Neolithic artefacts discovered in church

Northern Echo 25/2/08

PLANNED repairs to the central heating of a church have uncovered remains suggesting it may have been used as a place of worship in prehistoric times.

Archaeologists now believe the medieval church of St Michaels and All Angels, in Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, is on the site of earlier places of worship, possibly dating from the Neolithic period.

Old burial grounds have been unearthed during work by the Archaeology Practice, but it has also revealed foundations of previous churches on the site.

Stones uncovered beneath the church floor are thought to have been part of a Roman building, while there is also evidence of prehistoric activity in the area.

Peter Ryder has led the three-man team carrying out excavations before a major refurbishment, which will include replacing the central heating system and restoration of much of the stonework.

He said the site appears to have been a place of worship long before the existing medieval church was built.
advertisement

"It's thought the first church here was late Saxon or early Norman, but there's strong evidence of a prehistoric ritual site.

"We've found big boulders, and during earlier work under the church yard, there was a line of stones, which is clearly a significant archaeological feature.

"The boulders are probably prehistoric and there are large blocks of stone from an early structure, which could be Roman.

"I have never seen them in a medieval structure, although a sarcophagus, a stone tomb with a lid, which looks Roman was found under the church yard."

Mr Ryder has led the three-man team of archaeologists carrying out what he calls a "watching brief, not a full dig".

The brief was commissioned by St Michaels' the Parochial Church Council after former Rector, the Reverend Dr Ian Wallis, oversaw plans for a re-ordering of the church. Hundreds of local people attended an open day to view items uncovered in the recent archaeological work, and, such was the response, it was repeated at the weekend.

Bulgaria Police Bust 19-Member Group of Treasure-Hunters

The Bulgarian Directorate for Combating Organized Crime captured a group of 19 treasure-hunters who carried out illegal archaeological excavations and deals with movable cultural monuments.

Old but still funny-

Graffiti vandal strikes in Gloucester
The statue was erected as a millennium project
A graffiti vandal has defaced the statue of a Roman emperor using grammatically correct Latin made famous in an episode of Monty Python.
The inscription "Romani ite domum" had been penned on the concrete plinth of the bronze statue of the Emperor Nerva in Gloucester.
The words, translated as "Romans go home", were spotted by teacher Michael Sergeant.
Gloucestershire Police said they believed the incident happened last week but have unsuccessfully examined CCTV footage for evidence of the culprits.
Mr Sergeant told BBC News Online: "Whoever did it was either very clever - as the Latin was correct - or had just seen Monty Python's The Life of Brian."

JOB AT THE BM

Scientist and Health & Safety Science Specialist

Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, The British Museum

UKP 25,172 pa
The British Museum is currently recruiting a scientist to work within the Department of Conservation, Documentation and Science. The post holder will have three principal areas of activity. First, to undertake scientific examination and analysis of materials within the British Museum collection, including research and other investigations into the raw materials, identification, provenancing, technology and the deterioration and conservation of the Museum’s collection. The post holder will be expected to use a range of analytical techniques to tackle curatorial and conservation enquiries. Second, to undertake routine X-radiography of a range of object types, assist with the maintenance of the existing and future X-radiography equipment and develop skills in the interpretation of radiographic images. In addition the post holder will act as the scientific advisor and liaison point for chemical and other science safety matters, working alongside the Departmental Health & Safety (H&S) co-ordinator in the departmental office.

The ideal candidate will have a strong science background and experience in or familiarity with project design and the application of a range of analytical techniques such as microscopy, SEM-EDX, XRF, XRD, Raman, FT-IR, ICP-AES, ion chromatography, GC-MS and HPLC and X-radiography which you wish to apply to the study of the materials, technology and deterioration, preservation and conservation of museum objects. The post holder will work on a range of projects across the department but would be encouraged to develop a specialism and research interest in a particular material type or analytical technique. You will be expected to provide scientific services within the aims of the Museum, and disseminate results and information with the wider museum and conservation community through reports, publication and lecturing etc. In addition you will have experience, or a willingness to gain such experience, in all aspects of COSHH and expertise in the areas of H&S, chemical safety and other science-related issues and risk assessment.
For further information and an application pack, please go to
www.britishmuseum.org/the_museum/jobs.aspx
Job reference: 74564W
Contract: Permanent
Closing date for applications: 12 noon, 9 May 2008