PastSearch Newsletter

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1 PastSearch Newsletter Issue 38: February 2016 Welcome to PastSearch Newsletter You can find a downloadable version at Contents January Round Up...1 Jorvik Viking Festival...1 Snippets from Arthur s Guide to York...2 The Codex Sinaiticus...3 In This Month in History...4 HOSM Local History Society...5 Book Review...5 Picture This...6 Just For Fun...6 Dates For Your Diary...7 Just For Fun Answers...7 What s Been In The News...8 Adverts...12 January Round Up Monitoring at a site at Elloughton was completed this month, despite the weather and the post excavation work of washing and analysis has started in order to complete the report for the client. Also made an initial visit to a site in Arglam, which is due to commence in March. This month s talk at HOSM Social Club looked at the development of York from its Roman Fortress and colonia origins (Eboracum) to the present day. Noting how much of the medieval walls were built on the alignment of the original Roman walls. Also how York was contained within those walls until the mid 1800 s when industrial growth, particularly concerning the railways allowed the expansion outward, gradually encompassing the surrounding villages which are now known as the Greater York area. Jorvik Viking Festival This is the 32 nd festival which will be held between 15 th to 21 st February There will, as always be a number of events to attend, including talks, walks and re-enactments. To find out about more go to: 1

2 Snippets from Arthur s Guide to York THE MANSION HOUSE, by the side of the Yorkshire Fine Art and Industrial Exhibition building. Built by Henry VIII., as a residence for the Lords President of the Council of the North when he suppressed the monasteries, the council being established for the summary punishment of offenders against the royal will in the risings of the North occasioned by the suppression. It was built of materials taken from St. Mary s Abbey. James I had it repaired, and added most of the present front, intending to use it as a palace while moving between England and Scotland. The Earl Stafford, the last President, made alterations in the middle wing and interior, placing C.R. (Charles Rex) on various parts, and his own arms elaborately over one of the doors, which formed one charge against him at his trial, having placed his own arms on one of the royal palaces. Charles resided here after leaving London, whence he issued his commission of array before leaving to raise the standard at Nottingham. The building is now used as a school for the blind, founded in 1834 as the county memorial of William Wilberforce, in which sixty blind children are instructed in various useful handicrafts. In returning notice the wall on your left, a portion of that built in 1319 to protect St. Mary s Abbey. Arthur s Guide to York c.1889 Today we call this building as the King s Manor and it was originally the Abbot s house of St. Mary, having been retained following the dissolution. Alterations would have started during Henry VIII s reign to accommodate the Council of the North but most work dates to Elizabeth I s time. As the guide above says, Charles I s coat of arms is displayed over the front entrance. The Council was abolished in 1641, at which time the building was divided into apartments and leased out. The Yorkshire School for the Blind was founded in 1833 and from 1870 the manor was restored and enlarged. In the 1890 s a gymnasium was built and a cloister, creating the second courtyard, and the Principles house in The school left in 1958 and it was acquired by York City Council. It was then leased to the University of York in 1963, originally for the Advanced Architectural Studies department. Further restoration work was carried out, removing some older buildings and building a modern tutorial block. Now accommodating the Archaeology department and Conservation studies. Reference: University of York website; York Press 2

3 The Codex Sinaiticus The Codex Sinaiticus, named after the Monastery of St. Catherine, Mount Sinai, where it had been kept, is the oldest known version of the Christian Bible, generally dated to the 4 th century, written in Greek. Although it may have been seen in 1761 by Vitaliano Donati, when visiting the monastery, who described in his journal a Bible comprising leaves of handsome, large, delecate, and square-shaped parchment, written in round and handsome script. It is Constantine Tischendorf who is credited for its discovery. In 1844 he visited the monastery and was initially shown a number of leaves of the Old Testament, and according to his account, he obtained 43 leaves, which he took back to Leipzig in Also in 1845 Porfirij Uspenskij obtained fragments of two pages which were taken to Russia. Tischendorf returned to the monastery in 1853 and again in It was on 4 th February 1859 that he states he first saw the 347 leaves of the Codex. Realising their importance and need for transcribing, he requested that the leaves be transferred to Cairo, which was done on 24 th February. Tischendorf was allowed access to the manuscript and then in September he signed a receipt for the loan of the 347 leaves and took them to St. Petersburg. Further examination and transcribing of these leaves took place and in 1862 a printed facsimile was published and presented to the Tsar, Alexander II. In 1933 the Codex was sold by Joseph Stalin to the UK, wishing to raise foreign capital, for 100,000. It was delivered to London on 26 th December, and the following day placed on public display at the British Museum. In 1975 further leaves were discovered at the monastery and remain there. The Codex Sinaiticus Project This project was made by the collaboration of partner institutions and others. Teams from UK, Germany, Russia, Egypt and USA form the Project Board. Together they continue to ensure the conservation of the manuscript have digitised, translated and made it more accessible to the public via their website. Reference: Images: 3

