AngieLake
(2012-08-30) | How lucky you were to have that experience sem. Great photo. :-) |
Runemage
(2012-08-30) | So much for a barrow being a place of the dead ;-) |
AngieLake
(2012-08-30) | Peter Knight seems to be a bit of an expert on WKLB (his book is pretty good - I'm up to p. 146 now), and he says on p.213: "As you enter, the first chambers on the left and right (the SE and NE chambers) often house nesting swallows during the summer. Please respect their presence, and that of their newly hatched young. Please do not drum or chant in these two chambers when nests are occupied." |
PeteG
(2012-08-31) | "Please do not drum or chant... " I wish people wouldn't do this at all! I find it hugely disrespectful. You wouldn't do it in a crypt would you? |
Runemage
(2012-08-31) | Drum and/or chant is a way of reaching an altered state of consciousness, that's the main reason many people visit ancient sites. Drumming is seen in that type of use to be a shamanic activity and people believe (rightly or wrongly) they are carrying out a long-standing tradition by doing so. Crypts are tied in with christianity and whilst drumming isn't within their traditions. Chant is, particularly Gregorian, which can have a consciousness-changing effect and I'd doubt if anyone would object to hearing that in a crypt or say it was disrespectful. |
holger rix
(2012-08-31) | Gladly, this kind of annoyance is not common in Germany. I have yet to see someone bangin the drums in a burial chamber. Ha ha ha !!! Saw a group of dowsers, once. In Klecken Long Barrow. Had to wait until the stone-touching was over. I bet they all payed a fortune for the trip. |
PeteG
(2012-08-31) | No Drum remains have ever been found in a long barrow, and I'm certain the didgeridoo wasn't in use during the Neolithic! When I visit WKLB if I hear drumming I turn around and come back later to clean up the rubbish that is always left behind. |
Runemage
(2012-08-31) | I'm well aware of that Pete, some folks aren't.
Peter Knight has given a lot of his time and energy towards the education of visitors not to leave any evidence of their visits, in conjunction with discussions on our fora. It takes time to get the message across, but it's happening. |
Sunny100
(2012-08-31) | More likely you come away with a resounding, banging headache ! Ha. |
PeteG
(2012-08-31) | Things will all change when the mound gets torn apart soon. All that concrete cancer has to be replaced. An internal solar powered light will be fitted to stop people lighting candles inside. It's still undecided whether a gate will be fitted to the entrance. This is all part of the current Disneyfication of the Avebury theme-park. |
AngieLake
(2012-09-01) | That sounds awful Pete, when will it happen? 'Improvements' being made to the appearance of Stonehenge's surroundings, but 'Disneyfication' at Avebury... what is going on? I DO hope they're not planning to take away public access to the circle and Avenue?! Re: 'Drumming'.. I really enjoy hearing people drumming at Stonehenge Summer Solstice. I've not been in WKLB during a drumming session, but I think I'd enjoy the experience. However, because it's a rare treat to visit the longbarrow I want to get the chance to take photos and browse around in peace, so to find a group there would spoil that. (I presume they'd usually go there out of normal visiting times?) My friend and I were lucky enough to have the whole place to ourselves for about an hour one lunchtime back in June. |
PeteG
(2012-09-01) | I was there on Solstice evening this year and got the whole place to myself all night!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM0Ko2dJdCo
Conservation is going to happen soon. The skylights have been damaged for a number of years now and the cancer in the concrete needs badly replacing. It should all be finished by the time Stonehenge visitors centre is reopened in 2014 |
Blingo von Trumpenstein
(2012-09-01) | Drums are central to humanity. I drum everywhere . . . |
Martin L
(2012-09-01) | Thanks for the video link PeteG.
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hamish
(2012-09-03) | I believe the height of the interior of the barrow was increased for the safety of visitors. Any accoustics would be totally different now.Any chanting and other noise would probably have been external.
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Runemage
(2012-09-03) | I don't doubt there was external noise but for the effects of possible internal noise, have a look at Aaron Watson's archaeoacoustic research into standing waves etc inside different types of ancient places. http://www.monumental.uk.com/site/research/ |
sem
(2012-09-05) | It's nice that a humble swallow can be a catalyst for such discussions. I don't think I'll worry about the drumming as yesterday I saw a fledgling in the rafters of a car bodyrepair shop ignoring all the banging and clattering while mum and dad fed him/her up for the inaugural flight!
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PeteG
(2012-09-06) | Hi Sem, I set up a time lapse camera on the entrance during the solstice filming and the same bird was caught on several frames as it swooped in and out. It even posed for me! http://www.peteglastonbury.plus.com/WLKBird.jpg
Pete
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AngieLake
(2012-09-06) | That is a beautiful photo Pete. :) |
sem
(2012-09-06) | Cheeky little buggers aren't they Pete. |
PeteG
(2012-09-23) | They were still there at Equinox (or it was the offspring).
Once again, while the car park was full of vans with sleeping people in, I had the WKLB all to my self!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7nWeDgsVVw
PeteG |
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