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There's a coin tree on the west side of the main footpath up through Padley Gorge in the Derbyshire Peak District - a dead pine, partly fallen, spiked with hundreds of coins hammered in edgeways. People who have looked at them carefully think there's nothing pre-decimalisation there. Stella McGuire Derbyshire _____ From: Discussion List for Contemporary and Historical Archaeology [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Galloway Sent: 30 April 2013 09:11 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Coins and Trees On a recent visit to the Lake district, we found a felled tree with coins hammered into the trunk- beside the footpath around Tarn Hows near Coniston. Judging by the number of coins and the coverage, it would appear this has been happening for some time. Until today I was not aware of this practice anywhere else. I'd be interested in hearing any further information. Elizabeth Galloway Derbyshire. From: Ollie <mailto:[log in to unmask]> Angus Douglas Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 8:44 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Coins and Trees Coin trees are a pretty common phenomenon dating back to at least the 18th century. Their original purpose was akin to that of rag wells and holy wells and I guess echoes a long history of ritual deposition such as that of votive offerings etc. My understanding is that modern coin trees may actually have taken on a range of other meanings so it may be that the ones you have seen have not been created or maintained for the same reasons. Dr Oliver Douglas Museum of English Rural Life University of Reading Direct: 0118 378 8669 Museum: 0118 378 8660 On 30 Apr 2013, at 08:17, "John B Winterburn" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: On a recent visit to north Wales I came across four examples of large numbers of modern coins being hammered into the stumps of felled trees and wooden posts. The first three were in tree stumps in the grounds of Port Meirion, near Portmadoc, and another example was found on the slopes of Snowdon, on a wooden post marking the point where the Miners Track meets the Pyg Track. Here the entire surface of the post was covered in coins, hammered edge-on, into the wood. I have never come across this practice elsewhere and was wondering of any list members have seen similar examples. Is this perhaps a contemporary ritual practice? John John Winterburn -------------------------- contemp-hist-arch is a list for news and events in contemporary and historical archaeology, and for announcements relating to the CHAT conference group. ------- For email subscription options see: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/archives/contemp-hist-arch.html ------- Visit the CHAT website for more information and for future meeting dates: http://www.contemp-hist-arch.ac.uk -------------------------- -------------------------- contemp-hist-arch is a list for news and events in contemporary and historical archaeology, and for announcements relating to the CHAT conference group. ------- For email subscription options see: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/archives/contemp-hist-arch.html ------- Visit the CHAT website for more information and for future meeting dates: http://www.contemp-hist-arch.ac.uk -------------------------- -------------------------- contemp-hist-arch is a list for news and events in contemporary and historical archaeology, and for announcements relating to the CHAT conference group. ------- For email subscription options see: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/archives/contemp-hist-arch.html ------- Visit the CHAT website for more information and for future meeting dates: http://www.contemp-hist-arch.ac.uk -------------------------- -------------------------- contemp-hist-arch is a list for news and events in contemporary and historical archaeology, and for announcements relating to the CHAT conference group. ------- For email subscription options see: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/archives/contemp-hist-arch.html ------- Visit the CHAT website for more information and for future meeting dates: http://www.contemp-hist-arch.ac.uk --------------------------