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.
Site Section: The Brigantes of Britain
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.
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County Durham
- Filed under Brigantia, Brigantia England, Britain, Europe
County Durham’s landscape is often described as a “three-belt county.” To the west rise the high, windswept Pennines; in the middle lies a sheltered coal-bearing vale that funnels every main road and railway; and to the east stands the pale Magnesian-Limestone escarpment ending in low cliffs above the North Sea.
Long Meg and her Daughters standing stone and stone circle
- Filed under Agriculture, Archaeology, Medieval, Neolithic, ploughing, Stone Circle
Long Meg and her Daughters is a remarkable Neolithic monument located near Penrith in Cumbria, England.
Cana Barn Henge
- Filed under Brigantia, Brigantia England, Britain, Class IIa, Europe, Henge, Liminal Spaces, Neolithic, New Sites
The stats for this Neolithic monument are astounding: 200m across, once a great circle of earthen banks and deep ditches. Today, almost lost: 5,000 years of plough and neglect have flattened the banks and filled the ditches, and Cana Henge is now nothing but a smoothly undulating grassy field on the moor overlooking Ripon.
Mamucium Roman Fort, Manchester
- Filed under Altar, Defensive Structures, Fort, New Sites, Roman, Roman army, Roman Road
Mamucium occupies a low sandstone promontory at the junction of the Rivers Medlock and Irwell. The bedrock is the Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Group, a firm, well‑drained red sandstone that gave Roman engineers a stable platform for earthworks and timber palisades, while nearby river gravels supplied road‑making aggregate.
Doncaster Roman Fort (Danum)
- Filed under Brigantia, Brigantia England, Britain, Defensive Structures, Europe, Fort, New Sites, Roman, Roman army
← South Yorkshire Roman Rig Defensive Works The Roman Rig is a defensive dyke built to defend against attack from the south. It runs from Sheffield, past Read more Templeborough Roman Fort – Rotherham Templeborough Roman Fort occupies a commanding position on the north bank of the River Don at Rotherham (OS grid SK Read …
Adwick-le-Street Roman Fort (Derventio)
- Filed under Brigantia, Brigantia England, Britain, Europe, Fort, New Sites, Roman, Roman army
Derventio was an auxiliary fort, it probably housed a mounted ala or an infantry cohort. It is located immediately west of modern Adwick le Street (OS SE 553 008), astride Ermine Street (the Roman Ridge).
Templeborough Roman Fort – Rotherham
- Filed under Brigantia, Brigantia England, Britain, Defensive Structures, Europe, Fort, Late Iron Age, Roman, Roman army
Templeborough Roman Fort occupies a commanding position on the north bank of the River Don at Rotherham (OS grid SK 410 916), where the Magnesian Limestone ridge drops into the floodplain. Originally constructed in timber and earth in the mid–1st century AD, it was later rebuilt in stone and occupied—possibly intermittently—until the withdrawal of Roman authority in the early 5th century AD
Great Roe Wood (Roe Wood) Enclosure – Woodhouse
- Filed under Brigantia, Brigantia England, Dark Ages, Dark Ages Brigantia, Iron Age, Late Iron Age
Great Roe Wood (often simply called “Roe Wood”) sits on the Magnesian Limestone ridge that carries the Roman Rig between Sheffield and Doncaster, just northeast of the village of Woodhouse (OS grid SK 450 920). This ridge forms a natural corridor overlooking the Don valley, with shallow soils over limestone giving way to deeper alluvial gravels in the valley bottom.
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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
Unidentified copper-alloy object, cast in one piece, probably of Roman to medieval date. It is sub-circular and flat (bifacial) with multiple small sub-triangular radial projections around the most of the perimeter and multiple perforations within. [...]
A Post Medieval silver half groat of Elizabeth I (AD 1558-1603). Third issue (North 2016). Tun initial mark dating to AD 1591/2-94. London mint. North (1991: 137). Overall dimensions: 16mm in diameter, 0.5mm in thickness and 0.84g in weight. [...]
An incomplete silver sceat or half sceat of Early Medieval date. Standard Series (North 45 Series E) dating to c. AD 680-710. North (1994: 60). Coin appears to have been clipped, removing some of the detail. Obverse description: [...]
