what were the Romans doing in Ireland?
Articles
- Bronze Age
- Iron Age
- Roman
- Dark Ages
- Early Christian
- Viking
- Saxon
- Medieval
- Vitrified Fort
- Archaeology Guide
- Guide – Introduction to Critical Thinking in Archaeological Research
- Guide – Challenging Assumptions with Free Thinking
- Guide – Congruence in Archaeological Interpretation: Holistic Analysis
- Guide – Critical Thinking: Lack of Evidence Does Not Mean Evidence of Lack
- Guide – Critical Thinking: The Simple Assumption
- Guide – Applying critical thinking to historic and archaeological research
- Guide – Empathic Archaeology Introduction
- Guide – Landscape Archaeology Introduction
- Guide – What is Landscape Archaeology?
- Guide – Introduction to Glacial Archaeology
- Guide – The Flora and Fauna of Prehistoric Britain
- Guide – Landscape Archaeology: Post-Ice Age Landscape of Thornborough
- Guide – Archaeological Periods in Western Europe
- Guide – Visible Remains
- Guide – Hidden Remains
- Guide – Getting Started
- Guide – Landscape Features
- Guide – Agricultural practices through time
- Guide – Introduction to Glacial Archaeology
- Guide: In Depth – Church Doors and Windows
- Guide – Mining
- Guide – Archaeological Terms
- Guide – Glossary
- Latin Translation – Choosing the meaning of AUG
- Reports
- An introduction to Brigantian Druidry
- Brigantia during the Dark Ages
- Celtic Heads
- Finding Bardon – An Arthurian Quest
- Early Christian syncretism and how the old ones hid amongst the new religion
- Rome: The Emperors Claim to Divinity
- Syncretism through the ages
- The Border Reivers
- The Gallus Frontier – Brigantia against the Romans
- The growth of Christianity 50AD – 1100AD
- The Kingdom of Venutius
- The use of the word Lady in relation to water related structures
- The walled gardens of Brigantia
- Yorkshire’s “Sacred Vale” – The Dawn of Brigantia
- Brigantia Espania
- Iberian Peninsular
- Galicia
- Biefing – The Myth of Breogán and the Tower of Heracles
- Briefing – Galicia’s Political History and Separatist Sentiment
- Briefing – Geography and Geology of Galicia
- Briefing – Design of Galician Hillforts
- Briefing – Roman Interaction with Galicia and the Iberian Peninsula
- Church of Santa María de Cambre, Cambre near A Coruña
Categories
- Agriculture (6)
- Field Systems (1)
- ploughing (2)
- Angle (2)
- Archaeological Periods (312)
- Anglo-saxon (6)
- Bronze Age (52)
- Late Bronze Age (1)
- Dark Ages (24)
- Dark Ages Brigantia (9)
- Early Christian (37)
- Early Medieval (8)
- Georgian (9)
- Gothic (3)
- Ice Age (1)
- Iron Age (133)
- Late Iron Age (5)
- Jacobite (7)
- Medieval (61)
- Medieval Brigantia (9)
- Mesolithic (11)
- Neolithic (45)
- Early Neolithic (5)
- Norman (40)
- Palaeolithic (6)
- Roman (94)
- Saxon (9)
- Stuart (6)
- Suspect (1)
- Tudor (10)
- Undated (7)
- Viking (4)
- Archaeology (93)
- Archaeobotanical (1)
- Empathic Archaeology (11)
- Free Thinking (7)
- Battle (1)
- Brigantia (147)
- Brigantia England (134)
- Brigantia Espania (11)
- Civil Structure (6)
- Defensive Structures (45)
- Castle (5)
- Defensive Dike (2)
- Defensive Walls (1)
- Fort (20)
- Fortified Barn (1)
- Marching Camp (5)
- Motte and Bailey (6)
- Ring Work (1)
- Class A (1)
- Dialects (1)
- Earthworks (51)
- Dike (8)
- Field Systems (26)
- Enclosure (12)
- Enclosure Acts (1)
- Europe (51)
- Festivals (2)
- Finds (42)
- Altar (10)
- Amphora (1)
- Animal Remains (4)
- Auroch (1)
- Hoof marks (1)
- Antler Pick (2)
- Arrowhead (1)
- Leaf-shaped (1)
- Axe (1)
- Bone Comb (1)
- Celtic Head (8)
- Celtic Head (2)
- Clock (1)
- Curse Tablet (1)
- Flint Scatters (4)
- Gaming Pieces (1)
- Hair Braid – Ring (4)
- Human Remains (2)
- Adult (1)
- Couched Burial (1)
- Juvinile (1)
- Mace Head (1)
- S-curved (1)
- Mosaic (1)
- Polished Stone Adze (1)
- Pottery (8)
- Funerary Urns (2)
- Grooved ware (1)
- Peterborough ware (1)
