Illuminating Lesser Garth Cave, Cardiff: the human remains and post-Roman archaeology in context

During a series of relatively poorly documented excavations carried out during 1912–14 and 1963–64 human bone was recovered from Lesser Garth Cave near Cardiff. Published reports of the cave investigations focused on the artefactual evidence, and the wide range of possible dates and interpretations concerning the human bones have failed to provide a reliable basis for understanding the significance of the remains within the cave’s biography. This paper presents new scientific evidence regarding the human remains including findings from full osteological analysis, targeted carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and strontium isotope analysis and a programme of radiocarbon dating. Analysis records seven individuals, with a minimum of five if the fifty-year excavation gap is ignored. The radiocarbon dates suggest intermittent human presence in the cave from the post-Roman to the postmedieval periods. The paper also offers a reappraisal of post-Roman artefacts, and re-assessment of this site in the context of the diverse ways in which caves are now understood to have been used during this period

Population genomics of the Viking world.

The maritime expansion of Scandinavian populations during the Viking Age (about AD 750-1050) was a far-flung transformation in world history1,2. Here we sequenced the genomes of 442 humans from archaeological sites across Europe and Greenland (to a median depth of about 1×) to understand the global influence of this expansion. We find the Viking period involved gene flow into Scandinavia from the south and east. We observe genetic structure within Scandinavia, with diversity hotspots in the south and restricted gene flow within Scandinavia. We find evidence for a major influx of Danish ancestry into England; a Swedish influx into the Baltic; and Norwegian influx into Ireland, Iceland and Greenland. Additionally, we see substantial ancestry from elsewhere in Europe entering Scandinavia during the Viking Age. Our ancient DNA analysis also revealed that a Viking expedition included close family members. By comparing with modern populations, we find that pigmentation-associated loci have undergone strong population differentiation during the past millennium, and trace positively selected loci-including the lactase-persistence allele of LCT and alleles of ANKA that are associated with the immune response-in detail. We conclude that the Viking diaspora was characterized by substantial transregional engagement: distinct populations influenced the genomic makeup of different regions of Europe, and Scandinavia experienced increased contact with the rest of the continent

Dimethyl fumarate in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) inhibits inflammasome-mediated inflammation and has been proposed as a treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. This randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing multiple treatments in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 (NCT04381936, ISRCTN50189673). In this assessment of DMF performed at 27 UK hospitals, adults were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus DMF. The primary outcome was clinical status on day 5 measured on a seven-point ordinal scale. Secondary outcomes were time to sustained improvement in clinical status, time to discharge, day 5 peripheral blood oxygenation, day 5 C-reactive protein, and improvement in day 10 clinical status. Between 2 March 2021 and 18 November 2021, 713 patients were enroled in the DMF evaluation, of whom 356 were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus DMF, and 357 to usual care alone. 95% of patients received corticosteroids as part of routine care. There was no evidence of a beneficial effect of DMF on clinical status at day 5 (common odds ratio of unfavourable outcome 1.12; 95% CI 0.86-1.47; p = 0.40). There was no significant effect of DMF on any secondary outcome

