Phil's photos with the keyword: Ancient

The Clapper bridge in the small village of Wycoller in East Lancashire, England. Camera Nikon D90. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2. A clapper bridge is an ancient form of bridge found on the moors of Devon (Dartmoor and Exmoor) and in other upland areas of the United Kingdom including Snowdonia and Anglesey, Cumbria, Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is formed by large flat slabs of stone, often granite or schist, supported on stone piers (across rivers), or resting on the banks of streams. Although often credited with prehistoric origin, most were erected in medieval times and some in later centuries. They are often situated close to a ford where carts could cross. (Wikipedia).

The Xun is an ancient Chinese earthenware wind instrument which dates back to Neolithic times. The first one ever to be discovered was found in ruins at Xi'an (situated approx. 560 miles S.W. of Beijing), China and was estimated to be between 7000 - 8000 years old. Jia Pingwa (a Chinese author) described the music played on a Xun as "The sound of the Earth". The Xun comes in many shapes and sizes and with a variable number of finger holes......the one in this photo is approximately 3.25 inches / 80 mm high and has 8 holes (6 front and 2 back for the thumbs). It was given to me yesterday by my friend who has recently returned from a holiday in China.....so far I've only managed to play one note !! More information here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xun_(instrument)

"Stan" is the nickname given to a fossil Tyrannosaurus Rex found in Hell Creek Formation, South Dakota, USA, in 1987 by Stan Sacrison. This cast of "Stan" measures nearly 12.2 metres long (approx. 40 feet) and is housed at the university museum in Manchester, North-West England. (There is a full-length / lower quality photo of Stan elsewhere in my "Manchester" album). Camera: Nikon D300s Lens: Nikkor 17-55mm f2.8 Processed with Nikon Capture NX2

The deeply-grooved narrow footpath across the ancient Packhorse Bridge in Wycoller, Lancashire, in the North-West of England. This bridge is believed to be approximately 800 years old.....see next photo (in photostream) for full details. Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

The ancient Packhorse Bridge in the hamlet of Wycoller in Lancashire, North-West England. This bridge is one of three ancient bridges in the village and is believed to date from the 13th century (according to the museum located nearby). The village itself, which is now part of a Country Park has existed for more than 1000 years. The footpath across the bridge is deeply grooved (see next photo) caused by approximately 800 years of use and both arches are leaning slightly sideways. Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

The North and South towers of York Minster (see NOTES). There is also a higher central tower (out of shot to the left) with a viewing area which is open to the public. Photographed with a Panasonic TZ10 camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2. York Minster is a cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York. The title "minster" is attributed to churches established in the Anglo-Saxon period as missionary teaching churches and serves now as an honorific title. The minster has a very wide Decorated Gothic nave and chapter house, a Perpendicular Gothic Quire and East end and Early English North and South transepts. The nave contains the West Window, constructed in 1338 and over the Lady Chapel in the East end is the Great East Window (finished in 1408), the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world. In the North transept is the Five Sisters Window, each lancet being over 52 feet (16 m) high. The South transept contains the famous rose window, while the West Window contains a heart-shaped design colloquially known as 'The Heart of Yorkshire'. (Wikipedia).

The Clapper bridge (foreground) and the Packhorse bridge (background) in the small hamlet of Wycoller, Pendle, UK. The Clapper bridge is believed by some historians to date from the medieval period although others believe it to be of 19th Century origin. The Packhorse bridge dates from the 13th Century according to the nearby museum. The footpath over this bridge has been eroded by centuries of use (mainly clog-wearing hand-loom weavers in pre-industrial times) and both arches are leaning slightly sideways.

Taken with HTC "Desire" Smartphone at the Manchester University museum, England.