Eggardon Hill - 7th August

My next walk is at Eggardon Hill, one of the most stunning monuments in the UK in terms of preservation and location, with wonderful views of the countryside and coast. On the map you will see a crossroads opposite the hillfort with a very convenient lay-by. Plus there is a great example of a 'disc' barrow with added mound - very rare. 10.30am as usual.

Dinner

Wednesday saw Pam and I at The Olive Tree with my students for the end of term dinner. We had the Calzone Vegeteriana filled with tomato, mushroom, pepper, artichoke and mozzarella - thanks Stef. A very entertaining evening with students from other courses. I am now working on my next course on 'Dorset Archaeology' begining in September.

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Back to Hell

Love Learning students Claire, Dave, Gary and Julie at the Hell Stones

So it was back to normal for an evening visit to the Hell Stones - gales and rain. We cut down the distance to walk and used the stones as the shepereds used to do - for shelter. You have to imagine five bedraggled and windswept Heritage Hunters sitting under several tons of stone, our feet in mud, talking about long barrows. As we arrived back at the lay-by I assumed that they would want to be off home a.s.a.p. But no. "Lets go the Hampton stone circle", said Julie. So off we went into the storm. I shouted out some information until Dave took pity on me and said "lets not put him through anymore of this" and we all tramped back to the cars. 

"That was a really enjoyable evening Chris, despite the weather.  In fact it enhanced the atmosphere somewhat.  And I think we all displayed a high degree of moral fibre!" Thanks Dave.

I would like to thank the students for making the last few months so enjoyable. Boundless enthusiasm and good company made this the best course yet for me.

Driving to pick up Pam from Yeovil the rain turned to a torrent. But the late Bruscetta and cappochino at the pizzaria cheered me up. 

Next walk is Eggardon Hill. Details to follow.

To Hell & Back

The Hellstones

Tomorrow night at I am showing my students the Hellstones above Abbotsbury village. We are meeting in the village then going up by car(s) to White Hill, then along the South West Coast Path heading east to Portesham Hill. If you wish to come along please be at the village by 7pm opposite the tea shop. Limited parking here. Back before 9pm. As this is part of my evening adult education work I have to charge £10pp as half goes to Love Learning. Hope to see you there. 

Heat & flies

The Grey Mare looking a bit sheepish.

The Grey Mare with mound running left. 

Much to my relief, and the Heritage Hunters who turned up, my walk to the Grey Mare & Her Colts was undertaken in dry and sunny weather. I was beginning to feel jinxed. However, I will put a map on my information from now on, as a couple of people had difficulty finding the lay-by (as I feared). Lesson learnt. My partner Pam did a spendid job directing a couple of HH's, being stationed at the junction just down the road with a clipboard!

We set off along the track to the GM&HC and took in the c.5,000 year old structure that has been standing in this field observing the passing of time almost beyond our imagining. One of around 22 tumuli existant within the Abbotsbury parish it is Dorset's finest megalithic chambered long barrow. Including a stone chamber, facade, peristaliths (small stones around the edge of the long mound) and disturbed mound of stones it has been knocked around some what over the last five millennia. The giant capstone of the box-chamber now sits at an angle, but it must be many tonnes in weight, so not surprising it has slipped. It is a matter of speculation as to the rites carried out here so long ago. But humans are humans and the importance of the past and the deceased ancestors must have had something to do with it. These tombs would probably been open for some generations, as rites and celebrations were carried out along with the, literal, presence of the ancestors before they were returned to the dark interior of the monument. 

I took away with me the effects of an insect bite, which resulted in my right arm now looking as if I am wearing a childs arm band, the ones they wear for swimming. It itches and aches at the same time. If the other one had been bitten as badly I would now look like Popeye. So a warning - always keep covered up against flies and ticks when walking in long grass, no matter how warm the day. Older people and children can have a very bad reaction to such bites.   

News - Portland Archaeology

During the Festival of British Archaeology 2011 a new excavation is to be undertaken by the Association for Portland Archaeology. They are hoping to find artefacts from the Mesolithic to Roman and perhaps Anglo-Saxon. Please contact them if you are interested in taking part or visiting.
Call: 01305 861576
Email: apa@dsl.pipex.com
Guided tours to the Culverwell site are also due to take place on the 17th, 24th, 31st July - 2pm-5pm.