Podcasts about preseli hills

A wander through a scrubby wooded cwm brings you out into a glade with a view towards the Preseli Hills of Pembrokeshire. But at your feet is a calm pool, tadpoles squiggling in the margins. Chiffchaffs, blackcaps, robins and others provide a dizzying spring soundtrack. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

00:48 The mystery of Stonehenge's Altar StoneStonehenge's central stone came from Northern Scotland, more than 600 miles away from the monument, according to a new analysis of its geochemistry. It is commonly accepted that many of the rocks that make up the iconic neolithic monument came from Wales, 150 miles from the site. Previously, it had been thought that a central stone, called the Altar Stone, had also come from this area, known as the Preseli Hills. The new work suggests that the ancient Britons went much further, perhaps ferrying the Altar Stone hundreds of miles, to place the rock at the centre of Stonehenge.Research Article: Clarke et al.News: Stonehenge's massive slabs came from as far as Scotland — 800 kilometres away12:12 Research HighlightsHow a parasite could help scientists break through the blood-brain barrier, and the physics of skateboard moves.Research Highlight: Engineered brain parasite ferries useful proteins into neuronsResearch Highlight: How expert skateboarders use physics on the half-pipe14:13 A new way to break bondsChemists have demonstrated a way to break Selenium-Selenium bonds unevenly, something they have been trying for decades. Chemical bonds have to be broken and reformed to create new compounds, but they often don't break in a way that allows chemists to form new bonds in the ways they would like. Breaks are often ‘even', with electrons shared equally between atoms. To prevent such an even split, a team used a specific solvent and a combination of light and heat to force the selenium bonds to break unevenly. This could potentially open up ways to create compounds that have never been made before.Research Article: Tiefel et al.News and Views: Innovative way to break chemical bonds broadens horizons for making moleculesSubscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suzie walks in the Preseli Hills in Wales while on holidaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suzie walks in the Preseli Hills in Wales while on holidaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clare explores part of a challenging route in the Preseli Hills taken by hardy cattle drovers who, over generations, would walk herds of two to three hundred animals from Pembrokeshire to livestock markets in London. With her is Nick Gammage who, in the summer of 2021, spent 17 arduous days completing the entire 250 mile trek. They begin their walk at Grid Ref SN075321 and head east along one of the most popular walks in the area, the Golden Road, which stretches for seven miles along the length of the Preselis. Nick spent childhood holidays in Pembrokeshire and remembers hearing stories of the Welsh Black cattle and their drovers. In the rain, steam could be seen rising from the hot animals whose feet were shod to protect them on their journey. Now retired and looking for new adventures, he decided to set himself this challenge which he started with a broken toe, and a tent which he hoped he wouldn't have to use. Presenter: Clare Balding Producer: Karen Gregor