- Mortlake ware (1)
- Planig‑Friedberg ware (1)
- Samian ware (2)
- Vasi a Bocca Quadrata ware (1)
- Quern Stones (1)
- Statue (1)
- Geography (16)
- Maps (7)
- Geology (13)
- Anthracite – Coal (2)
- Geomorphology (2)
- Gods (9)
- Guide (72)
- Critical Thinking (8)
- Socratic Thought (1)
- Glossary (1)
- Hidden Remains (8)
- Geophysics (5)
- LiDAR (1)
- Radiocarbon Dating (1)
- Remote Sensing and Analysis (1)
- Regional Surveys (13)
- Research Tools (4)
- Visible Remains (12)
- Air Mapping (2)
- Air Photography (2)
- Fieldwalking (2)
- Lithics (1)
- Photography (6)
- Critical Thinking (8)
- Henge (18)
- Hill Fort (61)
- Castro Hillfort (3)
- Contour/Plateau Fort (1)
- Multivallete Hillfort (1)
- Oppidum (1)
- Oppidum (1)
- Promontory fort (4)
- Slavic Gord (1)
- Univallet Hillfort (4)
- Vitrified Fort (27)
- Historic Buildings (20)
- Amphitheatre (1)
- Barn (2)
- Beacon (1)
- Broch (1)
- Coaching Inn/Hostelry (1)
- Folly (4)
- Hall (2)
- Hospital (1)
- House (1)
- Tower (7)
- Walled Garden (1)
- Industrial Heritage (9)
- Chimney (1)
- Mining (9)
- Spoil Heap (1)
- Smelting (2)
- Iron-Age (1)
- Landscape Archaeology (38)
- Glacial Archaeology (2)
- Landscape Legislation (1)
- Mining Landscape (1)
- Ritual Landscape (6)
- Landscape feature (49)
- Barrow (18)
- Bell Barrow (2)
- Bowl Barrow (1)
- Cairn (2)
- Disc Barrow (1)
- Long Barrow (5)
- Ring Barrow (1)
- Ring Cairn (1)
- Round Barrow (1)
- Square Barrow (1)
- Steppe Kurgan (1)
- Boundary Marker (2)
- Burial Mound (9)
- Ceremonial Mount (1)
- Cursus (2)
- Hill Figure (5)
- Linear Earthworks (2)
- Mound (6)
- Passage Tomb (1)
- Ring Cairn (2)
- Snake Mound (1)
- Terraces (3)
- Barrow (18)
- Leaders (33)
- Agricola (2)
- Arthur (1)
- Augustus Caesar (2)
- Breogans (3)
- Caratacus (1)
- Cnut (1)
- Julius Caesar (1)
- Petilius Cerialis (1)
- Liminal Spaces (1)
- Market (1)
- Megalithic (10)
- Rock Art (3)
- Stone alignment (1)
- Stone Circle (7)
- stone circles (1)
- Stone Row (2)
- Myth and Legend (5)
- New Sites (23)
- Publications (21)
- Biographies (2)
- Henge Capital of Britain (10)
- News (4)
- Stories of Brigantia (4)
- Walking Guides (1)
- Rabbit Warren (1)
- Religious Structures (31)
- Abbey (3)
- Church (24)
- Crosses (1)
- Memorial Planting (1)
- Priory (2)
- Religious Orders (3)
- Ritual walkway/pilrimage path (1)
- Reports (148)
- Roman Culture (11)
- Roman army (8)
- Roman baths (1)
- Roman City (1)
- Roman Gods (1)
- Mercury (1)
- Roman navy (1)
- Roman pottery (3)
- Samian ware (2)
- Roman Road (1)
- Roman Roads (2)
- Roman Villa (2)
- The Celtic World (35)
- Celtic Gods (1)
- Lugh (1)
- Celtic Industry (1)
- Celtic Life (9)
- Celtic Trade (1)
- Celtic Tribes (27)
- Celtic Gods (1)
- Trade (4)
- Minting (3)
- Coins (1)
- Spoil Heaps (2)
- Minting (3)
- Translation (7)
- Inscription (4)
- Latin (5)
- Uncategorized (24)
- Water Works (13)
Research Links
Heritage Gateway
Announcing: The Brigantian News!
- Roman Road to the West uncovered under Manchester Street 16 July 2025
- What might Stonehenge Mean? Dartmoor and Carnac add to the Picture 3 July 2025
- Megalithic Stone Monuments in France May Be Europe’s Oldest 1 July 2025
- Drumanagh Promontory Fort – First Ever Intact Roman Pot Found in Ireland 5 June 2025
Portable Antiquities News
A Late Medieval cast copper-alloy casket key dating to c.1200-1500.Sub-circular bow with a circular 7.4mm aperture, integral with an oval cross-section stem. The stem is solid apart from the tip that is hollow to a depth [...]
A Roman silver siliqua of Constantius II dating to AD 355-364 (Reece period 18). VOTIS XXX MVLTIS XXXX reverse type depicting the legend within a wreath, Mint of Arelatum. As Hoxne 84; RIC VIII 261/91. [...]
A silver threepence of Elizabeth I (1558 to 1603), second coinage and dated to 157(8?), with plain cross initial mark. London Tower mint. As North vol2, (1991) No. 1998. [...]
