Yet another Burial at Aspull
This is the sixth full cremation burial we’ve discovered on our Ring Ditch site and it has turned out to be different again from the previous five. It was found, as before, on the periphery of the rising central sandy clay mound. There was almost no indications it was there. It seems to be buried in a pit deep in the soft sandy clay. The only possible sign was a depression in the burnt layer (with underlying softer material) noticed in 2024. At the time we didn’t investigate it as it wasn’t thought significant. The other peculiar aspect is that there is no pyre material with in it. A dark outine on the south side may represent a secondary cut or perhaps evidence of a bag the bones were placed in. We’ve also carried out more resistivity surveys, not just on the Ring Ditch site itself but also in a field to the south of the Farm (see below). When we first spotted the mound in the centre of our Ring Ditch on LiDAR, we also noticed a larger mound in this south field. The size of it has always suggested a natural formation but there has always been the exciting possibility (how ever slight) that it could be another monument. To put our minds at rest the opportunity arose last month for us to carry out a 76 x 25m scan
across its summit. This revealed no sign of a ring ditch or anything that would suggest another monument. It seems therefore to be a stony outcrop or more likely a glacial moraine deposit. If the latter it could give a clue to the formation of the mound enclosed by our Ring Ditch, the majority of which is made up of soft sandy clay. We have tended to assume it to be manmade but have yet to find any evidence that it is. To try to clear up the question, we have embarked on a series of test pits outside the Ring Ditch, to see if soft sandy clay exists in other places. Our first test pit was positioned to the east of the Ring Ditch on the downward slope where wash from the mound would be most likely be found. The results revealed sandy clay but this was quite hard. However this could be due to the very dry summer we’ve had. More test pitting will hopefully resolve the issue, including one on the south field mound. If this is shown to be made of soft sandy clay, it would be a strong argument that our mound was similarly formed. As usual more details on our site diary here.
Two Lads Monument
Last month excavations were carried out on this icon site on Winter Hill. As reported in our last Newsletter (No.289), the intention is to replace existing cairns (which are not ancient) with more robust monuments and we were invited to help on the dig. On various days Patrick and I, together with Gaby Bamford, Christine Morton and Isabel Vaudrey worked on the site, overseen by Peter Noble and Andy Couttes (on contract from Team Civic). Sadly, the results showed no sign of ancient activity, although the excavations were quite restricted. In line with current protocol, disturbance of the site was only allowed as far as necessary for the rebuild. On the main site this meant just half a metre. This revealed a pit filled with rubble surrounding a huge boulder. On the second site, the natural ground surface was found to be just 30cm below the undisturbed peat with two large rectangular slabs lying on it. Despite this setback, the site has proved very popular with surrounding communities with many visiting on the second week of the project. The Woodland Trust who own the site, have even organised the placing of a time capsule in the pit of the main cairn. New structures are to be rebuilt by an experienced team of dry stone wallers (more details on their YouTube video here).
Heritage Open Days
Every September events are organised by volunteers across the Nation celebrating its immense history and culture. This year Wigan Council’s Heritage Network have put together quite an eclectic array of events across the Borough (including Jim Meehan’s ‘Coccium to Coal Miners’ tour of Wigan Town Centre). Full details of events can be found in the on-line brochure here.
Next Meeting
Wednesday 2rd September – at the Real Crafty on Upper Dicconson Street, starting at 7.30pm as usual. This month we very pleased to be having Dr Sam Walsh, renowned osteologist from ULan. She’ll be telling us all about the excavation in 2016 of a Bronze Age barrow site found near Morecambe Bay. She will also no doubt be talking us through the analysis she has been undertaking on the cremated bone from our Aspull site. Sounds very exciting - hope to see you then - BA.