Research | J.L. Jarvis

17th-Century Houseguests Slaughtered Hosts, and Archaeologists Are Investigating

by Jody R | Mar 20, 2018

Source: 17th-Century Houseguests Slaughtered Hosts, and Archaeologists Are Investigating

Neil Oliver has been walking through Scotland’s past in new documentary

by Jody R | Jun 29, 2017

Ancient Slingshot Was as Deadly as a .44 Magnum

by Jody R | Jun 29, 2017

A history of Scottish words: Edinburgh

by Jody R | Jan 7, 2016

Via The Scotsman:

EDINBURGH is a city of contrasts and differences, and that extends to the dialect of its residents. Just as the Old and New Towns radically differ in style, so do the accents and vocabularies of the city’s residents.

In upper-crust areas such as Stockbridge and Morningside, residents pride themselves on their flawless diction and restrained vocabulary. While the more refined areas of Edinburgh channel the spirit of Miss Jean Brodie, it’s the likes of Leith and Tollcross that offer the more interesting slang.

Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/
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Yew sets ancient tone of burial ground

by Jody R | Jan 2, 2016

Yews in churchyards may point to pre-Christian beliefs in the sacred. Photograph: Matthew L. Tagney

It might be thought that when Thomas Hardy stepped aside from his narrative in Jude The Obscure to describe Shaston, or Shaftesbury, “on the summit of a steep and imposing scarp, rising … out of the deep alluvial vale of Blackmoor” as “one of the queerest and quaintest spots in England”, he was being unduly fanciful.

But if, today, you turn aside from St John’s Hill, close to that summit, in to a small enclosed space beside the road and take in the sight of the ancient yew before you, its limbs spreading out wide and close to the ground above scattered headstones, then look ahead towards the sheer drop into the expanse of the vale, you do catch a sense of the local magic and feel you are indeed in a special place.

Via The Guardian: http://gu.com/p/4fe4d/stw

Stone Chamber from Highland Passage by J.L. Jarvis

by Jody R | May 3, 2015

The Highland Passage stone chamber. A few years ago, I was able to walk inside this stone chamber, but it has since caved in. (The third photo has been brightened to show the interior.)