4 In This Month in History (February) Below, is at least one event for each day of this month from around the world. For more details of these and other events, links can be found at Date Year Country Event UK First volume of Oxford English Dictionary published (A to Ant) USA First ship with Chinese immigrants arrived in San Francisco, California (California Gold Rush) USA Plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper and Roger Peterson killed York Emperor Severus died whilst in York. His sons Caracalla and Geta assumed joint sovereign rule Russia Hermitage Museum opened in St. Petersburg UK Women over 30 get right to vote England/Wales Edward of Caernarvon became the first English Prince of Wales England Mary, Queen of Scots executed USA The game Mintonette (Volleyball) created by William G Morgan Scotland Robert the Bruce murdered John Comyn at Greyfriars Church, Dumfries (Scottish Wars of Independence) BC Japan Traditional date for founding by Emperor Jimmu Australia Gold found in Bathurst, New South Wales, start of Australian Gold Rush Italy Galileo Galilei s trial before the Inquisition began in Rome USA St. Valentine s Day Massacre, Chicago Illinois, 7 killed West Bank Excavations started at Qumran Caves, where Dead Sea Scrolls later found England Battle of Torrington, Devon (English Civil War) USA The Blaine Act ended Prohibition Algeria Snow fell in Sahara Desert USA Donner Party found by rescuers Orkney & Pawned by Norway to Scotland in lieu of a dowry for Margaret of Shetland Denmark Wales First self-propelling steam locomotive at Pen-y-Darren Ironworks USA First Woolworth store opened in Utica, New York Austria Avalanche destroyed Galtür village, 31 killed Rome Pope Gregory XIII announced Gregorian calendar USA Miners found human, mastodon and elephant bones in Calaveras County, California. (Hoax) Denmark Fire at first Chriatianborg Palace UK Benjamin Disraeli became Prime Minister (Conservative) UK Rail crash near Selby, 86 killed USA Minimum working age in South Carolina for factory, mills and mine workers raised to 14. 4

5 HOSM Local History Society (Archaeology Club) Meetings are held on the 3 rd Monday of each month at the Social Club, next door to the Village Hall, High Street. Start time 7.00pm Price 2.00 Future Meetings Last Month s Talk 18 January Dorothy Nott gave a very interesting talk about the Wagoner s Memorial at Sledmere and the designs which had been produced by Henry Sykes. 15 February - The Breweries and Inns of Pocklington Andrew Sefton 21 March - Cromwell s Head Russell Marwood 18 April - Mayors, Markets and Meanders in York Ron Christian 16 May The Woman who didn t Exist Clive & Kath Richardson Wikipedia Book Review The Time Traveller s Guide to Medieval England Ian Mortimer Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to walk around the streets of a medieval city of village? Have the film makers depicted the scenes accurately? Ian Mortimer gives an account of what you might have expected to see as a traveller in the medieval period the types of buildings, entertainment, food and drink, and the people you may have met. Thanks to Neil Hindhaugh for recommending this book. If you have a history/archaeology or local interest book that you think everyone else should be reading please write a review and send to pastsearch@hotmail.com 5

