The Hare #4 [June 2025]
Neanderthal art, Sutton Hoo news and The Hum…
News from Northern Earth
Issue 180 (Summer 2025) of Northern Earth is now out! Inside, we have holy wells, H.G Wells, Oliver Cromwell… and plenty more besides. Click the button below to grab a subscription now (only £12pa UK, £20pa overseas):
Season’s gleanings: 10 recent news stories
(Other recent news can be found in the printed magazine.)
Amateur archaeologists unearth winged goddess at Hadrian’s Wall [Guardian]
Are Colchester remains those of Britain’s earliest church? [BBC]
New dating of Thetford treasure has far-reaching ramifications for understanding of early religion [Archaeology magazine]
New research reveals story of Maiden Castle’s Roman massacre that never happened [Bournemouth University]
Sixth-century bucket found at Sutton Hoo believed to be cremation vessel [BBC]
Ancient Maltese temples may have been schools for celestial navigation [New Scientist]
World’s oldest fingerprint may be a clue that Neanderthals created art [Guardian]
Tomb built for Alexander the Great’s best friend is aligned with winter solstice, study suggests [Live Science]
Dozens of skeletons found lying in Welsh beauty spot, as strange new discovery made [Wales Online]
And finally… A strange, unexplained hum is keeping a Scottish isle awake at night [Gizmodo]
Events on in June
June 2 Stone Club: Philip Marsden, Ruth Allen and others. The Social, London.
June 4 A Skeleton in the Closet: The ‘Rediscovery’ of King Ethelbert of Wessex’ in 1925. Sherborne Abbey, Dorset.
June 7 John Billingsley: An Antiquarian Psychogeography. The Folklore Centre, Todmorden.
June 7 Where the Folk with Russ Williams in conversation with Owen Staton. Monty Lit Fest, Montgomery, Powys.
June 7-8 Dartmoor Mindscapes Weekend (1) – North Dartmoor. Stone Seeker event.
June 8 Guided tour of Barclodiad passage tomb, Anglesey, by Cadw. https://cadw.gov.wales
June 13 MeRit: Medieval Ritual Landscape – showcase of finds by detectorists and work of digital animation students. Yorkshire Museum, York.
June 14 Julia Phillips - Resisting the Invader: Operation Cone of Power. The Folklore Centre, Todmorden.
June 17 Connecting Folklore, History and Theory in the 21st Century: Irish Folklore (online talk). The Folklore Society.
June 20–22 Folklore and the Senses. Folklore Society annual conference (hybrid event). University College Cork, Ireland.
June 23 Magic and witchcraft conference 2025. Centre for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies (hybrid), York.
June 26 A Midsummers Meander: History and Mystery in Meanwood Valley, Leeds. Guided walk by Dave Weldrake.
June 28 Crab and Bee’s Matter of Britain. The Folklore Centre, Todmorden.
June 28 Guided tour of Bryn Celli Ddu chambered tomb, Anglesey, by Cadw. https://cadw.gov.wales
June 30–July 4 Holy Axis Moot Stage 1. Network of Ley Hunters tour from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Lindisfarne, Melrose Abbey etc.
Selected exhibitions
Until June 29 ‘Lucky Charms and Fortune-Tellers’ Display, Boiling Hall Museum, Bradford.
Until July 5 Folklore of Rushen. Rushen Heritage Centre, Isle of Man.
Until Sep 6 Un/Common People: Folk Culture in Wessex. Wiltshire Museum, Devizes.
Until Sep 7 Echoes: Stone Circles, Community and Heritage – exhibition of three photographers. Stonehenge Visitor Centre, Wiltshire.
June 21 until Sep 14 Ice Age Art Now. Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley.
Until Oct 19 Edward Burra – Ithell Colquhoun. Tate Britain, London.
Until Oct 26 Monsters of the Deep: Science Fact or Fiction? Aberdeen Art Gallery
Until Nov 2 FOREST: the myth and magic of arboreal art. Nottingham Castle.
Until Mar 1 2026 Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London’s lost treasures. London Museum Docklands.
(See our printed issue for more events later in the year)
June in the traditional calendar
Throughout Well dressing ceremonies.
June 8 Pentecost/Whitsun (including Bristol Rush Sunday).
June 9 St Columba’s Day.
June 21 Summer Solstice (3.41am).
June 24 Midsummer’s Day/St John’s Day.
5 things to read, watch, listen to…
[TV] Weird Britain – series 2 explores Worcs, Yorks, Herefordshire, Staffs and Scotland.
[Books] Free PDFs of books on paganism, mythology and shamanism by Alby Stone.
[Video] Stone Report, Lligwy Burial Chamber by ‘Spaceship’ Mark Williamson.
[Book] Stone Age Farming – unusual, esoteric tips for food growing.
Thanks to various readers for the tipoffs! Do reply to this newsletter if you have useful links to share.
Thanks, I've just subscribed and really enjoyed your newsletter, especially the Maiden Castle story and the one about the worst year to be alive. Look forward to more!