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The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map : Index >>
Stones Forum >> Archaeology Magazine pick their Top 10 Discoveries of 2007
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Archaeology Magazine pick their Top 10 Discoveries of 2007 |
Andy B
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|  Posted 23-12-2007 at 16:16
Hardly a week goes by without a major archaeological discovery or the publication of a radical new theory about the human past. Reducing a year's worth of these stories to the 10 most important was a tall order, especially since our intent was to go beyond the headlines and select those we thought made a significant impact on the field--ones that will be talked about for decades.
With that in mind, here are our picks for the 2007's most important finds...
http://www.archaeology.org/0801/topten/
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Andy B
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| Posted 23-12-2007 at 16:17
Can you suggest items for a European version of the Top Ten, certainly the Rotherwas Ribbon would have to be one:
http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=17076
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chimera
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| Posted 23-12-2007 at 19:43
and for the Bottom Ten.
10. Exposed island near Greenland from global warming.
9. Final fragments at Ground Zero from 9/11
8
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AngieLake
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|  Posted 24-12-2007 at 13:08
On 2007-12-23 16:17, Andy B wrote:
Can you suggest items for a European version of the Top Ten, certainly the Rotherwas Ribbon would have to be one:
http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=17076
Hi Andy
If you want a suggestion for something discovered at an already discovered site, how about those 'male' and 'female' stones in the end chamber at West Kennet Long Barrow (see my earlier article on 'possible discovery at WKLB'), or the important SW-positioned 'Fertility rite stone' (stone 16 at Stonehenge)... with the 'V' mark on its inside and big belly on its outside, noticed at sunrise on 6 Dec 2006? There was also a patch of sun in the shape of a sun-dagger on Stone 57 that morning, which just about positioned itself in the carved 'rectangle', but I haven't posted those pix yet!
Angie 
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chimera
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| Posted 24-12-2007 at 20:25
Would stone 16 be aligned with Heel stone and solstice sunrise?
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AngieLake
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| Posted 25-12-2007 at 22:53
On 2007-12-24 20:25, chimera wrote:
Would stone 16 be aligned with Heel stone and solstice sunrise?
Hi Chimera
Pretty close.. I intended to check this out last Summer Solstice, but the sun didn't rise and there were loads of people milling around as usual. Two or three people had sat on the ground, leaning against the inverted 'V', all night but didn't mind me taking pics of it around sunset (when I arrived) and again in the morning. They probably wondered what the heck I was looking at, as it does need the right light to make the mark distinguishable [see pic from sunrise visit with Jack on 6.12.07].
The fact that it's behind the remaining Great Trilithon [stone 56] means it could possibly have caught a glimpse of sun between the tallest stones when stone 55 (other half of Gt Trilithon) was still upright. The light could have reached there after shining briefly between stones 30 and 1. (I took a steel rule and placed it on a plan in an old official guide to Stonehenge to check.)
Stone 16 also seems to align with the centre of the Avenue.
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chimera
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| Posted 26-12-2007 at 20:03
So if people were leaning against the V, would its distance above ground-level also align with the top of Heel stone and the sunrise horizon? Is the bulge noticeably rounded as a ..pregnancy?
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AngieLake
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| Posted 26-12-2007 at 21:41
On 2007-12-26 20:03, chimera wrote:
So if people were leaning against the V, would its distance above ground-level also align with the top of Heel stone and the sunrise horizon? Is the bulge noticeably rounded as a ..pregnancy?
Hi Chimera
Have added a comment to the pic I took of Stone 16 last Summer Solstice Eve, showing its 'belly'. Should have come up in 'latest comments' now. [Boxing night].
As regards the angle to the top of the Heel stone, am afraid I can't comment on this, as I haven't been back since discovering the 'V' feature, apart from Summer Solstice when it was too crowded with people. At the time, the peoples' heads were just underneath the 'V' as they sat on the ground. You can guess at its approx. height off the ground by looking at posted pic [also in 'latest comments' since my recent comment regarding 'V' shape also being similar to 'antler pick' symbol.]
[Incidentally: I only saw the 'V' for the first time when looking at my photos developed after 6 Dec. 06, and on subsequent viewing of my camcorder film. I'd photographed the stone because I had twice - 03 and 06 - dowsed the area between it and the Great Trilithon to be the most important area at Stonehenge. I know that seems unusual.]
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chimera
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| Posted 27-12-2007 at 01:17
Then the V is the contact by the Heel-and-Gr.Trilithon sunray with the main rocks of the circle henge. So..the "world"? circle becomes fertilised/ pregnant by the sun? Perhaps the shadows of the Gr Trilithon fall on stone 16 either side of the sunray, with the Heelstone shadow reaching to the V?
Sexual image, indeed.
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AngieLake
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| Posted 27-12-2007 at 13:26
On 2007-12-27 01:17, chimera wrote:
Then the V is the contact by the Heel-and-Gr.Trilithon sunray with the main rocks of the circle henge. So..the "world"? circle becomes fertilised/ pregnant by the sun? Perhaps the shadows of the Gr Trilithon fall on stone 16 either side of the sunray, with the Heelstone shadow reaching to the V?
