The Orkney Archaeology Review arrived – as we’re members of the Orkney Archaeology Society, we get it FREE!
I recognized the people on the front cover
as I’d met them in St. Ninians
https://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=17467
My article is a lay-person’s response to the exhibition, whereas the article in the Review…… ‘Rebuilding Ancient Faces’ is by Tobias Houlton who, as the credits state
“….is a craniofacial identification imaging specialist whose work blends visual media, anatomy and forensic science”
As is often the case, my enthusiasm meant that I got ahead of myself instead of working steadily through my impressions of what’s presented in the Review. The following are purely my personal responses, and I don’t attempt to cover everything fully, as there’s so much there!
As the King in ‘Alice’ advises, I’ll begin at the beginning and go on till I come to the end: then stop.
In the Review, Ben Saunders writes comprehensively of the Sanday shipwreck, which was previously featured in an article in The Orkney News,
‘The Men’s Graves; Memories of Tragedies at Archaeological Sites’ by Ragnhild Ljosland with Christopher Gee is of great interest. The title indicates what the stories are about. I’ll quote
“In one story, they have only travelled across the parish boundary within the Mainland of Orkney. In another they have crossed the Pentland Firth from Caithness”
And so on – varied tales of men travelling, and perishing, together and their fate being marked by stones.
The first tale is of the Harry Men’s Graves, which I’ve written of
The story of the Caithness Men’s Graves is new to me, as is the tale of the Lewis Men’s Graves and the Doni Stones, or Armada Men’s Graves.
Ranghild gives the legends and histories associated with the stones, and the tale of an Armanda shipwreck resonates with me as my father’s family are said to be descended from a Spanish sailor washed up on the West Coast of Ireland – as many were. Some were killed, some went home, some liked Ireland and stayed. He survived, and stayed, or I wouldn’t be here!
And finally, the Covenanter’s Graves, of which I’ve also written
I’m afraid that my review of the Review is becoming something of a presentation of links to pieces I’ve written – the difference is that the writers of the articles in the Archaeology Review have actual, solid knowledge of their subject.
Here’s my tuppenceworth about the Bu at Orphir
Compared with Colleen E. Batey’s article in the Review, which introduces her major new publication about the Earl’s Bu.
Amanda Brend and Martin Carruthers…… ‘Geophysical Survey at the Loch of Ayre Broch’ is detailed, whereas the broch only got a mention in my piece
https://www.spanglefish.com/berniesblog/blog.asp?blogid=16472
Amanda and Martin know their subject, whereas I just ….. go for walks.
There also a piece by Judith Jesch about a Runologist’s meeting, and a piece about ‘Sanday’s Neolithic Jigsaw’ by Sigurd Towrie, plus ‘News from Orkney Museum’ by Siobhan Cooke-Miller with excellent pictures of examples of Museum exhibits.
AND
‘New Life For the Tomb of the Eagles’ by Steve Sankey. The title tells it all.
Here’s what I wrote when the Eagle Cairn closed, as we thought at the time, for good
And to finish, something I’m personally very excited about, as I’m sure many other folk are too
‘What Lies Beneath? Geophysics at the Ness of Brodgar’ by Sigurd Towrie. Geo-physics surveys showed something unusual at the Ness site, this has led to this summer’s one-off dig. The results of which will hopefully be in the next edition of The Orkney Archaeology Review!
Just to remind folk that copies of past Orkney Archaeology Reviews are available from the Orkney Archology Society’s on-line shop…
https://shop.orkneyarchaeologysociety.org.uk/product-category/reviews