Latest news with #LawrenceShaw
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
'Bronze Age stone will not stop holiday park plans'
A forestry agency has said plans for a woodland holiday park will not be affected by the discovery of a stone dating back to the Bronze Age. A single standing stone thought to be part of a larger ceremonial site dating back 3,700 years was found in Farley Wood, near Matlock in Derbyshire, after excavations by Forestry England in partnership with archaeology series Time Team. Save Farley Moor campaigners hoped the discovery may put the brakes on plans to build 75 cabins in 140 acres of woodland off Farley Lane. However, Forestry England said in a statement: "Following recent excavations at the Farley Moor Standing Stone, we are confident that it will remain unaffected by our proposals for a Forest Holidays location." Plans for the scheme - which are being considered by Derbyshire Dales District Council – also include a car park, shop, cafe, outdoor play area, and an archery range. But residents and campaigners, including over 3,000 who have signed a petition against the scheme, have raised objections including an increase in traffic problems. Campaigner Sarah Benson said: "We're very much hoping that these significant findings will ensure that the proposed development doesn't go ahead. "There are also reports of other significant stones within the area designated for development that still require a full archaeological investigation." Dr Lawrence Shaw, Forestry England's lead historic environment adviser, had confirmed that what had been discovered was evidence of a much more complex ceremonial landscape including the original standing stone. However, Forestry England has said the standing stone lies outside of the proposal, and its preservation will continue. It added: "The wider landscape that surrounds the monument has been forested for approximately 50 years, meaning that the prehistoric landscape to which the site was originally connected has long since been altered. "As a result, the proposals will not affect the setting or historic landscape character of the site. "As part of the planning application process, an Archaeological Assessment was carried out and submitted with the application which noted the presence of the standing stone but that no other known sites or monuments are recorded as being present within the proposed development area. "The county council has assessed the proposal and raised no objections on heritage grounds. "Based on this we are confident we can take the appropriate mitigation measures to account for these and any other unknown features, as is normal within the planning process." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. 'How I helped discover hidden Bronze Age monument' Archaeologists uncover Bronze Age stone circle Forestry England
BBC News
27-03-2025
- BBC News
'Bronze Age stone will not stop holiday park plans in Farley Wood'
A forestry agency has said plans for a woodland holiday park will not be affected by the discovery of a stone dating back to the Bronze Age.A single standing stone thought to be part of a larger ceremonial site dating back 3,700 years was found in Farley Wood, near Matlock in Derbyshire, after excavations by Forestry England in partnership with archaeology series Time Farley Moor campaigners hoped the discovery may put the brakes on plans to build 75 cabins in 140 acres of woodland off Farley Forestry England said in a statement: "Following recent excavations at the Farley Moor Standing Stone, we are confident that it will remain unaffected by our proposals for a Forest Holidays location." Plans for the scheme - which are being considered by Derbyshire Dales District Council – also include a car park, shop, cafe, outdoor play area, and an archery residents and campaigners, including over 3,000 who have signed a petition against the scheme, have raised objections including an increase in traffic Sarah Benson said: "We're very much hoping that these significant findings will ensure that the proposed development doesn't go ahead."There are also reports of other significant stones within the area designated for development that still require a full archaeological investigation."Dr Lawrence Shaw, Forestry England's lead historic environment adviser, had confirmed that what had been discovered was evidence of a much more complex ceremonial landscape including the original standing stone. However, Forestry England has said the standing stone lies outside of the proposal, and its preservation will added: "The wider landscape that surrounds the monument has been forested for approximately 50 years, meaning that the prehistoric landscape to which the site was originally connected has long since been altered."As a result, the proposals will not affect the setting or historic landscape character of the site."As part of the planning application process, an Archaeological Assessment was carried out and submitted with the application which noted the presence of the standing stone but that no other known sites or monuments are recorded as being present within the proposed development area."The county council has assessed the proposal and raised no objections on heritage grounds."Based on this we are confident we can take the appropriate mitigation measures to account for these and any other unknown features, as is normal within the planning process."