A welcome return to Wiltshire for Glyn after his selfless trip to Pembrokeshire in South West Wales in search of links to his home county. We might call it a holiday but he assures us it was all in the interests of Hidden Wiltshire!  The link is of course that the blue stones at Stonehenge were sourced from the Preseli Hills some 5,000 years ago. And it's now thought the exact location was a stone circle at Maun Wawn. Evidence suggests the stone circle was dismantled after around 300 years leaving the three stones that remain today. The profile of the hole left by one of the stones matches exactly one of the blue stones, the smaller stones, at Stonehenge. We can only guess why our ancestors decided to transport these two tonne stones the 150 miles from Maun Wawn to Stonehenge, or how! As we recorded the podcast (usually on a Friday) we were preparing for the next Hidden Wiltshire/Wiltshire Museum Guided Walk in the hills above Edington, taking in a view of the long barrow of Tinhead. We were looking forward to seeing what local finds David Dawson from Wiltshire Museum would produce during the walk. And for anyone listening to the podcast on the day it goes live (Sunday 15 August) spare a thought for Glyn and Paul who will be pulling ragwort together with some fantastic volunteers from the ranks of Hidden Wiltshire's followers at East Hill Farm, Warminster. East Hill Farm sits on the Imber Range where the land is rented from the MOD by the Guy family. The quid quo pro is that Frankie Guy has kindly agreed that we can do a special podcast with her on the farm soon. A unique opportunity to visit a part of Salisbury Plain permanently closed to members of the public. Then on to this week's walk. This was a walk that Paul did in 2020 as described in his blog on the Hidden Wiltshire website of 10 June 2020. The walk was of around 12 kms taking in the Ebble Valley villages of Ebbesbourne Wake and Alvediston before heading into the hills on the water shed above the valleys of the Ebble and the Nadder. After an irritating encounter near the beginning of the walk, and some way finding problems due to overgrown paths, it turned into a stunning walk. The villages along this end of the valley where the Ebble rises are sleepy hideways with some beautiful old buildings. St Mary's Church, Alvediston is the resting place of British Prime Minister Anthony Eden who lived in Alvediston Manor until his death in 1977. The views looking up into the hills surrounding the Ebble are wide raging, giving the sense of being cosseted by the geography. But once up into the hills on White Sheet Hill and Gallows Hill the views in all directions are outstanding. The photographs in the blog don't really do it justice. On this ridge is the old Salisbury to Shaftesbury turnpike, which also at some point was part of the Herepath, a military road. All along this ancient road the expanse of south west Wiltshire and Dorset to the south, and the Nadder Valley and its hills to the north reveals itself with a different perspective at every bend along the way. Whilst the four kilometres along the ridge became tiresome due to the heat and hard surface, the views more than made up for it. The finale to the walk is the descent into Prescombe Down, a Natural England Nature Reserve. In June 2020 this was a peaceful haven from the madness taking place in the outside world. To the background sounds of tawny owls, cuckoos and guinea fowl Paul found a grassy bank on which to lie and savour the tranquillity. However, this turned out to be unwise interlude as evidenced by the seven ticks he took home with him. With the sun beginning to sink towards the hill tops surrounding the villages it was time for a few final photographs before returning to the car parked in the centre of Ebbesbourne Wake, tantalisingly close to The Horseshoe Pub which in these times of pandemic was closed. Hopefully when you do this walk it will have come through the other side and once again be open for business. And so to the wrap up. Steve Dixon's piece leading into the discussion about the walk is entitled “Shadows Travel Fast”, a nod towards the deep shadows formed by the sinking sun in the many combes in this part of Wiltshire. As ever the piece in the introduction and the end of the podcast is entitled “The Holloway”. The next Hidden Wiltshire/Wiltshire Museum guided walk will be on Monday 30 August 2021 and will be to Erlestoke Wood and Salisbury Plain. You can get tickets using the link below. Don't forget to subscribe to the Hidden Wiltshire Newsletter from the website. Thanks again to Tim Kington at TKC Sales, the UK distributors of Lowa walking boots and shoes, for the 20% discount on their products to Hidden Wiltshire podcast listeners. Listen to the show for the discount code. It can't last forever! You'll find a link to Lowa Boots' website below. And finally, help us keep the lights on by heading to the Hidden Wiltshire Online shop. Link below. Links: You can follow the walk we discuss in this episode here Eden's Last Post Glyn's photographs can be seen on his Instagram feed @coy_cloud Paul's website can be found on his website at Paul Timlett Photography and on Instagram at @tragicyclist Steve Dixon's sound art can be found on Soundcloud where his username is River and Rail Steve Dixon River and Rail. His photographs can be found on Instagram at @stevedixon_creative and his graphic design business website is at Steve Dixon Creative Hidden Wiltshire Walks in Conjunction with Wiltshire Museum Wiltshire Museum Walks - Erlestoke Wood and Salisbury Plain The Hidden Wiltshire shop Hidden Wiltshire Shop And finally you can find Lowa Boots UK at Lowa Boots UK

Welcome to another archaeology news episode! We have three stories to discuss this week. We start with what's basically an ancient beer factory in Egypt. Then we travel to Stonehenge in England to talk about the origin of the inside circle of stones called the Bluestones. Finally, we look at an ancient Chinese City that archaeologists have spent many years excavation. We discuss these articles from the perspective of an archaeologist to show how a skeptical and scientific perspective can clear up what journalists think is important about recent discoveries. Links Archaeologists Discover Ancient Beer Factory in Egype - CNN Ancient beer factory unearthed by archaeologists in Egypt - NBC News The original Stonehenge? A dismantled stone circle in the Preseli Hills of west Wales - Cambridge University Press Online, 12 Feb 21 Stonehenge may be a rebuilt stone circle from Wales, new research suggests - CNN Dig at ancient site uncovers capital of first unified state - China Daily Chinese Find Ancient Xianyang, Lost Capital of the Qin Dynasty - Ancient Origins Contact Chris Webster chris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com Please Visit Our Sponsors! Archaeology Southwest Cafe: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/ Affiliates Wildnote TeePublic Timeular

