Past Perfect Web Site - Yeavering
archaeology
Virtual archaeology web site from Durham and Northumberland entitled 'Past Perfect'. This is available online at: http://www.pastperfect.org.uk/index.html. These files are the home pages and the files related to Yeavering. Past Perfect is a joint project managed by the Archaeology Section of Durham County Council and the Conservation Team of Northumberland County Council.
The project has been funded by the New Opportunities Fund through the NOF Digitise Programme. It forms part of the EnrichUK, the gateway to a lottery-funded collection of 150 sites supported by the New Opportunities Fund.
Oxford ArchDigital provided technical expertise for website development, Virtual Reality reconstructions and digitisation, under contract to Durham County Council.
To use download and uncompress 'PastPerfect.zip'. Download the other files 'archive' 'clips' 'images' 'index.html' 'ms' and 'siteplan' and place these uncompressed in the subfolder: /sites/yeavering.
Archaeology Section of Durham County Council and the Conservation Team of Northumberland County Council
rchaeology Section of Durham County Council and the Conservation Team of Northumberland County Council
English
Yeavering Saxon Royal Palace
Archaeology
Zipped html files of the Past Perfect website, a New Opportunities Fund grant-aided project, run jointly by Durham and Northumberland County Councils. It uses the latest in virtual reality interactive technology to bring the archaeology and history of the two counties alive. The Northumbrian royal seat at Yeavering is one of seven sites featured on the website. Past Perfect provides a detailed overview of the history and archaeology of the site, including historical and cultural contexts, site maps, digital reconstructions, audio and video clips, and an archive of material relating to Yeavering.
These files are reproduced here with the kind permission of Durham and Northumberland County Councils.
For more information visit:
http://www.pastperfect.org.uk/index.html
Past Perfect Project
Past Perfect Project
Seventh century
English
Yeavering: Sparrow Flight
Archaeology
This image depicts a sparrow in flight across Yeavering to provide us with a bird's eye view. The analogy of a sparrow flying through a Great Hall was first documented by Bede (II.13). Paulinus had tried to persuade Edwin to become a Christian, but Edwin wished to consult his advisers and friends. This was the advice of one counsellor after hearing the chief Priest Coifi recommend that Edwin follow the new Christian religion:
"Another of the king's chief men signified his agreement with this prudent argument, and went on to say:
'Your Majesty, when we compare the present life of man on earth with that time of which we have no knowledge, it seems to me like the swift flight of a single sparrow through the banqueting-hall where you are sitting at dinner on a winter's day with your thegns and counsellors. In the midst there is a comforting fire to warm the hall; outside, the storms of winter rain or snow are raging. This sparrow flies swiftly in through one door of the hall, and out through another. While he is inside, he is safe from the winter storms; but after a few moments of comfort, he vanishes from sight into the wintry world from which he came. Even so, man appears on earth for a little while; but of what went before this life or of what follows, we know nothing. Therefore, if this new teaching has brought any more certain knowledge, it seems only right that we should follow it.'
The other elders and counsellors of the king, under God's guidance, gave similar advice."
This video was originally posted on the Yeavering section of the Past Perfect Project archaeological site: http://www.pastperfect.org.uk/sites/yeavering/images/sparrowclip.html
The Archaeology Section of Durham County Council and the Conservation Team of Northumberland County Council
The Past Perfect Project, Durham and Northumberland County Councils
7th century