LANCASHIRE NEOLITHIC HENGIFORM MONUMENT

A possible Neolithic hengiform monument has been identified from aerial photographs at Aighton in Lancashire.
The site is within a horseshoe of the River Ribble at a point where the Rivers Hodder and Calder meet with the Ribble (Ptolemy's Belisama *).

Ref: The Archaeology of North West England, an Archaeological Reserch Framework for North West England: vol I resource assessment. Archaeology North West 8, issue 18 for 2006, p.39.

Has anyone more information for this site?

* Belisama (pronounced Bell-ih-SAH-mah) is the Celtic/Brigantian Goddess of light and fire. Her husband, Belenus, is the God of the Sun, and she shares many attributes with him. Belisama, whose name means “summer bright”, was associated with the Greek Goddess Athena and the Roman Goddess Minerva, and this brought her rule over crafts. Her roles as Goddess of fire and Goddess of crafts combined in her power over the forging of metals and those who worked them, smiths. Her association with Athena and Minerva also brought her recognition as a Goddess of wisdom, as shown by the frequent depiction of a serpent at her side. Her name is also seen as Belesama and Belisma.

Monument Number Name Monument Type



HER PRN28088 Winkley Lowes Earthwork (Hengiform Monument/ poss' Neolithic)

HER PRN149 Barrow, Brockhall Wood Barrow
HER PRN179 Winkley Lowes Barrow
HER PRN180 Winkley Lowes Barrow

This collection of barrows and earthworks has not been closely dated, althoughHER PRN179 and PRN180 were excavated by antiquarians in 1894. Radiocarbon dates for the palaeochannels on the surface of this section of terrace suggest infilling took place between c 970 cal BC-cal AD 490 and cal AD 650-890, but this does not narrow down the possible daterange for these monuments, indicating only that they were constructed after 1065-860 cal BC.

john

ANOTHER NEARBY EARTHWORK

HER PRN3112
South-east Of Cross Gills, Hurst Green
Earthwork Monument (date & purpose unknown)

This site is in danger of erosion

ALSO: -

Below Mitton Wood on a spur of land between the Ribble and Calder remains of 'Roman ?' structures have been found by a local Whalley antiquarian. SD 712 373.