Old Oswestry Hillfort and Pegasus stone. Images HOOOH and Rodney Farmer
Posted on 01/21/2014 7:32:03 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Today the magnificent 3,000 year old Shropshire hillfort of Old Oswestry is in the news while campaigners fight to halt several proposed housing developments that threatens both the setting and archaeology surrounding the monument. But, as if to highlight the importance of this place, a new discovery from 2008 has been dubbed the Oswestry Pegasus Stone.
The engraved stone currently stands in the Oswestry Town Museum and Professor George Nash was invited by Rodney Farmer to review the previous interpretation.
The stone was recovered during an archaeological watching brief in February 2008 from undergrowth near the main entrance to Old Oswestry Hillfort, close to the western outer ramparts. The stone, along with another was found close to a mature hedge and their location may be the result of historic field clearance. The stone weighs around 100 kg and was partially buried in top soil (Rodney Farmer pers comm.). It was initially examined by Heather Hidden (Oswestry and Borders History and Archaeology Group) and Maggie Rowlands. Later inspection of the stone by Margaret Worthington and Maggie Rowlands in late March 2008 noted potential engravings on two of its faces.
(Excerpt) Read more at pasthorizonspr.com ...
Old Oswestry Hillfort and Pegasus stone. Images HOOOH and Rodney Farmer
How cool!
It was initially examined by Heather Hidden....
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With such a name, that woman was destined to pursue archaeology.
That is a magnificent hillfort. I think I read somewhere that it was incorporated into Wat’s Dyke.
I think the part I didn’t excerpt discusses its proximity. Wat’s Dyke was kinda offhand attributed to a response by one of the Welsh kingdoms to Offa’s Dyke, but research in the 1990s uncovered RC-datable remains, turned out to be centuries older than Offa and his dyke, so, perhaps Wat’s Dyke inspired Offa’s Dyke. :’)
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