Sexual image, indeed.
Yes, Chimera
It would be very good if that DID happen. Can't be sure, but maybe someone will check this out.
What intrigues me is that the 'V' was so well highlighted on 6 Dec sunrise, so maybe it is meant to be important at Winter Solstice? (Also, it's in the SW arc of the circle.)
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chimera
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| Posted 27-12-2007 at 19:39
No doubt its been done, but has there been a geomagnetic survey between 16 and Trilithon? The dowsing suggests something may have been cobnstructed or dug there. And perhaps a patina test of the V to suggest its age?
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AngieLake
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| Posted 03-01-2008 at 01:11
[Incidentally: I only saw the 'V' for the first time when looking at my photos developed after 6 Dec. 06, and on subsequent viewing of my camcorder film. I'd photographed the stone because I had twice - 03 and 06 - dowsed the area between it and the Great Trilithon to be the most important area at Stonehenge. I know that seems unusual.]
NB!! [on 3rd January 2008]
Further to this comment (above) made in reply to Chimera on 26 Dec, I was stunned to read the following tonight in an old copy of 'Stonehenge - Archaeology and Interpretation' by R J C Atkinson, (reprint with revisions, 1979):
(Page 126)
"A careful survey of the various degrees of tooling and polishing to which the stones have been subjected shows that the main concern of the builders was to produce a presentable finish on those surfaces which would be seen from the interior* of the site.
The best finish thus occurs on the inner faces of the uprights. Their sides have often been left in the second (shallow groove) stage of dressing, while their outer faces are frequently very rough, with large irregularities only perfunctorily reduced by deliberate coarse tooling.
The chief exceptions to this rule are the sides and outer faces of the uprights of the great central trilithon (55, 56), which have been finished as carefully as the inner face. This suggests that one of the prinicipal ritual stations in the monument may have been behind* this trilithon, from which these surfaces would be visible. It is notable, too, that the finish of the lintels is in general much higher than that of the uprights."
*[those two words were printed in italics.]
Well, well...... how odd that he should have found this. And I'd dowsed the same thing about that area's importance.
Incidentally, this is the first time I'd read that, and I don't recall Burl using that info in his Stonehenge books, which I HAD read in the past year or so.
In Atkinson's book, there is even a photo [Plate 5] of the NW side of Stone 16 (which I hadn't photographed) to illustrate the neat tooling on it. There is no mention in the book of the 'V' mark. The b & w photo shows how flat the inner surface of the stone is, and how curved the outer face looks. I have also noticed before how well-finished Stone 16 looks when viewed from inside the circle, looking SW. It is almost perfectly rectangular with its straight top and sides.
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chimera
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| Posted 03-01-2008 at 05:39
If one stood NE of the trilithon, how closely would its polished "inside legs" fit to 16?
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chimera
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| Posted 03-01-2008 at 09:43
Looking at plans, it seems as if 16 is in line with the trilithon upright, and not between . Then the missing next stone would likely also be in line with the other upright. The existant 16 and upright have the same rectangle shape, so perhaps 16 and its next stone were copies of the trilithon , with matching in-line walls. This extra precision would suggest a chamber if an official stood within it, with the sunrise striking a person and not 16. The heel stone shadow would fall on him, facing the altar. And the sunray would pass on and not be blocked by stone.
Perhaps the V marks the edge of sunlight at solstice..
? ?
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AngieLake
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| Posted 03-01-2008 at 15:12
On 2008-01-03 09:43, chimera wrote:
Looking at plans, it seems as if 16 is in line with the trilithon upright, and not between . Then the missing next stone would likely also be in line with the other upright. The existant 16 and upright have the same rectangle shape, so perhaps 16 and its next stone were copies of the trilithon , with matching in-line walls. This extra precision would suggest a chamber if an official stood within it, with the sunrise striking a person and not 16. The heel stone shadow would fall on him, facing the altar. And the sunray would pass on and not be blocked by stone.
Perhaps the V marks the edge of sunlight at solstice..
? ?
Hi Chimera
Thanks for your input. Good ideas.
I looked up Stone 15 in some books and it appears to have fallen before 1666 (Burl) and according to the Min of Public Building and Works map in an old guide book, Stone 15 is 'missing'. Shame we can't look at its features today.
I also wondered when I read your comment, that maybe the 'V' was a 'feminine' symbol on Stone 16 and perhaps Stone 15 had a 'male' symbol engraved on its inner face? [Thinking of the male/female stones I photographed in West Kennet Long Barrow's end chamber in July 07?]
Maybe it wasn't anything to do with Summer Solstice sunrise, but more to do with Winter Solstice sunset? Arriving at a point near the so-called Altar Stone in the centre of Stonehenge, they'd see the lowering light of the sun shining between the uprights of the Great Trilithon. Maybe they stood on the Altar Stone [if it was always recumbent] to view this over the top of the bluestone at the apex of the horseshoe? Then passing between Gt. Trilithon Stones 56 and 57, and entering the area between the Gt.Trilithon and Stones 15/16, which 'captured' sunlight from the 'dying' winter sun. This would seem a 'hallowed' area, with those stones 15/16 decorated with female and male symbols, associated with their prayers to the gods for renewal at the shortest day of the year, framing the light shining between them.
