The Modern Antiquarian

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No narrowness of definition here, dear me no. For, although the Ancient Greek term Keltoi initially aimed only to define itself as a geographical catch-all label for those mysterious barbarian tribes to their west, the British Museum has chosen to revision the Celt and all things Celtic not for what they once were known, but for what those emotive terms have, down the recent centuries, come to be known.

Modern Antiquarian - Julian Cope The Modern Antiquarian - Julian Cope

A unique blend of information, observation, personal experience and opinion... A strange and marvellous artefact.' The Independent

Cope’s innovative gazetteer opened up the landscape to a whole new generation of walkers, psychonauts and amateur historians. Unlike many archaeological accounts, there is no concrete conclusion, as it is a work that explores suggestion, albeit with a frequently esoteric angle. I wanted to bring it all together: pictures, maps, illustrations and practicality in a Gazetteer, along with an overview of the big picture in an Essays section. He may be a weird character, and maybe he doesn't shower enough, but he's put out a lot of fine music, and his memoirs are a load of fun. After eight years he had The Modern Antiquarian, a massive and impressive labour of love, and an ideal introduction to and overview of megalithic Britain. My all-time favourite prehistoric artefact’: the silver Gundestrup cauldron, uncovered in 1891 in Denmark. Photograph: British Museum

Modern Antiquarian - Cope, Julian: 9780722535998 - AbeBooks The Modern Antiquarian - Cope, Julian: 9780722535998 - AbeBooks

Some of it sounds fairly nutty, but Cope has done his research and his opinions are at least well-founded. Myers, Ben (19 March 2008). "All hail Julian Cope, renaissance man". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077 . Retrieved 5 July 2020– via www.theguardian.com. Universally praised by The Guardian, Times, Telegraph, Independent, Mail and their ilk, the first edition of 20,000 sold out in under one month! But it was the specialists and academics who really revealed the depth of Julian's new work: Ronald Hutton has called The Modern Antiquarian 'the best popular guide to Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments for half a century', whilst Aubrey Burl wrote 'such a splendid book, splendid in both its illustration and its prose, rare partners in the archaeological world. I shall use it, of course.' Even the hoary archaeology magazine Antiquity asked Julian to write for them, and has warned its crusty readers not to 'miss its message... or bury our heads in the sand.'

Compelling too is the St Peter’s Kirk Pictish-symbol stone discovered on the north-east coast of South Ronaldsay. Again, this 5ft-long sandstone monolith stands way outside accepted Celtic regions, right at the edge of the ancient Norse world. The Papil Stone, removed from the grounds of a Shetland monastery close to the Viking stronghold of Jarlshof, is another artefact brought from outside perceived Celtic realms, but this always-thorough exhibition shows us Viking jewellery directly influenced – nay, copied – from its Celtic neighbours. On display is one very large Viking 10th-century open-ring brooch discovered on Orkney’s glorious Bay of Skaill. In the exhibition cabinet, this huge brash silver artefact – originally dug up near the Neolithic village of Skara Brae – dominates its far earlier Celtic neighbour like some overly chromed 1950s Cadillac parked up next to an Austin Allegro.

Megalithic European: The 21st Century Traveller in Megalithic European: The 21st Century Traveller in

Eery and unlikely arrangements, precariously balanced and perched stones, odd alignments, sadly broken and toppled remnants, huge barrows -- and all of it ancient and storied. Schneider, Martin (16 June 2017). " 'THE MODERN ANTIQUARIAN': JULIAN COPE'S GUIDED TOUR OF THE MEGALITHS OF BRITAIN". Dangerous Minds. Climbing aboard the 1781 bandwagon created by Iolo Morganwg’s brand new Society of the Ancient Druids, towns across Britain revived or even invented their own Celtic-styled festivals, my personal favourite being the “ancient” Cornish street theatre of Padstow’s Obby Oss, first recorded in 1803. Most people are familiar with Stonehenge, but unaware that this is only the tip of the ice...er, stone-berg, as it were. Julian Cope at Silbury Hill, Wiltshire by Cat Stevens. All other photographs courtesy of Adelle StripeSome of the most striking are small circles -- or larger arrangements that can only be fully appreciated at a distance. Julian Cope is one of Britain’s best known and most-celebrated post-punk visionaries. In this historical masterpiece, he takes us on an unforgettable journey across the British Isles, uncovering the first temples ever built and their myriad descendants, the relics of which can still be seen today. Julian Cope studies William Stukeley’s book at the Celts exhibition. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian Dissatisfied with the guidebooks (and coffee table books) available he decided to put together his own handbook: Here at the museum is the greatest Celtic find of all: the legendary Gundestrup cauldron. It’s my all-time favourite prehistoric artefact: huge, silver, magnificent. Wonderful castings of Norse gods, men, animals and mythological beasts festoon its sides, while a recumbent bull guards its basin. The cauldron is striking for its characters and stories (most Celtic art is non-figurative) but I long ago decided it was pointless trying to itemise these snake-gripping figures, as the Celts had so many local pantheons.