Copper alloy coin. Radiate, possibly of Claudius II (268-270), Reece period 13Obverse description: Radiate bust draped and cuirassed rightObverse inscription: IMP CL[AVDI]VS PF AVGReverse description: nude figure striding left with raised right hand, left holds [...]
Silver coin. Penny of Edward I (1272-1307), class 4a issue of 1282-1289, London mint, edge-split flan.Obverse description: facing bust with broad trifoliate crown, drapery of angled wedges; initial cross potentObverse inscription: +EDW R’ANGL’DNS hYBReverse description: [...]
Silver coin. Penny of Edward II (1307-1327), probably class 10cf5 issue of 1307-1310, London mint Obverse description: facing bust with broad bifoliate crown, smiling face, drapery of angled wedges; initial cross pattee.Obverse inscription: [+EDW]A R [...]
Silver coin. Voided long cross cut halfpenny of Henry III (1216-1272), class 5a issue of 1250-1256, Canterbury mintObverse description: facing bust with sceptre left; hair and right [left] includes a neat curlObverse inscription: hENRIC(---)Reverse description: [...]
An incomplete Medieval cast copper-alloy enamelled shield shaped heraldic harness pendant dating c. 1250-1400.The pendant is shield shaped, comprising a flat topped shield (heater shape) with an incomplete integral pierced suspension loop set at 90°s to [...]
Silver coin. Halfgroat of James I (1603-1625), second coinage, issue of 1605-1606, Spink no. 2659Obverse description: crowned rose, mintmark Rose (33)Obverse inscription: I.D.G.ROSA.SINE.SPINAReverse description: crowned thistle headReverse inscription: .TVETVR.VNITA.DEVS.Diameter: 17mm, Weight: 0.82gms, die axis: 6 [...]
An incomplete medieval copper alloy vesica shaped seal matrix dating c. 1200-1400. The seal is pointed oval in plan with a truncated suspension loop on the reverse. The design is worn but comprises an incuse central fleur de lis, there [...]
A complete silver sceat or half sceat of Early Medieval date. London Connected Series (North 99 Series N, BMC 41b) dating to c. AD 710-50. Obverse description: Dragon left. Reverse description: two men with crossesOverall dimensions:10.7mm in diameter, 1.7mm in [...]
A copper alloy trade token dating to the Post Medieval period (AD 1648-1672). The token was issued by Richard Bedoes, Alderman of the City of Worcester and Mayor in 1661. The object is heavily worn. Williamson [...]
A complete lead alloy bag seal dating to the Modern period (AD 1856-1894). The object is sub-circular in shape and rectangular in cross-section. The object is decorated in low relief with a raised circular border on both sides.Obverse: image of a [...]
A complete lead alloy spindle whorl dating to the Medieval to Post Medieval periods (c. AD 1100 - 1600). The object is bi-convex; circular in plan with a prominent medial rib and a central circular central aperture measuring [...]
A complete copper alloy thimble dating to the late Post Medieval to Modern period (c. AD 1800-1900). The object is machine-made with a thickened rim, sloping sides and a domed crown. Above the rim is an inscription, [...]
A corroded Roman copper alloy nummus of the House of Valentinian dating to AD 364-378 (Reece Period 19). [SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE] reverse type, depicting victory advancing left with wreath and palm. Uncertain mint. [...]
A complete copper alloy clog clasp dating to the Post Medieval to early Modern period (c. AD 1790-1900). The plate is rectilinear at one end and rounded at the opposing end. The rounded end has a pelta-shaped [...]
A complete copper alloy clog clasp dating to the Post Medieval to early Modern period (c. AD 1790-1900). The plate is rectilinear at one end and rounded at the opposing end. The rounded end has a pelta-shaped [...]
A Roman to Medieval lead alloy vessel repair/pot mend, dating to AD 43 - 1500. It consists of two sub oval plugs sandwiched together. Between the two pieces some pink ceramic pieces remain. The item has a cream- grey patina. Length: 20.7 mmWidth: 18.1 mmThickness: 9.6 mmWeight: 13.7 gPot mends [...]
A Medieval copper alloy casket key, dating to AD 1100 - 1500. It has a flat, circular bow and an oval stem which is hollow at the outer end. A simple, flat, rectangular bit depends from the [...]
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