Continuity or change : the Mayen tradition from 4th-14th centuries

Kontinuitât oder Verànderung : das Mayener Tradition von IV bis XIV Jh. Eine^ausfùhrliche Untersuchung der spàtrômischen und mittelalterlichen Keramikindustrie in Mayen (Rheinland-Pfalz) ist seit langen Uberfâllig. Dieser Artikel stellt eine grobe Ûbersicht der gekannten Tôpfereien und Pro- dukten vor, und legt Zeugnis von und gegen stàndigen Produktion ab. "Kontinuitât" ist in der typologische Rei- henfolge zu beweisen, und "Verànderung" ist auch in der Art und Lage der industriell- und Siedlungsaktivitàt zu sehen. Mayener Produkten schliessen spàtrômische rauhwandige Ware ("R"), frànkische rauhwandige Ware ("A"), sog. Karolingische "fast steinzeugartig" Ware ("F") und Faststeinzeug ("K" : "Proto-stoneware"), ein. Besonders wird in diesem Aufsatz die feinere rotgestrichene und geglàttete Ware ("B"), spâtmerovingische schwarz/rotgeglàttete und verzierte Ware ("D"), und die rotbemalte Ware ("FP"), behandelt. Das Verhàltnis zwischen die Keramik- und Basaltlavaindustrie wird hier diskutiert.Detailed assessment of the late Roman and medieval pottery industry at Mayen (Rheinland-Pfalz, West Germany) has been long overdue. This paper presents a general survey of the known potting areas and products, and sets out the evidence for and against continuous production. "Continuity" is evident in the typological sequence, "change" in the nature and location of industrial and settlement activity. Mayen products include late Roman coarse ware ("R"), Frankish coarse ware ("A"), so-called Carolingian "fast steinzeugartig" ware ("F") and protostoneware ("K"). Particular attention is given here to the finer red-slipped and burnished ware ("B"), late merovingian black and red burnish-decorated ware ("D") and red-painted ware ("FP"). The relationship between the pottery and the basalt industries is discussed.Continuité ou changement : la tradition de Mayen du IVe au XIVe siècle Une étude détaillée de l'industrie de Mayen (Rheinland-Pfalz, West Germany) de la fin de l'époque gallo- romaine et de l'époque médiévale aurait dû être présentée depuis longtemps. Cet article donne une vue d'ensemble des régions connues pour leur production de céramique, présente leur production et met en évidence les facteurs vérifiant ou non la thèse de la continuité de la production. La continuité est évidente dans la séquence typologique et le changement dans la nature et l'emplacement de l'habitat et de l'activité industrielle. Les productions de Mayen comprennent la céramique commune de la fin de l'époque romaine ("R"), la céramique commune franque ("A"), la céramique carolingienne ("F") autrement appelée "fast steinzengartig" et les protogrés ("K"). Un intérêt plus particulier est apporté à la céramique plus fine, polie et à engobe rouge ("B"), la céramique polie rouge et noire de la fin de l'époque mérovingienne ("D") et la céramique à peinture rouge ("FP"). Le rapport entre les industries de céramique et celles de balsate est abordé.Redknap Mark. Continuity or change : the Mayen tradition from 4th-14th centuries. In: La céramique (Ve-XIXe s.). Fabrication – Commercialisation – Utilisation. Actes du premier congrès international d'archéologie médiévale (Paris, 4-6 octobre 1985) Caen : Société d'Archéologie Médiévale, 1987. pp. 87-99. (Actes des congrès de la Société d'archéologie médiévale, 1

Early Medieval beads

The crannog on Llangorse Lake near Brecon in mid Wales was discovered in 1867 and first excavated in 1869 by two local antiquaries, Edgar and Henry Dumbleton, who published their findings over the next four years. In 1988 dendrochronological dates from submerged palisade planks established its construction in the ninth century, and a combined off- and on-shore investigation of the site was started as a joint project between Cardiff University and Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales. The subsequent surveys and excavation (1989-1994, 2004) resulted in the recovery of a remarkable time capsule of life in the late ninth and tenth century, on the only crannog yet identified in Wales. This publication re-examines the early investigations, describes in detail the anatomy of the crannog mound and its construction, and the material culture found. The crannog’s treasures include early medieval secular and religious metalwork, evidence for manufacture, the largest depository of early medieval carpentry in Wales and a remarkable richly embroidered silk and linen textile which is fully analysed and placed in context. The crannog’s place in Welsh history is explored, as a royal llys (‘court’) within the kingdom of Brycheiniog, as well as its subsequent significance of the crannog in local traditions and its post-medieval occupation during a riotous dispute in the reign Elizabeth I. The cultural affinities of the crannog and its material culture is assessed, as are their relationship to origin myths for the kingdom, and to probable links with early medieval Ireland. The folk tales associated with the lake are explored, in a book that brings together archaeology, history, myths and legends, underwater and terrestrial archaeology

Llangorse Crannog: the excavation of an early medieval royal site in the kingdom of Brycheiniog

The crannog on Llangorse Lake near Brecon in mid Wales was discovered in 1867 and first excavated in 1869 by two local antiquaries, Edgar and Henry Dumbleton, who published their findings over the next four years. In 1988 dendrochronological dates from submerged palisade planks established its construction in the ninth century, and a combined off- and on-shore investigation of the site was started as a joint project between Cardiff University and Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales. The subsequent surveys and excavation (1989-1994, 2004) resulted in the recovery of a remarkable time capsule of life in the late ninth and tenth century, on the only crannog yet identified in Wales. This publication re-examines the early investigations, describes in detail the anatomy of the crannog mound and its construction, and the material culture found. The crannog’s treasures include early medieval secular and religious metalwork, evidence for manufacture, the largest depository of early medieval carpentry in Wales and a remarkable richly embroidered silk and linen textile which is fully analysed and placed in context. The crannog’s place in Welsh history is explored, as a royal llys (‘court’) within the kingdom of Brycheiniog, as well as its subsequent significance of the crannog in local traditions and its post-medieval occupation during a riotous dispute in the reign Elizabeth I. The cultural affinities of the crannog and its material culture is assessed, as are their relationship to origin myths for the kingdom, and to probable links with early medieval Ireland. The folk tales associated with the lake are explored, in a book that brings together archaeology, history, myths and legends, underwater and terrestrial archaeology