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists uncover Bronze Age stone circle
Archaeologists have discovered that what was thought to be a single standing stone in a forest is part of a larger ceremonial site dating back 3,700 years to the Bronze Age. The discovery in Farley Wood, near Matlock in Derbyshire, was made after excavations by Forestry England in partnership with archaeology series Time Team. At 2m (6.6ft) tall, the Farley Moor standing stone was previously believed to be an isolated monument. But Forestry England said excavations uncovered evidence of a ceremonial platform beside it and identified that five other nearby stones would once have been standing, creating a circle. Dr Lawrence Shaw, Forestry England's lead historic environment adviser, said the discovery, which will feature in an episode aired on Time Team's YouTube channel on Saturday, was "hugely significant and transforms our understanding" of the site. According to Forestry England, the main stone was intentionally placed above a natural spring. "What we've uncovered is evidence of a much more complex ceremonial landscape, which the original standing stone is part of," Dr Shaw explained. "The stone platform predates the standing stone itself, suggesting continuous ritual use of this site over hundreds of years, strongly linked to the water and the importance it held for Bronze Age communities." Local archaeology enthusiast George Bird had suggested "for some time" the stone might be part of a larger monument, and his interest prompted the investigation. Forestry England said it would continue to protect the area and manage the entire site of the circle as though it were a scheduled monument to ensure it is preserved. The archaeology team hopes to return next summer to do a longer investigation looking in more detail at some of the newly identified stones. They will try to uncover when the site was first created and establish how big the larger ritual complex is, Forestry England added. Dr Derek Pitman, associate professor of archaeology and anthropology at Bournemouth University, said: "It's a dream come true to get to work on such a significant prehistoric monument. "The scale of activity that likely existed in that landscape highlights the impact of Bronze Age ritual life far beyond headline sites like Stonehenge." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Time Team announces 2025 dates for Sutton Hoo dig Call to protect archaeology in new planning review Forestry England
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Archaeologists uncover Bronze Age stone circle
Archaeologists have discovered that what was thought to be a single standing stone in a forest is part of a larger ceremonial site dating back 3,700 years to the Bronze Age. The discovery in Farley Wood, near Matlock in Derbyshire, was made after excavations by Forestry England in partnership with archaeology series Time Team. At 2m (6.6ft) tall, the Farley Moor standing stone was previously believed to be an isolated monument. But Forestry England said excavations uncovered evidence of a ceremonial platform beside it and identified that five other nearby stones would once have been standing, creating a circle. Dr Lawrence Shaw, Forestry England's lead historic environment adviser, said the discovery, which will feature in an episode aired on Time Team's YouTube channel on Saturday, was "hugely significant and transforms our understanding" of the site. According to Forestry England, the main stone was intentionally placed above a natural spring. "What we've uncovered is evidence of a much more complex ceremonial landscape, which the original standing stone is part of," Dr Shaw explained. "The stone platform predates the standing stone itself, suggesting continuous ritual use of this site over hundreds of years, strongly linked to the water and the importance it held for Bronze Age communities." Local archaeology enthusiast George Bird had suggested "for some time" the stone might be part of a larger monument, and his interest prompted the investigation. Forestry England said it would continue to protect the area and manage the entire site of the circle as though it were a scheduled monument to ensure it is preserved. The archaeology team hopes to return next summer to do a longer investigation looking in more detail at some of the newly identified stones. They will try to uncover when the site was first created and establish how big the larger ritual complex is, Forestry England added. Dr Derek Pitman, associate professor of archaeology and anthropology at Bournemouth University, said: "It's a dream come true to get to work on such a significant prehistoric monument. "The scale of activity that likely existed in that landscape highlights the impact of Bronze Age ritual life far beyond headline sites like Stonehenge." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Time Team announces 2025 dates for Sutton Hoo dig Call to protect archaeology in new planning review Forestry England
BBC News
22-03-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Archaeologists uncover Bronze Age stone circle in Farley Wood
Archaeologists have discovered that what was thought to be a single standing stone in a forest is part of a larger ceremonial site dating back 3,700 years to the Bronze discovery in Farley Wood, near Matlock in Derbyshire, was made after excavations by Forestry England in partnership with archaeology series Time 2m (6.6ft) tall, the Farley Moor standing stone was previously believed to be an isolated Forestry England said excavations uncovered evidence of a ceremonial platform beside it and identified that five other nearby stones would once have been standing, creating a circle. Dr Lawrence Shaw, Forestry England's lead historic environment adviser, said the discovery, which will feature in an episode aired on Time Team's YouTube channel on Saturday, was "hugely significant and transforms our understanding" of the to Forestry England, the main stone was intentionally placed above a natural spring."What we've uncovered is evidence of a much more complex ceremonial landscape, which the original standing stone is part of," Dr Shaw explained."The stone platform predates the standing stone itself, suggesting continuous ritual use of this site over hundreds of years, strongly linked to the water and the importance it held for Bronze Age communities." Local archaeology enthusiast George Bird had suggested "for some time" the stone might be part of a larger monument, and his interest prompted the England said it would continue to protect the area and manage the entire site of the circle as though it were a scheduled monument to ensure it is archaeology team hopes to return next summer to do a longer investigation looking in more detail at some of the newly identified will try to uncover when the site was first created and establish how big the larger ritual complex is, Forestry England added. Dr Derek Pitman, associate professor of archaeology and anthropology at Bournemouth University, said: "It's a dream come true to get to work on such a significant prehistoric monument. "The scale of activity that likely existed in that landscape highlights the impact of Bronze Age ritual life far beyond headline sites like Stonehenge."
