The Prehistoric Society

"PAST is the Society's newsletter and is intended to highlight new work. The location of the Langdales in the Lake District, Cumbria is an important and valued landscape by all those who live, work and walk there, and there will be much interest in possible new prehistoric sites. There has been much discussion of the opening article of PAST 111 (Autumn 2025) which was posted on our website in November 2025. Some of the claims made by the author have been questioned by other archaeologists. So, temporarily, we have taken PAST 111 down (though the printed version has already gone to press). We have followed up with the author about the questions raised and will update - online - as our investigations progress. Thank you for your interest and we will keep you informed!"

Dear all,

Please find below a statement regarding the latest issue of PAST.

I can assure everyone that the print issue is currently being mailed, and the online issue will be back soon.

No other articles in the issue are affected.

Thank you. 😊

Promotional image from Cambridge, featuring a landscape view of an archaeological site with text stating 'Open access Archaeology publishing from Cambridge'.

Cambridge’s #Archaeology journals are publishing an increasing amount of #openaccess (OA) #research. Read the latest articles here: ▶️ https://cup.org/3We1oBR

@antiquity.ac.uk @saa-aap.bsky.social @archaeologyeaa.bsky.social @prehistoricsociety.bsky.social

"PAST is the Society's newsletter and is intended to highlight new work. The location of the Langdales in the Lake District, Cumbria is an important and valued landscape by all those who live, work and walk there, and there will be much interest in possible new prehistoric sites. There has been much discussion of the opening article of PAST 111 (Autumn 2025) which was posted on our website in November 2025. Some of the claims made by the author have been questioned by other archaeologists. So, temporarily, we have taken PAST 111 down (though the printed version has already gone to press). We have followed up with the author about the questions raised and will update - online - as our investigations progress. Thank you for your interest and we will keep you informed!"

Hi folks, please see the attached in explanation. The paper copy is going output to members as we speak.

Check out our report on the El Pirulejo site, an example of the Solutrean-Magdalenian transition in the south of the Iberian Peninsula :)🏺 #prehistory #archaeology

My review of the Treasure exhibition at Liverpool Museum is now in Past (Prehistoric Society). Sad to think that a number of the artefacts were effectively saved from the recent devastating theft of Bronze Age gold from Amgueddfa Cymru by being on loan. www.prehistoricsociety.org/publications...

Discarded and broken antler picks lying in the bottom of the Greenwell Pit at the Neolithic flint mines of Grimes Graves

@englishheritage.bsky.social @prehistoricsociety.bsky.social @martynjb.bsky.social @suegreaney.bsky.social @richardosgood.bsky.social @artefactual.bsky.social Back from a fascinating tour of the Greenwell pit at Grimes Graves, led by Jennifer Wexler and the local EH team 👍👍👍

Promotional image from Cambridge, featuring a landscape view of an archaeological site with text stating 'Open access Archaeology publishing from Cambridge'.

Cambridge’s #Archaeology journals are publishing an increasing amount of #openaccess (OA) #research. Read the latest articles here: ▶️ https://cup.org/3We1oBR

@antiquity.ac.uk @saa-aap.bsky.social @archaeologyeaa.bsky.social @prehistoricsociety.bsky.social

Two new article out today in PPS FirstView.

Both #OpenAccess and free to read.

Long Barrows or Long Enclosures? A Survey of Evidence From Eastern England.

&

Chronology of the Middle Neolithic Period in Normandy.

Have a great weekend! :)

#Archaeology 🏺

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Programne for the Maiden Castle dayschool resting on the leg of a seated archaeologist whilst, in the distance, another archaeologist stands at a lectern in front of a stage and screen showing slides

Kicking off the *Maiden Castle 40 years on* dayschool, hosted by the Dorchester Association and the @prehistoricsociety.bsky.social is the legendary archaeologist Niall Sharples

Can it really be 4 decades since the last dig at this iconic hillfort? 😲

Great day listening to the papers and what a wonderful display @nancesw.bsky.social - congrats to the organisers!!
#maidencastle #dorsetarchaeology #prehistoricarchaeology

@prehistoricsociety.bsky.social

Peterborough Museum gets £250k for Bronze Age project The two-year initiative will explore the discoveries made at Must Farm in Whittlesey.

THREAD: Delighted that Peterborough Museum has received £250k, to further explore the amazing Bronze Age assemblage from Must Farm. One of my favourite projects of the past few years was creating replicas of the pots, to better understand the technology behind them 🏺
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

REMINDER. Calling all hillfort folk and ex diggers from Maiden Castle excavation 1985 and 1986. There will be a small display and film from the excavations. Bring any stories, photos etc for archive gathering.

Ooooops!

Promotional image from Cambridge, featuring a landscape view of an archaeological site with text stating 'Open access Archaeology publishing from Cambridge'.

