Welcome to the Belas Knap project

I have had a long love affair with Belas Knap Neolithic long barrow. In 1997 I moved to a remote village in the cotswolds within walking distance of the mound.

In 2001 I had the opportunity to start The Belas Knap Project. I thought it would take six months and at the end of that time I would have created a mixed media exhibition. Little did I know then that I would continue to work in the landscape for twenty years or so!

Belas Knap has been excavated and put back together several times. In archaeological terms this makes it complicated. It is probable that the mound we see today is not an accurate representation of its original form. The barrow was heavily restored in the 1930’s.

With this in mind I decided to look for local distinctiveness and focus on the barrows location.

Project Themes:

Interaction with spirit of place

Death and burial in the Neolithic

Illumination of the monument

Perceptual mapping

These themes evolved into sensory archaeological investigation. I immersed myself in the Belas Knap landscape, often sleeping wild next to the mound. Over time a conversation with the barrow developed.

Through my art I started to respond to the barrows changing moods and the passing seasons. I recorded ambient sounds, bird song and the wind. I used these to create soundscapes. I became influenced by the tracks of animals and their interactions with a human place. The weather and ever changing sky scapes enchanted me with their power and energy. My archaeological imagination roamed free, but always returned to key themes.

Since then the project has taken many twists and turns. I have met extraordinary people who have given their time and expertise. Naturalists, Geologists, Archaeologists, experts and enthusiasts. Their conversations, questions and belief in the project have all been invaluable.

I hope that the project will evolve and that the story of Belas Knap will be added to by many. I feel incredibly privileged to have spent so much time in such a beautiful place.

The Belas Knap project has been exhibited in England, Romania and Italy.

Links to the academic papers about the project can be found on the publications page.

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