Tag: Mystery

Bracken Tor – Murder mystery set in Bronze Age Cornwall

Screenshot from 'Bracken Tor' - Bronze Age StructureRight in time for Halloween, Shadow Tor Studios have released the first (and spooky) trailer for horror adventure game ‘Bracken Tor: The Time of Tooth and Claw’, which will hit the UK late November.

The point-and-click PC game is set in a Bronze Age environment, based on prehistoric Cornwall.

Beyond Barrow Hill

Bracken Tor also tagged ‘Adventures beyond Barrow Hill’ after its predecessor ‘Barrow Hill: Curse of the Ancient Circle’ is the latest title from the Shadow Tor Studios and produced with assistance from the ‘Mysterious Beasts Research Group’ (fictional) and Cornwall Archaeology Society (possibly the real one).

Amongst the game’s features: ‘travel back in time, to The Bronze Age, to learn its secrets’ and ‘experience virtual archaeology, and uncover the past’.

I have heard many strange stories, while 3D mapping the landscape and recreating forgotten shrines. There are whisperings of mythical beasts, appearing out of the fog, said Matt Clark, creator of Barrow Hill and Bracken Tor.

Video Teaser – Bracken Tor: The Time of Tooth and Claw

What are these strange creatures? Visitations? The ghosts of long extinct creatures? Is an ancient feral world colliding with ours? There really are undiscovered treasures, and dangers, waiting for the gamer to experience.

Back to the Bronze Age

Barrow Hill was tag-lined archaeology meets adventure, but for Bracken Tor you are a bold journalist, looking for the next ‘big story’ investigating the vicious murder of a lone hiker (for his last hours, see the trailer on the left), torn to pieces.

To solve the mystery (and publish a great story), you decide to spend the night on the moor to check if the ‘mysterious beasts’ are real. However, you’ll find yourself transported 2,000 years back in time to Bronze Age Britain.

Thrown into the ancient past of the Bronze Age people, you will find the true origins of the nightmare. Those primitive people lived in fear of the mighty beasts, making sacrifices to protect themselves from the packs, which hide in the thick pine forests and wind swept tundra. They practised long forgotten ceremonies, and studied the natural world, in an attempt to understand and conquer their foe. For it is only through understanding the ‘old ways’ that you will survive the night. You will have to decide what is worse…the beasts that lurk in the darkness, or the terrifying acts performed by our ancient ancestors.

Venture onto Bracken Tor, pitch your tent, prepare for the dark, listen for the sounds and hope to survive the Time of Tooth and Claw, concluded Clark.

Just How Terrifying?

I must admit, I’ll probably play because travelling back in time to the Bronze Age isfun (check out Stonehenge 1500 BC), and not the least because I’m curious about the ‘terrifying acts’ our prehistoric ancestors performed. Lets just hope we don’t vilify them to much? What are the odds for ‘human sacrifice’ can anybody confirm if this burial looks like a ritual kill? 😉 Also, please enlighten me () as to just how much archaeological evidence for human sacrifice in prehistoricBritain there exactly is? I’m honestly clueless, the only referencesI remember are either from Hollywood movies, or theCommentarii de Bello Gallico.

5000-year-old Planning Application Holds Final Clue to Solve Stonehenge Riddle

Replica of the prehistoric deer hide discovered at Salisbury. - Image courtesy A. DobeOn Midsummers day, while more than 20,000 gathered at Stonehenge to celebrate the Summer Solstice,it was revealed a long-lost prehistoric documentwasdiscovered at Salisbury. The fragile deer hide document will put an end to all speculations asto the Neolithic monument’s purpose, revealing that theworld’s most famous stone circle was never a place of worship or a giant calendar. Rather, it was the centre of commerce for Britain’sBronze Agecivilization, as far as 5,000 years back.

According to entertainment website ‘NewsBiscuit’, after extensive study, Oxford University archaeologists concluded that the document is in fact a 5000-year-old failed planning application for a vast covered market place.The finds shows that 600stalls were to be constructed over a 200 acre site, with grazing facilities for 3,500 oxen and cart. The document further reveals that the Stonehenge development was never completed,for the planning application was turned down by the ‘Local Council of Elders’. One of the reasons given for this was that the planners ‘did not think that the developers used of imported Welsh stone was sympathetic to, or in keeping with, local architecture’, as well asserious concerns over increased oxen traffic.

The planners ‘did not think that the developers used of imported Welsh stone was sympathetic to, or in keeping with, local architecture’.

The find does not only solve the mystery of Stonehenge’s function, but also offers new insight into the history of Druidism. Dr Amy Bogaard told NewsBiscuit: “We now know that Druidism is not a pagan religion at all. ‘Druids’ was actually the brand name of a chain of prehistoric pharmacists, the forerunner of their modern day counterpart ‘Boots'”. Further detailson the ‘discovery’ and ‘research’ are available on the NewsBiscuit website.

The team of experts nowhope that now they’ve solved the mystery of Stonehenge,the government will reconsider contributing 10 million towards the new visitor centre planned on the site.The visitor centre,funding for which was recently scrapped by the LibDem coalition, willcommemorate what was once the most important site for the Salisbury Plain economy.

Daily Flickr Finds: Sean Molin’s Stonehenge

Today’s Flickr Find comes from talented photographer Sean Molin, who beautifully depicts the iconic Stonehenge and portrays it in a dramatic and atmospheric shot. The use of the sepia tint takes away the colour of the shot, leaving the viewer to pay close attention to the great detail in the shot.

The dark skies indicate an impending storm advancing on the relic which has braved the elements for millenia, representing the resilience of this ancient monument as it continues to serve as a reminder of of our heritage.

Sean Molin notes that he is not keen on showing both the sepia and the colour versions of his capture on his Flickr stream, but I think it is a credit to his excellent post-production to turn an already beautiful picture into a fantastic portrayal, most definately worthy of the Heritage-Key select images pool.

There are several articles on Heritage Key that cover Stonehenge, as well as the recent Summer Solstice festival. As a potent symbol of British prehistory, it is one of the mysterious and most loved sites in the world, and Sean Molin’s photograph certainly does the monument justice!