Cambridge’s #Archaeology journals are publishing an increasing amount of #openaccess (OA) #research. Read the latest articles here: ▶️ https://cup.org/3We1oBR

@antiquity.ac.uk @saa-aap.bsky.social @archaeologyeaa.bsky.social @prehistoricsociety.bsky.social

A group of men, surrounded by construction materials, addition in one of the fallen stones of Stonehenge

What wonderful chaps they were and this team are renowned for holding the unbeaten litho-horology adjustment record of ten hours, four minutes and 32 seconds! Quite incredible really... ❤️

(Remember folks, your standing stones go back an hour at 2am tomorrow!)

📷 Historic England Archive

3/3

Here we see Lieutenant-Colonel Hawley (seated, third from right) and his adjustment team having a well-earned rest after putting Stonehenge back an hour in October 1919 or 1920.

2/3

As is traditional, it wouldn't be the last weekend in October without our paying homage to the stunning work of the English Heritage and National Trust teams in keeping our rocks clocking! 1/3

#Archaeology 🏺

I enjoyed looking at this when I saw the exhibition last year in York. It's a beautiful piece of interactive art. #Mesolithic #Archaeology #RedDeer

YouTube video by Guy Schofield Star Carr : After The Ice

To ease you into the weekend, here's a lovely film by Guy Schofield, one of two winners of this year's President’s Award.

The film is about an interactive mural commissioned by York Museums Trust for the exhibition Star Carr: Life After The Ice.

Enjoy! 😊

#Archaeology 🏺

youtu.be/xv_0yjWpK0s?...

Prehistoric Society's Zoom Meeting YouTube video by The Prehistoric Society

Yesterday, we held 24th Sara Champion lecture, by Dr Barbara Oosterwijk on 'Traces of Touch: From Palaeolithic Embodied Markings to Amazonian Decorated Hands'.

This was a fabulous lecture & you can watch (& award presentations) here:

#Archaeology 🏺

www.youtube.com/live/tq-Aj1Y...

Please can we take this opportunity to remind everyone of Museum Security and keeping our eyes and ears open for anything suspicious.

Please do report anything out of place at the time to Police or authorities.

1/2 👇👇

#HeritageCrime

Everyone receiving their Awards

Fabulous evening in London honouring our awardees:

Undergraduate Dissertation Prize: Archie Robson was winner, Evan Grandidge & June Little, runners up.

The Peter Clark Award went to Jacqueline McKinley & President’s Awards went to Tom Björklund & Guy Schofield.

Congratulations to everyone! 👏👏👏

TOMORROW! In person in London or watch along LIVE on our YouTube channel.

#Archaeology 🏺

youtube.com/@theprehisto...

Next week 👇

Photos of archaeological sites and prehistorians of the mid 20th century.

We've received some wonderful photos of the Society in the 40s-60s, kindly donated to the Society's archive by David Powell, son of TGE Powell (who was President in the early 70s).

We hope to publish some in PAST soon...

#Archaeology 🏺

I'm just incredibly sad right now. Andy was a brilliant colleague, a kind man, a passionate nerd, a great archaeologist. I'm finding it really hard to believe well never get another beer together.

Dear all, I am extremely sorry to inform you that Dr Andy Jones died earlier this week after an illness.. Many members will have known Andy as manager of the Cornwall Archaeological Unit, as well as a long-standing and much respected trustee and leader for CAS.. People who love archaeology in Cornwall, in our Society, and beyond, will miss him greatly. Many of you will have known Andy and his gentle, kind manner personally. Or you may have appreciated his driving passion for examining prehistoric life, not just in Cornwall but throughout the South-West, and much further afield. You may have read his remarkable report on the Whitehorse Hill cist, high on the northern downs of Dartmoor, and his numerous other ground-breaking publications. Perhaps you joined one of his exciting CAS investigations: field walking for flints in cliff-top fields or excavating iconic sites, like Trethevy Quoit. You may have enjoyed hearing talks given by either Andy himself or by one of the many high-profile speakers Andy invited to talk to CAS, using his extensive academic contacts. His loss will be felt widely, throughout Cornwall and far beyond. Our thoughts are with Andy's family, with Anna, Freya and Oscar. Pete Herring, President of the Cornwall Archaeological Society

Some very sad news from Cornwall. Our thoughts go to Andy’s family and friends.

24th Sara Champion Memorial lecture 21st October, 5pm online & in-person.

Dr Barbara Oosterwijk: 'Traces of Touch: From Palaeolithic Embodied Markings to Amazonian Decorated Hands'.

Lecture preceded by awards & drinks reception follows:

www.prehistoricsociety.org/events/2025-...

#Archaeology 🏺

I wrote a review of Deborah Hallam's Neolithic Life and Death in the Yorkshire Dale's for the @prehistoricsociety.bsky.social.
www.prehistoricsociety.org/publications...