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rynner2 What a Cad!
Great Old One Joined: 13 Dec 2008 Total posts: 21365 Location: Under the moon Gender: Male |
 Posted: 08-03-2013 09:40 Post subject: |
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Bronze age boat launches in Falmouth - See how it was built: VIDEOS
2:34pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News .
HISTORY was made in Cornwall this week as a unique project to recreate a 4000 year old boat reached its dramatic conclusion as it launched into the waters of Falmouth Harbour.
Professional boatbuilder Brian Cumby and a team of volunteers re-created the large replica Bronze Age stitched boat using traditional tools and materials. These video shows the progress from the first steps to the completion.
There are nine videos in total, scroll down to view.
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/10274467.Bronze_age_boat_launches_in_Falmouth___See_how_it_was_built__VIDEOS/?ref=mr
I've just watched No.6 - it's good quality time lapse photography (but with a slightly irritating musical sound track). Slightly bigger pictures on the YouTube version, plus full screen. A useful resource for would-be bronze age boatbuilders!  |
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| rynner2 What a Cad!
Great Old One Joined: 13 Dec 2008 Total posts: 21365 Location: Under the moon Gender: Male |
| Posted: 08-03-2013 10:05 Post subject: |
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| rynner2 wrote: | "..it was more seaworthy than I expected."
"There have been doubters, professionally, who questioned the feasibility of this vessel crossing the seas. This project has proven that it was possible."
A bit strong to claim that much, after a quick trip on "calm waters". Perhaps it could "cross the seas", but only in fine weather - and that's MY professional opinion!
When you get out in waves (and assuming they didn't swamp the craft) the hull would experience flexing: one minute a wave would support the middle of the boat, so the ends would tend to droop; the next minute the ends might be supported, causing the middle to sag. All this would put considerable strain on the fastenings of "yew stitching". If they do try it out in the Bay, I hope they have a big safety boat in attendance!  |
I've just watched the whole of the launch day video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zM9tdqnYNLU#!
..and as the boat is moved from the Museum to the launch ramp on a long, many-wheeled trolley, you can clearly see the hull flexing as it moves along the road! (Hogging and sagging are the technical terms)
That was perhaps a better test of its seaworthiness than the quiet waters of the harbour!  |
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| rynner2 What a Cad!
Great Old One Joined: 13 Dec 2008 Total posts: 21365 Location: Under the moon Gender: Male |
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| rynner2 What a Cad!
Great Old One Joined: 13 Dec 2008 Total posts: 21365 Location: Under the moon Gender: Male |
| Posted: 18-07-2013 20:16 Post subject: |
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I went to the NMMC today to get some photos of the residential cruise ship The World, but as a bonus I got a couple of shots of the replica bronze age boat as well!
She was on the NMMC pontoon, and a few people standing around with crudely made paddles suggested it might be going on another 'test run'. |
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| rynner2 What a Cad!
Great Old One Joined: 13 Dec 2008 Total posts: 21365 Location: Under the moon Gender: Male |
| Posted: 14-09-2013 09:47 Post subject: |
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Excavation may reveal secret of the Hurlers
Saturday, September 14, 2013 Western Morning News
By SIMON PARKER
A Bronze Age crystal pavement described as "unique" by archaeologists is to be uncovered for the first time since the 1930s.
The monument, at the Hurlers stone circle on Bodmin Moor, is believed to be the only one of its kind in the British Isles. Scientists and historians hope that by studying it they will gain a better understanding of early civilisations.
Organised by the Caradon Hill Area Heritage Project, "Mapping the Sun" will be led by a team from Cornwall Council's Historic Environment department. Archaeologists will be setting up at the site close to the village of Minions this weekend and the excavation will be open to the public between Tuesday and Saturday.
Described as a community archaeology project, a range of activities will take place throughout the week. These will include astronomy workshops with Brian Sheen from Roseland Observatory, a sunrise equinox walk, a geophysical survey, a display of Bronze Age artefacts and an exhibition of archive photographs. There will also be opportunities to actually lend a hand in the delicate task of excavating the pavement.
The only time the 4,000-year-old causeway is thought to have been uncovered since it was originally laid took place 75 years ago, when workmen stabilised the site and re-erected a number of stones.
The existence of the quartz pavement only came to light again when Cornwall archaeologist Jacky Nowakowski was undertaking unrelated research at an English Heritage store in Gloucestershire. As she looked through files, Jacky came across an unpublished report and photographs from the Ministry of Works' excavation of the Hurlers in 1938.
"I couldn't believe it," she said. "I'd certainly not seen anything like it before. A feature such as this, which suggests a possible linking of the circles, is very unusual. The pavement is nationally unique as far as I know."
Internationally renowned for its line of three impressive stone circles, the Hurlers' original use has long been the subject of speculation and argument. Some believe its alignment mirrors the celestial bodies that make up Orion's Belt, while others claim it was used for religious purposes. Whatever the truth, there is no doubt that it was of major importance to the people who inhabited the moor 4,000 years ago.
