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Unless otherwise stated, this image is the copyright of the submitter. Contact them for permission to reproduce it. |  | | Description | Copyright. A. Lake, Dec.2006.
Not too long after dawn on 6th December 2006, the sunlight casts interesting shadows over the inner face of Stone 16 (I believe this is its number?). In the distance, on this side of the trees, is the barrow (partly obscured by a large red lorry!) near to the sunset position on the previous evening.
Despite being quite squarely finished off, this face of the stone shows many scored lines, and lower down a very noticeable thick inverted 'V'. Whether this is what Terence Meaden would refer to as a 'vulva' symbol, I'm not sure. He doesn't refer to this one in his book 'Stonehenge, The Secret of the Solstice'.
On two separate Private Access visits, 3 years apart, I've dowsed this area between here and the tallest remaining great central trilithon, as the most important part of the monument. |
| Posted Comments: AngieLake
(2007-12-24) | Have just noticed that this is reminiscent of an antler pick - tilted over to the left. (Burl uses an upright symbol in his book 'Prehistoric Avebury', illustrating excavated items in the ditch there [p.65].) | AngieLake
(2008-02-07) | Chimera [in current Forum discussion] suggested that the 'V' might possibly represent sun-rays, but I pointed out that it is too 'fat'. The stone does have lots of what appear to be criss-cross hatchings above the 'V'. Right at the top there is one wide, inverted, squashed triangle. Not forgetting the 'pregnant belly' on the outer face, I believe this stone is very important. | AngieLake
(2008-04-11) | Hoping visitors from another Forum will be able to view this one more easily on the recent comments pages. [Rach?] | AngieLake
(2010-05-08) | Drew Parsons has posted this photo of Menhir Almendres in Portugal, with its 'hafted axe' carving. http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=a312&file=index&do=showpic&pid=56837&orderby=dateD
It immediately reminded me of Stone 16's V mark, which I'd already thought might also represent an antler-pick. | AngieLake
(2011-01-08) | This one's just come up on random image. I was only thinking about it yesterday, especially regarding how lucky JackME and I were to have had a clear, sunny dawn that day. (A day when the sun would be in the same position again on 6th January, if I'm right?) | AngieLake
(2011-03-12) | If you click on 'Previous Picture' above this photo, there's another, similar, view of the stone. The V mark is at approx waist-level. (These were the first I'd ever taken and I'd not even seen it on site.. it was only days later while browsing through my photos that I noticed it, despite the fact that it dowsed as the most important stone in the monument that day. There are many more on the Stonehenge site page in the 'more photos' link, including camcorder stills, and close-ups.)
The wide V at the very top of the stone seems to contain a rising [or is that setting?!] sun with radiating rays here! | Feanor
(2011-07-23) | Hi Angie!
I have been reviewing your work on Stone 16 as posted on this site and it seems to raise some intriguing questions. The Fertility Symbology, in addition to the 'Pregnant Belly', are compelling. There are many contemporary artifacts - particularly at Durrington Walls - which support the supposition.
I note that in other photos and commentary your focus has been on the alignment of 16 with 56. In perhaps an expansion of your thought-road might I suggest that Stone 15 played an equally important role in these Winter Solstice Alignments, e.g. Stone 55, and may well have been marked in a similar fashion? It begs the question of whether the broken remnant of 15 has ever been studied - particularly on the underside, since the inner face is down.
As we're all aware, Stones 55 & 56 were smoothed on all 4 sides - unlike the other Stones in the Trilithon Set or the Circle. This has lent support to the overall importance of the Winter Solstice rather than the Summer. The clearly obvious work on 16 furthers the argument. As none of these seemingly deliberate markings occur on the inner (or outer) faces of Stones 30 or 1, it follows that 21 December was more important.
Stone 16 is among the most heavily worked at the Site and I wonder about 15 as well. Perhaps the damage is too great to tell its story, but it would be an undeniably interesting study.
As with the other paired Stones of the Trilithons it has been suggested that the opposing 'rough/smooth' uprights may intentionally indicate the 'male/female' bond. It makes me wonder if, as a mate to 16, 15 had male symbology associated with it. Although the Trilithons have the 'male' on the right, and of course 15 & 16 were part of the Sarsen Circle, I may be well off the mark here, but it's still intriguing to consider.
I will ask around to see if any work has ever been done on 15.
You have me interested now, dear, so be advised - short of my going there and rooting around in person - if there's an answer, I will find it! | AngieLake
(2011-07-23) | Thanks Feanor. I also had the theory that Stone 15 may have had a male symbol carved on it, and significantly, the pair sit astride the main Axis of Stonehenge. Have written quite a lot about my ideas on Eternal Idol's forum over the past few years, so would have to dig in there! It would be great if archaeologists made a proper study of this arc of Sarsens, esp excavating around the base of Stone 16 and inspecting what's left of Stone 15. | Feanor
(2011-07-24) | As it turns out I have already read many of your and others notes on Eternal Idol - one of the reasons that I am following through to learn more. Great site!
Additionally, although I have come to realize that some of my thoughts or suppositions can hardly be considered new - possibly even 'Babe-In-The-Woods' stuff - it remains of great interest to me to know what other, more informed people think of them. My knowledge of the History and Construction of Great Henge is rather more than a typical arm-chair student. But my knowledge of its more arcane subtleties and purposes are somewhat lacking. Therefore it is with rapt attention that I listen and learn what others such as yourself have to say with regard to these, previously ancillary, subjects.
Thanks for your kind attention! | AngieLake
(2011-10-05) | Drew has posted up an excellent pic of hafted axes today, which are a good illustration of another possible meaning for the 'inverted V mark' on Stone 16. It'll be great if the recent digital assessment of Stonehenge solves this mystery:
http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=a312&file=index&do=showpic&pid=82611&orderby=dateD | Blingo von Trumpenstein
(2011-10-05) | I would suggest hafted flint axes rather than hafted bronze axes. Same hafting style - crooked shaft or 2 pieces joined and then an antler sleeve to hold (and cushion slightly) the flint axehead onto the wooden shaft. Looks pretty convincing to me - the shapes are all very similar and really do look like axes . . . Rock on | AngieLake
(2011-10-05) | Cheers Blingo! That's interesting info. I was thinking of the shape more than the type, though I did suggest antler picks earlier - see first comment in list. |
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