6 Picture This Just For Fun This is Colin the digging hamster, he is hiding on one of the pages in this newsletter, can you find him? Spot the Difference Rudston Monolith Located in the churchyard of All Saints Church. Believed to be of late Neolithic or Bronze Age date. Approx. 8m tall and of gritstone which may have been sourced from Cayton Bay. Excavations in the 18 th Century by Sir William Strickland suggested there may be as much again below ground. The metal cap was added to protect from weathering. Some suggest there a fossilised dinosaur footprints within the stone, others suggest ring & cup decoration. Do You Know Where This Is? Can you find the 5 differences between these teo pictures of Knaresborough viaduct.? Answers on page 7 Answer in Issue 39 6

7 Dates for Your Diary 3 Feb ERAS Field Study Group 2 Mar ERAS Field Study Group 8 Feb PastSearch Karen Adams 14 Mar PastSearch Karen Adams Iron Age Castles, 1.00pm (see advert p.11) Settlements, 1.00pm (see advert p.11) 15 Feb HOSM Local History Society 15 Mar North Duffield Local History Society Andrew Sefton Breweries & Inns Ron Christian Old York, 7.00pm of Pocklington, 7.00pm Feb Jorvik Viking Festival 16 Feb North Duffield Local History Society Tony Stevens Three Vital Village Trades, 7.00pm 17 Feb ERAS Lecture Andrea Burgess Iron Age, Romano-British & Anglo Scandinavian Remains from Humber Gateway Cable Rout, University of Hull, 7.30pm 16 Mar ERAS Lecture Richard Lamb Lead Smelting in Yorkshire Dales, University of Hull, 7.30pm 21 Mar HOSM Local History Society Russell Marwood Cromwell s Head 7.00pm If you have an event you would like to include in Dates For Your Diary, or would like to submit an article regarding the history/archaeology in your area, please send to Karen at pastsearch@hotmail.com Just For Fun Answers Find Colin on page 11 Follow PastSearch at Get the latest news and information to you computer of mobile 7

8 What s Been in the News These articles were shared on Facebook during the last month. To see similar articles as they come into the news follow PastSearch on Facebook. 1700s ship, preserved in a watery grave, emerges as hotel goes up Archaeological discovery yields surprising revelations about Europe s oldest city A large, heavy ship, scuttled between 1775 and 1798, is being dug out of its damp grave at the site of a new hotel construction project in Old Town Alexandria. d-in-a-watery-grave/2016/01/04/e2fe6188-afd4-11e5-9ab0-884d1cc4b33e_story.html Fulford Golf Club revel in journey back to the past Recent fieldwork at the aincient city of Knossos on the greek island of Crete finds that suring the early Iron Age (1100 to 600BC), the city was rich in imports and was nearly three times larger that what was believed from earlier excavation. gical-discovery-yields-surprising-revelationsabout-europes-oldest-city/ Roman Ruins unearthed at new housing site at Barlby EIGHT decades after the first shots were struck at Fulford Golf Club, in Heslington, chiefs are striving to recreate the original design principles. f Fulford_Golf_Club_revel_in_journey_back_ to_the_past/ Remains of lost 1800s whaling fleet discovered off Alaska s Arctic coast NOAA archaeologists have discovered the battered hulls of two 1800 s whaling ships nearly 144 years after they and 31 others sank off the arctic coast of Alaska. The remains of what experts think could be an important Roman settlement have been found on the site at Turnhead Farm, Barlby, and North Yorkshire County Council heritage workers say they have found evidence of "a strong military or official presence and high-status structures". County Councillor Don Mackenzie said: A find such as this adds to the already rich cultural history of the area as well as to a wider knowledge of our county and country s heritage. man_ruins_unearthed_at_new_housing_site/?ref =arc 8

9 What s Been in the News (cont) Bronze Age Homes Unearthed in East Anglia Prosthetic Leg with Hoofed Foot Discovered in Ancient Chinese Tomb The 2,200-year-old remains of a man with a deformed knee attached to a prosthetic leg tipped with a horse hoof have been discovered in a tomb in an ancient cemetery near Turpan, China. Archaeologists have revealed incredibly well-preserved Bronze Age dwellings during an excavation at Must Farm quarry, Whittlesey, in the East Anglian fens that is providing an extraordinary insight into domestic life 3,000 years ago. Aviva office in York to close and be turned into flats Famous York shop closing after 60 years ONE of Aviva's city centre offices is to be turned into 48 flats, as the insurance giant moves out almost 900 staff. Yorkshire House on the corner of Rougier Street and Station Rise, one of York's most prominent office blocks for 50 years, is to be converted. The Press revealed in June last year that Aviva was looking to sell the building as part of plans to make 225 million of annual saving by the end of va_office_in_york_to_close_and_be_turned_int o_flats 900_staff_being_moved_out/?ref=fbp g RENOWNED York shop Mulberry Hall is to close after nearly 60 years in the city's historic heart. Bosses at the family-owned shop in Stonegate confirmed on Thursday morning that it was to cease trading, after "lengthy consideration". The shop's owner Adam Sinclair said it was with sadness that they reported the decision. k_independent_shop_to_close/ 9

