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Current Archaeology 152
The front cover shows a neolithic chamber tomb on the island of Barra
Current Archaeology number 152 was published in May 1997.
This is the second issue of Current Archaeology devoted to the Western Isles (The Outer Hebrides). In CA147 we looked at work in the North, on Lewis and North Uist. Here we look at the work in the south on South Uist and on Barra, mostly the work of Sheffield University.
What is a broch?
Brochs are perhaps the most exotic and mysterious features of British Archaeology, tall towers dating from the Iron Age and existing only in the North and West of Scotland. In his excavations at Dun Vulan, Mike Parker Pearson not only looks at the broch itself, but also looks to see how it fits into the landscape.
Barra
Barra is the southernmost island where numerous different types of neolithic monuments have been found.
Going to the other end of the choronological range we look at the newly launched Flora MacDonald Project. Flora MacDonald was the young lady who following the battle of Culloden in 1746, sailed Bonny Prince Charlie 'over the sea to Skye'. Her background in South Uist is well known and the project aims (and has so far failed) to find the house where she lived.
This leads on to our first article on Canadian Archaeology, for following the Highland Clearances, many of the inhabitants of the Hebrides emigrated to New Scotland (Nova Scotia) in Canada and the project seeks to follow the fortunes of the emigrants in the New World.
The 'curse' of the Howmore Stone
Even more exotic is the story of the 'curse' of the Howmore Stone. This is a seventeenth century armorial carved stone which disappeared from its home in South Uist and was discovered several years later in a bedsit near Euston Station in London, and we see how the myth of the curse has sprung up.
Fishbourne
Finally, for something completely different, we end by returning to Southern England and to the Romans, with news of the latest work at the Fishbourne Roman Palace. Was there or was there not a Roman Fort that preceded the palace? We present the evidence for and against. . .
And, of course, there is also the Books, Diary, John Musty's Science Dairy - and the Letters page!
The Directory of British Archaeology for 1997 was also be published with this issue
Previous issues
Current Archaeology 154
Current Archaeology 153
Current Archaeology 151
Current Archaeology 150
Current Archaeology 149
Current Archaeology 148
Current Archaeology 147: Special
issue on the Hebrides.
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This page last updated: 1st August 1997