Stone Me

Cairn Holy

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 12:45:44 GMT

We examine two stunningly beautiful tombs in Dumfries and Galloway and hear an incredible new theory claiming that these huge structures were used for a surprisingly short period of time.

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Maeshowe

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 15:33:59 GMT

We spend some time inside till recently the most exquisite piece of neolithic architecture in Scotland, Maeshowe in Orkney, and compare its construction to a nearby more recently-found building, and hear from Mark Edmonds about what might have happened in this magnificent structure.

More information in the programme notes on the Stone Me website.

And you can find more information about the sound experiments at Maeshowe here.

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Doon Hill

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 12:43:09 GMT

Matthew untangles a decades-long controversy with an archeaologist who has the most incredibly life-long association with the site of these two neolithic timber halls. It's just as well Ian Ralston's story is so good because there's almost nothing to see at the site itself!

3'34 Introduction

5'00 What are we seeing at Doon Hill?

9'25 It's huge! One of the biggest buildings until medieval cathedrals were built

17'13 The discovery of Doon Hill

19'28 Interpretation and reinterpretation

22'43 Unpicking the errors and potential misleading work of Brian Hope Taylor

28'06 Ian's childhood association with the site

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Balfarge Henge

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 12:43:59 GMT

Matthew travels to suburban Fife to see one of Britain's most important henges sitting in the middle of a big housing estate's roundabout. Was the henge there to keep people controlled, or to keep spirits and malevolence trapped inside? And did the neolithic people build eerie fake woodlands from real trees out of guilt?

More info and photos of some of things discussed are available at the programme's web page.

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3'56 introduction to the site

8'46 the phases of Balfarg Henge

13'16 the timber circles, and a possible gothic, eerie explanation of what was going on

17'46 is it authentic? What is authentic?

21'55 what's it like to live with a neolithic monument out your front window? A resident explains

23'18 why is this one of the most important henge monuments in Britain?

26'44 Balfarg riding school, a possible site of human exhcarnation

30'09 Balbirnie Stone Circle

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The filling in of the Ness of Brodgar

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 12:45:43 GMT

Matthew watches as a digger begins to fill in with stone and earth one of the most important neolithic sites for a generation.

More info and photos of some of things discussed available at:

https://www.stonemepodcast.com/programmes/filling-in-of-ness-of-brodgar

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Sighthill Stone Circle

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 03:31:49 GMT

Come to north inner city Glasgow where we visit a stone circle with its creator. Duncan Lunan designed Sighthill Stone Circle in the 1970s along still-controversial astro-archaeological lines, making it the first new astrologically-aligned stone circle in Scotland in 3,500 year. Can we learn about the motivations for neolithic sites by talking to site caretor Duncan? Glasgow University's Kenny Brophy lends a hand with interpretation of this unique place.

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Cairnpapple Hill

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 03:31:03 GMT

Come to the crest of a hill at the very heart of Scotland where you can see islands off the west and east coasts of the country, to a place that was sacred for over 4,000 years. Try to decode the mysteries of how neolithic material was re-used by later people at this very complicated site and pick a side in the long-running debate: was the circle here timber or stone?

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Machrie Moor

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 03:31:14 GMT

We travel to the source of the beautiful, highly-prized stone found across neolithic sites in Britain and Ireland, Arran. At the stunning complex of seemingly endless stone circles at Machrie Moor we uncover its use as a site of pilgrimages, and investigate the timber monuments that were here before the stones.

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The Ring of Brodgar

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 03:31:52 GMT

We learn about the unusual construction methods that might have been used at Scotland's biggest stone circle, the Ring of Brodgar on Orkney, and witness a little bit of showbiz sleight of hand in how the imposing monument was designed.

With Jane Downes, Director of the Archaeology Institute at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

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Kilmartin Glen

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 05:15:25 GMT

Explore the neolithic wonderland that is Kilmartin Glen in Argyll, where there are standing stones, chambered cairns and the most amazing neolithic rock art in Britain. And find out if Matthew and Alison manage to spot the ground-breaking deer carvings only recently discovered, even when they're 30cm in front of their faces.

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The Stones of Calanais

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 03:31:00 GMT

The most glamorous site of them all, the iconic Stones of Calanais, still hold mysteries today. Hear how Ian discovered how one rock acts as a sundial while waiting for a colleague who was running late, and marvel at the celestial lightshow that appears every 18.6 years.

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The Ness of Brodgar

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 03:31:00 GMT

Explore the most incredible new neolithic site in Scotland for generations in the company of the man who helped discover it, Nick Card.

Just 20 years ago huge, highly decorated buildings were found under a field in Orkney and the site has produced more pottery and stone artefacts than any other in Scotland. After 20 years of intensive digging under Nick's direction this unique, precious place will be covered over in summer 2024, so hear about its history, what makes it special and what it meant to people 5,000 years ago from the person who has been at the site from the start.

You can support the work of Nick and his team at https://www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/trust/

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Introduction to Stone Me

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 14:45:59 GMT

Did you know that there is a cosmic lightshow put on by a massive moon that only happens once every 18.6 years at a 5,000 year old holy place at the north west tip of Scotland’s most remote western island? Or that a farmer’s plough striking a stone just 20 years ago led to ancient finds that have caused the country’s most ancient history to be rewritten?

Matthew Magee didn’t, until he got on his bike and rode (and sailed, and travelled by train) to some of Scotland’s most glamorous, exciting and important neolithic sites to interview experts on the secrets of our oldest places.

Get a taste of what's to come in this introduction to the first series of Stone Me.

Weekly programmes from 21/06/2023

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