The entire area around the Hurlers is peppered with archaeology. From a burial barrow, which contained the Rillaton Gold Cup, to Stowes Pound hill fort, Minions Mound to Long Tom, medieval streamworks to 19th century engine houses, the landscape is of enormous interest to historians. Jacky Nowakowski will explain many of the features when she leads a two-hour walk around the ancient monuments next Monday and Friday.
"I really hope the entire project and the series of linked events at this multi-faceted site will excite people," she said. "Our role will be to inform people about the site and to learn more about why it was built. Our other role is to help safeguard it for the future."
One important aspect of the dig will be to attempt to accurately date both the circle and pavement.
Jacky and her team have been given permission to excavate a portion of the original layer beneath the pavement in order to gauge whether it is contemporary with the circles. She said the discovery of pollen or other material will assist in dating the monument.
Mapping the Sun has been organised by Iain Rowe, of Caradon Hill Area Heritage Project. Iain, who had to obtain special permission from the Secretary of State for the Environment, said he was grateful to everyone involved in bringing it to fruition.
"We've had great support from the Duchy, which owns the site, English Heritage, which leases it, and Cornwall Heritage Trust, which manages it," he said. "We've also had a lot of help from commoners, graziers and local people.
"It promises to be a very interesting week because no-one is sure what will be revealed and what we may learn about the pavement's origins."
The site would be backfilled and the ground fully restored following next week's excavation. "There will be no sign we have been there," he added.
For full details of the week's events, visit caradonhill.org.uk
Read more: http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Excavation-reveal-secret-Hurlers/story-19797335-detail/story.html#ixzz2er2qrsK4 |
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| ramonmercado Psycho Punk
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Total posts: 17931 Location: Dublin Gender: Male |
| Posted: 24-09-2013 22:16 Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Hurlers stone circles pathway uncovered on Bodmin Moor
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-24228338
Bronze Age stone pathway
The dig was a community archaeological project with local people and enthusiasts helping the experts
A Bronze Age stone pathway that links stone circles has been uncovered for the first time since the 1930s.
Archaeologists were helped by local people to "re-discover" the feature, laid between two of the Hurlers stone circles on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall.
The 4,000-year-old pavement has been described as "unique" by archaeologists.
They hope it will give a better understanding of early civilisations.
The causeway was first uncovered more than 70 years ago, when workmen stabilised the site and re-erected a number of stones.
But its existence only came to light again when Cornish archaeologist, Jacky Nowakowski, found a reference to it in an unpublished report from the Ministry of Works' excavation of the Hurlers.
The Hurlers are a close grouping of three late Neolithic or early Bronze Age stone circles.
The excavation is part of a wider project organised by the Caradon Hill Area Heritage Project called "Mapping the Sun".
The dig will be led by a team from Cornwall Council's historic environment department.
After seven days of digging, the pavement will be re-covered to protect and preserve it. |
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| ramonmercado Psycho Punk
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Total posts: 17931 Location: Dublin Gender: Male |
| Posted: 28-09-2013 00:29 Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Bronze Age 'boat building' discovery in Monmouth
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-24271564
Reconstruction of the channels in the clay earth by Peter Bere
An artist's impression of how the channels could have been left in the ground at Monmouth
Archaeologists believe they have found the remains of a Bronze Age boat building community in Monmouth.
Excavations show 100ft-long (30m) channels in the clay along which experts think vessels were dragged into a long-gone prehistoric lake.
Monmouth Archaeological Society started to unearth new findings when work started on Parc Glyndwr housing estate two years ago.
The research is being published in a book called The Lost Lake.
Author and archaeologist Stephen Clarke, 71, said: "I started digging here with the society 50 years ago - I wish I had another 50 years."
He said finds had helped the group to better understand the ancient history of Monmouth long before Roman times.
The town is served by three rivers but the group said it had evidence to suggest it was actually built on what was a huge prehistoric lake which became a home to hunter gatherers.
Over millennia it drained away and finds including charcoal from fires, flint shards and pottery from the Stone Age, Iron Age and Roman times have been found by the town's professional and amateur archaeologists.
Reconstruction of a boat by Peter Bere
Reconstruction of a boat which may have made the marks in the ground
They have been excavated in sites around the town and in different layers of clay, sand, gravel and peat as the earth-bed composition changed from lake, lagoon, marsh and dry land, according to Mr Clarke.
Among the discoveries are a pair of "dead-straight" metre-wide channels in the clay shaped like the bottom of wooden canoes - along with a third smaller groove.
Mr Clarke said it supported the theory of a vessel having a support arm, adding he was seeking the opinion of marine archaeologists.
These channels were found over a mound of burned earth which has been carbon dated to the Bronze Age although other finds around the area date back to the Stone Age.
"I have seen 14-tonne machinery sliding in the clay so it would have been easy to push a boat," said Mr Clarke.
He believes the finds suggest a settlement and boat building industry although no boat timbers have been found.
"There is a lot to explain," said Mr Clarke, adding that the area "must have been alive with activity for thousands of years".
"It is so new [the findings] that most people in the country do not know about it," he said.
Monnow Bridge
Monnow Bridge would have been under the prehistoric lake, says Mr Clarke |
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