Again, we don't know what the stone is made of, or where it came from. How many such stones do you have in your catalogue, Pete? Is such a list published anywhere? If not, it should be -- and we should have some authoritative stone identifications, so that we can put some interpretations on them...... more and more intriguing!
15 comments:
I haven't published a list as I am still working on a book about Avebury a site which is so big that it makes Stonehenge look like something the boy scouts erected!
I'll get around to writing about Stonehenge one day.
PeteG
More power to your elbow! We do have a sort of list of "strange stones" in the big OU paper published in 1991, but after 20 years it certainly needs updating.
Stone the Crows!! (or the Stonehenge Jackdaws). To quote the maestro, Mr B Dylan, "Everybody must get stone(d)!"
A little caution is in order here. we don't know anything about these stones -- they may or may not be the ones referred to in the ancient literature, and they may or may not be spotted dolerites or rhyolites. They may even be sarsens, which would make them interesting but not exciting. They my also be limestone or one of the other rock types that pops up occasionally in Wiltshire....
I have found a large lump of Oolitic Limestone in a monument north of Avebury.
PeteG
Ah -- must consult my geological map to see whether or not it should be there!!
Mike Pitts told me the nearest source was the Cotswolds for Oolitic Limestone like this.
PeteG
At West Kennet Long Barrow the small slabs used as packing between the great sarcens include oolitic limestone. It is possible that the colour of the limestone was of some significance to the builders in any funerary rituals, as with, for instance, quartz at Newgrange.
That's interesting. There might be a lot to learn from the packing stones used on various sites. they are often overlooked, because the big stones grab the attention. But there do seem to be a lot of rather interesting stone types represented in the debitage / litter / soil horizons at Stonehenge and elsewhere -- and don't let's forget that in a morainic scatter or till sheet there are far more small stones from faraway places than large erratics.....
A very good example of prehistoric man's inclination to struggle with unusual geological stones quite long distances is the fine ammonite fossil set into the door-jamb of the Stoney Littleton long barrow, near Wellow & south-west of Bath - not that far from Nunney, Brian. It is possible to enter the long barrow's farthest recesses, 50 feet from the entrance. Small children will love a visit.
Thanks for the tip, Tony. I'll make a point of visiting it next time we are in Nunney -- with the grandsons!
Good: and, incidentally, this is an excellent spot for any Geographer (or potential Geographer!) to visit, as, e.g., you can see spoil heaps, now quite overgrown, across the Wellow Brook, associated with the former Somerset coalfield, as well as great panoramic views.
The long barrow itself is well preserved & has a good explanatory information panel, & the walk to it from the village is pleasant.
Talking of limestone,as we were, there is, of course, 'the Curious Case of the Berwick St James Stones', purported to have once been one stone at Stonehenge. You refer to them on page 106 of "Enigma". I believe Dennis Price may have been involved, as well as Aubrey Burl & the OU team?
I haven't got much more to add on that one -- but discussions may have rumbled on on Eternal Idol and other sites......
Eternal Idol blogsite does indeed have a lot to say about the Berwick St James (Jurrasic limestone} stones. The blogsite provides a 'Berwick St James' sub-site for those interested. Inigo Jones is alleged to have seen this stone.
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