10 What s Been in the News (cont) 'Outstanding' Roman relics discovered at roadside London s Big Dig Reveals Amazing Layers of History Archaeologists have unearthed 177,000 artefacts from the Prehistoric, Iron Age and Roman periods while excavating along a stretch of the A1. New Visitor Centre Planned for Clifford s Tower Spurred by a building boom, archaeologists are plumbing the deep past of one of Europe s oldest capitals. acts-found-under-london-archaeologytext?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=soci al&utm_content=link_fbp ngmlondon&utm_campaign=content&sf = 1 Who were York's decapitated Gladiators? THIS picture shows plans for a new visitor centre at Clifford's Tower intended as part of a number of improvements costing over 2 million. English Heritage has released the design of a new stone and glass visitor centre built at the foot of the mound, revealing part of the tower's substantial 19th Century wall, buried since dated Images_show_new_visitor_centre_plann ed_for_clifford_s_tower/ NEW technology has shed fresh light on a set of Roman-age decapitated bodies found in York. Genome technology has shown that the most of the men, who archaeologists have speculated were gladiators, were locals, while at least one came from the Middle East. who_were_york_s_decapitated_gladiators Re searchers_have_new_answers_and_striking_pho tos /?ref=fbshr 10

11 What s Been in the News (cont) The Gristhorpe Man: A Bronze Age Skeleton with a Story to Tell Blackburn archaeological survey: Bodies of 800 young children found On the July 10, 1834, William Beswick excavated a barrow on his land in Gristhorpe, North Yorkshire, England. What he found gave him quite the surprise. Beswick discovered a coffin in the shape of a scooped-out oak tree. Inside the coffin was something special - the skeleton of a Bronze Age man, known today as the Gristhorpe Man. The bodies of about 800 children aged under six have been unearthed by archaeologists ahead of the construction of a road in Lancashire. They were among 1,967 bodies exhumed at St Peter's Burial Ground, which opened in 1821 in Blackburn. Ice-Age Mammoth Bones Found Under Oregon Football Field Oregon State University might want to consider changing its mascot after a monumental find: The discovery of bones belonging to an ice-age mammoth within throwing distance of the school's football field

12 Archaeological Services Free no obligation estimates available on request PastSearch offers archaeological services including desk-based assessments, written scheme of investigations, watching briefs and monitored evaluations, working in the North Yorkshire and East Riding. With 30 years of local knowledge, PastSearch aims to provide a reliable and flexible service regarding small and medium sized projects, including private and commercial developments. We also aim to keep costs to the client at a reasonable rate whilst maintaining professional standards. CAD Illustration service also available. For a price list and more information please archaeology-pastsearch@hotmail.co.uk or ring Karen on Presentations There are now 19 presentations available: Eboracum to York Walking Around the Walls Day in the Life of an Archaeologist The Iron Age The Romans The Vikings The Normans The Medieval Period Archaeology Along the A63 York Trials and Executions Lendal Bridge Clues Above the Eyleine Clues at Foot Level York Historians Bottles Toys Moated Sites Castles Petuaria to Brough Or a talk can be created for your group Visit the PastSearch Website Education PastSearch offers workshops which can be booked as a single activity or as a course. These workshops may include activity sheets, model making, hands-on artefacts and replicas. They will also relate to the archaeological evidence of the area closest to the venue possible. Karen Adams has worked in North Yorkshire and the East Riding area for 30 years and CRB checked. For more details of Presentations and Workshops Go to or contact on pastsearch@hotmail.com 12

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