History Shorts: snippets of local history

The Dorset chalk figure known as the Cerne Giant was most probably created in the early Middle Ages, according to recent dating work. Contextualising the archaeological work by the National Trust, authors of a new study say the figure was cut in the ninth or early tenth century when there was much interest in the Greek hero Hercules. In their paper in the journal Speculum , Thomas Morcom and Helen Gittos explain at length when and why the figure was cut in the image of Hercules and why it was done in this West Saxon landscape. By PeteHarlow,  CC BY-SA 3.0 , Link The Cerne Giant, located outside the village of Cerne Abbas, is approximately 55 metres long and 51 metres wide. The hill on which it was carved also features an Iron Age earthwork, which the authors say, has never been investigated archaeologically but which was considered important enough to give the hill its name until recently.  Previous attempts to date the giant placed its creation either sometime in prehistory or in the

ITV Meridian News this week remembered the 70th anniversary of the eviction of villagers from Tyneham, Dorset by the War Office for use as a military training ground. (The surrounding Lulworth ranges area is still used for military training today). What was initially thought a temporary move during the remainder of the Second World War was made permanent by compulsory purchase order of the land in 1948. The buildings of Tyneham now lie dormant, mostly in ruins (some presumably damaged by military exercises!), although the church is now preserved and the striking telephone kiosk is a modern replica. Access is available during part of the year when military training is not taking place. The following pictures were taken in June 2010.