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Thanks for summarising what they said about Stone 16, Andy.
I think you are right... I shall have to apply to them for a copy of their scan.
(I did have a quick look through the report, but thre's such a lot to take in. Shall have to try to read it properly tomorrow.)
It's quite frustrating that they had nothing more to say about this stone. Even if that [inner face] fat inverted 'V' was natural you'd think they'd just mention it. It does resemble an antler pick, if nothing else, and is so noticeable.
The top of the inner face of the stone has a squashed triangle, too, and other lines that resembled a pattern on a clay tablet found in a ritual pit close to Stonehenge, and also scratched on a stone found at Skara Brae in Orkney. (Terence Meaden described these patterns as 'goddess' symbolism, but they could also be nothing more than a pleasing symmetrical effect to the 'artist'.)
The 'spine' effect on the outer face might be the result of darker lichen patches flanking it, but it's odd how it looks so striking in my set of 3 photos, and in other peoples' photos. [Obviously the lichen isn't that old!] It even creates the larger whole stone 'lozenge' shape around the spine in one shot. One friend, who's now passed away, saw that image (of the whole outer face) as representing a grain of corn. I still saw the spine as 'receiver' of a shadow from a stone or post between it and Winter Solstice sunset.
The pregnant belly effect (the obvious fertility symbol) might have been one reason for choosing the stone, as it really looks like that from the side, while looking NW. However, with Stone 15 standing, would that be obvious? It's interesting that the lower SE side looks like folds of a robe sweeping onto the ground.
Perhaps it was chosen for all these 'natural' features and was more 'special' to the builders because of this?
Also, if the sun didn't strike Stone 16's inner face highlighting the 'V' mark when the monument was complete, there's always the possibility it once stood alone as it does now, and was well-revered, either on that spot, or somewhere else locally, and that's why it was incorporated into the monument, and in one of the most important positions, near to the Winter Solstice sunset ....?
(In Hengeworld, Mike Pitts describes the stone as ".. a great chrysalis awaiting the midwinter sun." Lovely analogy!
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