Welcome to another archaeology news episode! We have three stories to discuss this week. We start with what's basically an ancient beer factory in Egypt. Then we travel to Stonehenge in England to talk about the origin of the inside circle of stones called the Bluestones. Finally, we look at an ancient Chinese City that archaeologists have spent many years excavation. We discuss these articles from the perspective of an archaeologist to show how a skeptical and scientific perspective can clear up what journalists think is important about recent discoveries. Links Archaeologists Discover Ancient Beer Factory in Egype - CNN Ancient beer factory unearthed by archaeologists in Egypt - NBC News The original Stonehenge? A dismantled stone circle in the Preseli Hills of west Wales - Cambridge University Press Online, 12 Feb 21 Stonehenge may be a rebuilt stone circle from Wales, new research suggests - CNN Dig at ancient site uncovers capital of first unified state - China Daily Chinese Find Ancient Xianyang, Lost Capital of the Qin Dynasty - Ancient Origins Contact Chris Webster chris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com Please Visit Our Sponsors! Archaeology Southwest Cafe: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/ Affiliates Wildnote TeePublic Timeular

Experts believe they may have recovered the true origins of Stonehenge. The ancient monument’s smaller bluestones originally formed an even older, long-lost monument in the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire, Wales, 175 miles away. Plus, a mission to head to an icy moon of Jupiter thought to potentially home extraterrestrial life gets a launch date, find out how good you are at mindreading, and lovers beware: online romance scams are on the rise during lockdown.Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important storiesAsk your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard'Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Explore the origins of Stonehenge, its creation, and the lore surrounding it.

Watch this ISO episode on YouTube  Jeb and Blake discuss the real archaeology of Stonehenge in the final episode of Season One of In Search Of...  Alexander Thom and Gerald Hawkins argue for Stonehenge as a "computer" or "observatory" but it doesn't really hold up. (We discuss in episode.) Check out these SketchFab projects for the Newgrange tomb. (Interactive 3D models.) Druids! Druids! Druids!   Nimoy Fashion Alert The Battle of the Beanfield - Counterculture vs The Police Video about the battle. Some history of the meaning of the "Sarsen" stones. The Blue Stones come from the Preseli Hills in Wales. This stone is being quarried and turned into a variety of art, alt-med, and meditative purposes. The work of Francis Hitching is discussed.  Some sites mentioned: Litany of sites Devil’s Heel is the Heel Stone at Stonehenge  Nine Maidens  Tingle Stone  Long Barrow in the Cotswolds Stanton Drew  Durrington Walls  Ley Lines? (great overview by Sharon Hill) Alfred Watkins  Alexander Thom  Ley Lines in Question   

Stonehenge in central southern England is known the world over as an iconic symbol of Europe’s prehistoric past. In this lecture Professor Timothy Darvill of Bournemouth University, UK, will show that while Stonehenge’s origins as a ceremonial monument were conventional enough its later history was exceptional. Key to the transformation was the arrival of about 80 pillars of Bluestone rock brought a distance of around 250km from the Preseli Hills of southwest Wales to Salisbury Plain. But why were these stones important? And what did they mean to Neolithic people? Using archaeological evidence from Stonehenge itself and from recent work in the Preseli Hills, and folklore and oral tradition dating back to the 13th century AD, a new picture of Stonehenge is emerging in which the stones themselves can be seen to have perceived magical properties connected with healing. Their re-use in later and ever more elaborate structures at Stonehenge show something of their power and significance and illustrate how the landscape of the Preseli Hills is constructed in microcosm at Stonehenge. People were attracted to the area from continental Europe, and what started out as a local focus became a celebrated place for prehistoric pilgrimage.

Stonehenge in central southern England is known the world over as an iconic symbol of Europe’s prehistoric past. In this lecture Professor Timothy Darvill of Bournemouth University, UK, will show that while Stonehenge’s origins as a ceremonial monument were conventional enough its later history was exceptional. Key to the transformation was the arrival of about 80 pillars of Bluestone rock brought a distance of around 250km from the Preseli Hills of southwest Wales to Salisbury Plain. But why were these stones important? And what did they mean to Neolithic people? Using archaeological evidence from Stonehenge itself and from recent work in the Preseli Hills, and folklore and oral tradition dating back to the 13th century AD, a new picture of Stonehenge is emerging in which the stones themselves can be seen to have perceived magical properties connected with healing. Their re-use in later and ever more elaborate structures at Stonehenge show something of their power and significance and illustrate how the landscape of the Preseli Hills is constructed in microcosm at Stonehenge. People were attracted to the area from continental Europe, and what started out as a local focus became a celebrated place for prehistoric pilgrimage.

This month Countryfile’s Jules Hudson discovers a new way of walking and an ancient landscape in Pembrokeshire’s Preseli Hills, while BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s Vernon Harwood indulges in one of England’s oldest January traditions – wassailing the apple trees to ensure a good crop of cider this autumn. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.