Comment Post

Re: Pleiades alignments in Wales? Archaoastronomy at Twmbarlwm Parts 2 and 3 by Sivertsen on Monday, 25 July 2011

Hello there

I am sorry but I cannot assist with that one. The only circle that I identify with on Gray Hill is that adjacent to the solar alignment and here it appears to me to be the remnants of a kerbed cairn and not a circle as such. The stones that used to be upright within the circle and now prone on the ground indicate that this was most probably the case, that it was a small chambered construction.

What I can say as you mention the island Steep Holme is that if you take a line from the northernmost of the three cairns at Twmbarlwm, and extend that line to the middle of Flat Holme, that line will slide alongside the remaining two cairns of Twmbarlwm and accurately locate the stone at Druidstone.

Here we have two precise points and a variable, the variable being Flat Holme as there is no definitive location there of which I am aware that could be stated to be the target for such a line. However to have this meet precisely at Druidstone certainly begs the question of intention and I feel it is worth further examination.

Regarding location of the proposed cist, simply plot the lines on the map and see what emerges. In fact I have sent Richard material not so long ago that included drawings and he may well have something there that is use, I do not remember what I sent to be honest.

I wonder if Stuart has plotted a line from Twmbarlwm to Glastonbury. The two locations are 37.5 miles apart and it is doubtful if there is a visual link at that distance as Glastonbury is considerably less in stature than Twmbarlwm. Of course the same applies from Blaen Bran at the northern end of Mynydd Maen.

In fact there is nothing on either line to attract any interest whatever, I have just run this up to check. So lines from Twmbarlwm or from the north of Mynydd Maen at Mynydd Twyn- glas that extend to Glastonbury appear to be of no intrinsic value and without further check it is extremely doubtful if Glastonbury could have been viewed from the local hilltop here in Gwent due to the distance involved and Earth curvature. Even if it could be seen what would be the importance? There are other hills between that have been used equally as well in the pre Christian era.

Harry



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