[Stones] Church's pre-historic past unearthed

[Andy Burnham]

I found some photos of the dig on the church web site, although there is
no mention of the prehistoric stuff.
http://www.stmichaels-hls.org.uk/pastpresent.htm
Are they a bit ashamed of it I wonder?

The other discovery this week is the 'new' rock art near Cairnbaan
http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18453


Ric wrote:
> amazing!
>
> yet -
>
> "The Rev Derek Newton ... said: “Although the finds
> have delayed the work slightly [sic], this has been a 
> great adventure and everybody has enjoyed what has
> been revealed.” 
>
> prehistoric stones comment: oops! - sorry we breathed
> (again!)
>
> x-|
>
> R
>
> --- Tim P <thehermitoftillywhim at tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
>
>   
> http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/02/14/church-s-pre-historic-past-unearthed-61634-20477573/
>   
>> Work on a town’s church has revealed that the site
>> may have been used 
>> for ritual and worship for thousands of years.
>>
>> Major refurbishment work on the Grade I-listed St
>> Michael and All Angels 
>> church in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, began
>> last month and has 
>> involved digging up the floor to install a new
>> heating system.
>>
>> The church, dating back to Norman times, is the
>> oldest building in the town.
>>
>> A carved stone above a tiny doorway, featuring a
>> carving of mysterious 
>> intertwined animals known as the Houghton Beasts,
>> may be from before the 
>> Norman Conquest.
>>
>> But investigation by archaeologists as the
>> refurbishment has continued 
>> has revealed whinstone boulders under the church,
>> which are thought to 
>> have been part of an early prehistoric burial cairn
>> or ritual site. A 
>> line of similar boulders has been found under the
>> churchyard wall.
>>
>> Archaeologist Peter Ryder, of Riding Mill in
>> Northumberland, said: “It 
>> looks like a prehistoric site. We can’t think of any
>> other reason why 
>> these very large boulders should be inside the
>> church.”
>>
>> Under the central tower of the church, which was
>> restored in about 1350, 
>> the work has uncovered huge Roman stones thought to
>> have come from a 
>> Roman temple.
>>
>> “These are massive and spectacular foundations for
>> the tower, using huge 
>> stones which must have come from a major Roman
>> building,” said Peter.
>>
>> A Roman stone coffin lid has been in the churchyard
>> for many years.
>>
>> It is believed it was often the practice that
>> important pagan ritual or 
>> worship sites were taken over by subsequent
>> religions.
>>
>> “We have found far more than we ever expected when
>> the work began,” said 
>> Peter, who is working alongside Newcastle
>> University’s Archaeological 
>> Practice.
>>
>> Also uncovered has been a maze of mainly 18th
>> Century burial vaults, 
>> some brick and some stone, under the church. A
>> number had their tops and 
>> bodies removed when Newcastle architect John Dobson
>> carried out 
>> remodelling in 1858 – during which, the current work
>> has shown, he 
>> re-used medieval timbers from the roof.
>>
>> Pits of bones from this work have been found and the
>> remains will be 
>> reburied.
>>
>> Several intact vaults have been found in the current
>> work and Peter 
>> said: “We have found evidence for at least several
>> dozen vaults.”
>>
>> There are also signs of a major fire around the time
>> the church was 
>> rebuilt in 1330s-40s, probably after a Scottish
>> raid. There is a 
>> documentary account of a man having been killed by
>> Scots raiders while 
>> hiding in the church belfry.
>>
>> Another find has been footings of a wall from a late
>> Saxon or early 
>> Norman nave. The Rev Derek Newton, associate priest
>> at the church, said 
>> the finds would be part of a Houghton heritage
>> centre which will be 
>> created in the church as part of the £1m
>> refurbishment project.
>>
>> “Although the finds have delayed the work slightly,
>> this has been a 
>> great adventure and everybody has enjoyed what has
>> been revealed,” he said.
>>
>> To help raise funds for the heritage centre, people
>> are being invited to 
>> make a donation as they contribute items,
>> photographs or writings to a 
>> time capsule which will be sealed beneath the new
>> floor.
>>
>> Contact Mr Newton on (0191) 584-9169.
>>
>> The church is considering holding an open day for
>> people to view the 
>> finds a week on Saturday.
>>     
>
>
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