Wednesday, June 23, 2004

BBC NEWS | Wales | Archdruid wants Stonehenge back

BBC NEWS | Wales | Archdruid wants Stonehenge back
22 June, 2004
Archdruid wants Stonehenge back

The archdruid of Wales has called for England's most famous landmark to be returned to Wales.

This week experts said remains found near Stonehenge were almost certainly among those who helped build it.

Tests on teeth found in a 4,300-year-old grave suggest the prehistoric workmen were Welsh.

That and the fact that the stones come from west Wales, has prompted Robyn Lewis - the ceremonial leader of the Gorsedd of Bards - to put pen to paper.

In a letter in the Daily Telegraph, Dr Lewis pointed out the significance of the discovery.

And, he asked : "Since the Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland a few years since, and it is clearly only a matter of time until the Elgin Marbles are returned to Greece, may I express a request that Stonehenge be returned to Wales?"

Dr Lewis said he was staking an official claim "on behalf of my fellow druids, bards and the rest of my Welsh compatriots".

Links between Stonehenge and Wales have been recognised for generations.

Dr Robyn Lewis, Archdruid
Staking a claim : Dr Robyn Lewis
Bluestone from the Preseli hills in Pembrokeshire was used in building Stonehenge.

The discovery of the grave at Boscombe Down surprised archaeologists because it contained the remains of seven people - three children, a teenager and three men.

They were dubbed "the Boscombe bowmen" because flint arrowheads were found alongside them.

The grave was found during road improvement works.

Dr Lewis is waiting to hear the reaction of English Heritage to his demand about the UK's most ancient monument.

The archdruid is no stranger to controversy. Soon after taking up his post he was speaking about making "radical changes" to modernise one of Wales' premier cultural events, the National Eisteddfod.

His plans involved a new-style Gorsedd circle - a moveable set of fake ceremonial stones.

Fake stones will be ferried from venue to venue, but the traditional stone circles will still be erected for special ceremonies.

Supporters of the idea said mobile stones would be cheaper, and would allow ceremonies to take place at the centre of the eisteddfod field.

Another move which Dr Lewis approved of was the sale of alcohol on the festival maes for the first time in the history of the event, a decision taken by the Eisteddfod Council in February.

Another break with tradition this year will see the relaxing of the Welsh language-only rule at the event, which this year takes place in Newport.

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

BBC NEWS | Wales | South West Wales | Welsh 'helped build' Stonehenge

BBC NEWS | Wales | South West Wales | Welsh 'helped build' Stonehenge: 21 June, 2004 "
Bluestone from Pembrokeshire was used at Stonehenge
Archaeologists say remains found near Stonehenge are almost certainly those of the ancient people who helped to build the monument.

Tests on teeth found in a 4,300-year-old grave at Boscombe Down suggest the prehistoric workmen were Welsh.

It was already known bluestone from the Preseli hills in Pembrokeshire were used in building Stonehenge - called C�r y Cewri which means Choir of Giants.

The grave was unusual as it contained the remains of seven people - three children, a teenager and three men.


For the first time we have found the mortal remains of one of the families who were almost certainly involved in this monumental task.

Archaeologists are calling them 'the Boscombe bowmen' because of the flint..."

BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | St George found in Welsh church

BBC NEWS | Wales | South East Wales | St George found in Welsh church: 21 June, 2004 "St George found in Welsh church
The wall painting of St George in St Cadoc's (pic courtesy of Cadw)
The life-size painting was discovered during renovation work
A medieval wall painting has been uncovered during renovation work at a south Wales church.

A life-size image of St George standing on a slain a dragon was uncovered at St Cadoc's church in Llangattock Lingoed, near Abergavenny.

Discovered during recent renovations at the centuries old church, experts have described the painting as a 'special find'.

The painting is thought to have been covered up during the Reformation."