A silver post Medieval halfpenny of Elizabeth I dating to 1582-1603. No initial mark. London Tower mint. As North 2018. [...]
A silver medieval halfgroat of Henry VII (1485-1509), martlet initial mark dating to 1501-1509. Archiepiscopal mint of Archbishop Savage at York. As North 1714. [...]
A Iron Age silver "concave square" minim of the Regini and Atrebates / Southern region, possibly attributable to Tincomarus and dating to 50-20 BC. Obverse: square with concave sides, central pellet in ring. Reverse: annulet horse [...]
A probably Late Medieval to Post Medieval copper-alloy dagger or sword scabbard chape probably dating to c.1400-1650. Fabricated from copper-alloy 0.6mm sheet, rolled into a cone shape with an untidy/irregular seam at the rear, and an [...]
A post Medieval cast copper alloy discoidal 1/4oz trade weight. The weight has a upstanding rim enclosing a recessed upper surface bearing stamps of a crowned W for William III (1694-1702). [...]
A post-Medieval silver threepence of Elizabeth I (1558-1603). Second issue (1561-1582), probably portcullis initial mark and dated 1566 on the coin. London Tower mint. As North (1991) no. 1998. [...]
A complete silver Scottish twelve shillings coin of James VI of Scotland and I of England, eighth coinage post-dating accession to English throne, dating to 1603-1625, Lys initial mark. Reverse has a shield with arms of [...]
A silver Post-Medieval sixpence of Elizabeth I, dated 1569 with coronet initial mark. Mint of London. As North 1997. [...]
A silver Post-Medieval shilling of Elizabeth I, third issue with ‘A’ initial mark dating to 1583-1585. Mint of London. As North Vol 2, p.136, no.2014. [...]
A lead alloy pipe tamper dating to the 17th century. The plate has moulded decoration to both sides depicting Charles I (facing right) and Henrietta Maria of France (facing left). Both images are contained in [...]
A damaged lead-alloy Medieval pilgrim's ampulla, 50mm in length and 35mm wide, with a round bodied flask with a flaring open top which is partially complete. One side of the flask body has traces of moulded [...]
An incomplete Medieval cast copper alloy buckle plate, dating to c. AD 1100-1400. The plate is missing its buckle and part of its sprues. The buckle plate is sub-rectangular in plan. Projecting from one long edge [...]
A Roman copper-alloy nummus of the House of Valentinian , dating to AD 364-7 (Reece Period 19), GLORIA RO-MANORVM reverse type depicting the emperor with right hand dragging captive right and holding a labarum in left hand. Mint of [...]
A Post-Medieval copper alloy farthing of Charles I (AD 1625-1649), dating to AD 1636-1644. Rose type 2, with sceptres in saltire through single crown. Mint of London. Unclear initial mark. North (1991: 165) no. 2291. [...]
A clipped and heavily worn Roman copper alloy nummus of Gratian (AD 367-383) dating to the period AD 367-378 (Reece period 19). SECURITAS REI PUBLICAE reverse type depicting Victory advancing left, holding a wreath and palm. Unknown mint. [...]
A silver Roman siliqua of Honorius (AD 393-423) dating to the period AD 397-402 (Reece Period 21) minted in Milan VIRTVS ROMANORVM reverse type depicting Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and spear. Hoxne, p. 145, no. [...]
Fragment from a rectangular or trapezoidal buckle frame dating to the Post Medieval period (c.AD 1350-1700). The fragment consists of a corner and a short section of one side of the frame and a short section of [...]
Recent Articles and Site Pages
- The Story of Boltby Scar
- Swaledale
- Guide: Parliamentary-walls and the Northern Enclosures
- County Durham
- The hero archetype and Lugh
- Head One – St Michaels Church, Kirklington
- Long Meg and her Daughters standing stone and stone circle
- Cana Barn Henge
- Anciens Arsenaux Neolithic Settlement, Sion – Switzerland
- Gnaeus Julius Agricola
- Snake Iconography in the British Isles
- Wiltshire
- Liverpool Street Roman Road, Manchester
- South Street Long Barrow, Avebury
- Mamucium Roman Fort, Manchester
Locations
- Czechia (1)
- England (198)
- Bedfordshire (1)
- Cumbria (13)
- Dorset (2)
- Durham (9)
- East Yorkshire (1)
- Lancashire (7)
- North Derbyshire (8)
- North Yorkshire (118)
- Yorkshire Dales (4)
- Yorkshire Moors (1)
- Northumberland (9)
- Oxfordshire (2)
- Somerset (2)
- South Yorkshire (10)
- Staffordshire (3)
- West Yorkshire (7)
- Wiltshire (4)
- Europe (8)
- France (3)
- Germany (2)
- Global (3)
- Ireland (4)
- County Dublin (1)
- Scotland (21)
- Dumphries and Galloway (3)
- Grampian (4)
- Highlands (8)
- Perthshire (4)
- Tayside (3)
- Spain (4)
- Switzerland (1)
- Wales (4)

