In around AD 900, a unique Viking Age hoard was buried in south-west Scotland. Known as the Galloway Hoard, its eclectic contents come from as far as Asia, and preserve stunning examples of early medieval artistry that have not been seen for over 1,000 years. Since its rediscovery, the hoard has been carefully conserved and analysed in detail. Our cover story presents the latest discoveries as a new exhibition opens.
We next examine a much larger archaeological find whose location had also long faded from memory: Britain’s most south-westerly Neolithic henge, which has been identified during a major infrastructure project in south Wales.
The Vaynor Farm henge’s demise may have come about amid dramatic cultural changes at the onset of the Bronze Age; our third feature explores another watershed period: the medieval civil war known as the Anarchy. Can the remains of a 12th-century smithy shed light on how the Anarchy affected one fenland community?
Remaining in the 12th century, we next visit the British Museum to explore their new exhibition about Thomas Becket. Artefacts and a stunning stained-glass window come together to tell the story of a murdered archbishop and why so many people in medieval Europe flocked to his shrine.
The British Museum is also telling the story of the notorious Roman emperor Nero, who came to power when the conquest of Britain was far from complete. His reign saw both the revolution of the Boudican uprising and efforts at reconciliation and reconstruction in its aftermath; we explore the latest thinking on Neronian Britain.
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In This Issue:
FEATURES
UNWRAPPING THE GALLOWAY HOARD
Secrets of a unique Viking Age collection from south-west Scotland
A new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland explores the latest research on the Galloway Hoard, thought to be Scotland’s earliest Viking Age hoard, providing exciting new details about its eclectic contents.
CARMARTHENSHIRE’S MISSING MONUMENT
How one of the biggest excavations in Wales uncovered a long-lost henge
Major infrastructure works in South Wales allowed archaeologists to investigate a corridor stretching 317km: their project uncovered a plethora of fascinating sites, including the previously unknown remains of Britain’s most south-westerly Neolithic henge.
IRON IN THE TIME OF ANARCHY
Investigating a smithy site forged in 12th-century civil war
Excavations in Cheveley, Cambridgeshire, recently revealed the remains of a medieval smithy, brimming with evidence of not only the artefacts that it produced, but also the effects that the upheaval of the Anarchy had on the Fenlands.
‘WHO WILL DELIVER ME FROM THIS TURBULENT PRIEST?’
How two Henrys failed to erase the memory of Thomas Becket
Despite his murder being linked to one King Henry and his shrine being destroyed by another, Thomas Becket’s memory lives on, as demonstrated by a new exhibition about the saint at the British Museum.
NERO’S BRITAIN
Rebellion, reconstruction, and a revised reputation
With Claudius’ invasion of Britain barely a decade old when Nero became Roman emperor, the province was far from stable. What can a new British Museum exhibition tell us about the impact of the Boudican revolt and subsequent efforts to rebuild?
NEWS
Neolithic fingerprint found at the Ness of Brodgar; Calculating cancer risk in medieval Cambridge; Gloucester Castle: from garrison to gaol; Oldest surviving synagogue in Wales recorded; Using computer science to classify potsherds; Science Notes; Proteomic analysis of rare medieval birthing girdle; Finds Tray
NEWS FOCUS
A late Saxon giant? Latest dating evidence for the Cerne Abbas hill figure
REGULARS
Comment
Joe Flatman excavates the CA archive
Context
Bringing an Anglo-Saxon brooch back to life: West Hanney, Oxfordshire
Reviews
The World Before Us: how science is revealing a new story of our human origins; Timeline – the archaeology of the South Wales Gas Pipeline: excavations between Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, and Tirley, Gloucestershire; A Neolithic to Late Roman Landscape on the North-east Yorkshire Coast: excavations at Street House, Loftus, 2004-2017; Excavations at Stoke Quay, Ipswich: southern Gipeswic and the parish of St Augustine; 50 Finds of Early Medieval Coinage; Greenwich at Work: people and industries through the years
Heritage from Home
Our selection of sites that have recently reopened, as well as plenty of historical, archaeological, and cultural resources from around the world that are still available online.
Sherds
Chris Catling’s irreverent take on heritage issues
Odd Socs
The Church Recording Society
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Dear Editor
I am the Chairman of Church Recording Society and loved your article about us in Odd Socs of Current Archaeology 376 published on 3rd June.
An important correction, however, Church Recording Society was created last year by the Church Recorders of the UK and the Isle of Man as the new and independent charity to continue this work. Church Recording Society replaces, but was not created by The Arts Society.
David Medcalf
Church Recording Society Charitable Incorporated Organisation no. 1192947 England & Wales. Scotland registered charity no. SC051056. Principal Office: 2 Hilbury Close Amersham HP6 5LB