Maybe even a symbolic 'coupling' of priest/priestess occured here?
Another thought..... IF the 'V' is actually not feminine, but a representation of an antler pick, (which might have been a ritual object?), maybe the priest-type person held one of those during this 'ceremony'. Stone 15 could have had some other ritual object's symbol on its surface, with the actual item held by another official (maybe of the opposite sex) dualling the force of their supplication....???
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chimera
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| Posted 03-01-2008 at 19:54
The winter is possible, but "standing on the altar" ye gods! The horseshoes and avenue seem to be the main game. How striaght is the line from inner upright to inner 16? Of all the missing stones, 15 would be most useful.
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AngieLake
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| Posted 04-01-2008 at 00:18
On 2008-01-03 19:54, chimera wrote:
The winter is possible, but "standing on the altar" ye gods! The horseshoes and avenue seem to be the main game. How striaght is the line from inner upright to inner 16? Of all the missing stones, 15 would be most useful.
Hi Chimera
Ok, but who knows if it was an 'altar'? That's the name we modern people have given it.
There are several photos on our Stonehenge site page which show the Great Trilithon and Stone 16.
As regards the avenue and horseshoes being important:
Maybe, if [when?] Winter Solstice was the focal point, we can compare the Avenue to the aisle in a church, and the apex of the horseshoes to the area in front of the altar, and think about how important those are in a wedding. The bride walks up the aisle to her future husband, who is waiting near the front of the congregation. The minister comes down from the altar to conduct the ceremony, but all the while the most important focal point is the altar, or the raised end of the church - not the aisle, nor where the people came from.
Imagine that a procession has walked all along that Avenue and finally enters that huge circle with the awesome bulk of the tallest pair of Great Trilithons facing them. Probably they would walk right up to those stones, then, somewhere in that SW area, a ritual would be enacted.
Perhaps a 'priest/priestess' is waiting for the procession there, or maybe the circle is empty, and the officiator/s have led them all the way.
Maybe there were moveable wooden structures, like some kind of platform, for the priest/priestess to stand or sit upon?
The horseshoe shapes also represent a womb, as many have pointed out. Walking into them, like going into the passage of West Kennet Long Barrow, would symbolise the return to the womb, so may be associated with the dead, rather than the living. Again it would be a similar set-up with a modern church and a funeral, too, where the coffin is carried to the front of the congregation, etc, etc..., as above.
I'm sure there have been many uses for Stonehenge over its phases, but this 'V' on Stone 16 could be important during possible Winter Solstice rituals for the reasons put forward.
Just musings... who knows, between us we may stumble on some likely theory!!
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chimera
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| Posted 04-01-2008 at 03:28
The V is more visible from winter sunrise, but if the chief honcho knows it's there, is visibility necessary? In fact, obscurity may be important to prevent everyone knowing the religious secrets about solstice. The over-kill power-play of the 5 trilithon horseshoe logically draws on the sun-heelstone-great trilithon manipulation of land and sky. I'm male, we're like that.
The winter stones may be like the wedding register over at one side, but not the centre of the action. I liked the many photos of 16 and upright, but again...is there a straight line along the edge of the upright leading to the straight edge along 16? The V would then be related to the upright, leaving the other 4 to a further meaning.?
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AngieLake
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| Posted 07-01-2008 at 23:25
On 2008-01-04 03:28, chimera wrote:
The V is more visible from winter sunrise, but if the chief honcho knows it's there, is visibility necessary? In fact, obscurity may be important to prevent everyone knowing the religious secrets about solstice. The over-kill power-play of the 5 trilithon horseshoe logically draws on the sun-heelstone-great trilithon manipulation of land and sky. I'm male, we're like that.
The winter stones may be like the wedding register over at one side, but not the centre of the action. I liked the many photos of 16 and upright, but again...is there a straight line along the edge of the upright leading to the straight edge along 16? The V would then be related to the upright, leaving the other 4 to a further meaning.?
Hi chimera
I'll have a look back at my camcorder footage to see if I can tell if those sides line up. Otherwise it'll have to wait until I go up there again. I've a few pics from 2 private access visits which may show this. Or maybe friend 'Jack ME' will know. [He has posted quite a lot of Stonehenge amongst other sites' stones during his research.] Will let you know soon, hopefully!
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chimera
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| Posted 08-01-2008 at 09:40
It seems on plans that the upright and 16 don't quite line up, but hey they are big stones! (It's off to the left, Og, move it about 6 13/16 inches..?)
Near enough may be good enough, and Newgrange is hardly precision-built. The other 4 trilithons are roughly north-south-east-west, because of the solstice position. Tara in Ireland is also roughly in the centre of the land with 4 kingdoms (near enough?).
Are the 4 trilithons an expression of 4 corners of the land centered on the sun ritual?
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