The fantasy factory is still churning them out........

A few days ago MPP gave a talk to the Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society, and it's obvious that he has no intention of backing off on anything, no matter what criticism comes in his direction and no matter how many of his theories are shown to be quite unsupported by the evidence in the field.  

He still goes on about bluestones in the Aubrey Holes and at "Bluestonehenge".  He still goes on about quarries at Rhosyfelin and Carn Goedog; and now he wants sarsen quarries in West Woods and has invented a new quarry at Garn Ddu-fach simply because stone 62 is now thought to have come from there or near there.  He still goes on about his "abandoned stone circle" at Waun Mawn in spite of most other archaeologists apparently  thinking the whole idea is more than a little ludicrous.  Somebody who was at the lecture wrote about Waun Mawn and MPP's take on it:  "However, there were no where near the 80 bluestones that ended up at Stonehenge. The for remaining stones at Waun Mawn were of a type NOT found at Stonehenge. So maybe, Mike says, what was taken to Stonehenge was the idea of the stone circle from Waun Mawn."  Ah yes, it's the ideas and the intentions that really matter...... and now we all know where circles were invented.

The strontium research  results show that "the people buried at Stonehenge were "individuals consistent with living in West Wales".  What a weird expression.  How to twist research to suit your fancy.  The results actually show that a small number of  individuals could also have lived almost anywhere in Lower Palaeozoic Britain, as many observers have pointed out.

Dolerite wedges used in quarrying? Hmm-- that's new! New digs, including some looking for "new" Neolithic henges in the area? They have already looked at around ten sites and drawn a blank on each of them -- so now they are off hunting for even more possible sites for the Holy Grail?  

More sites for bluestone fragments being investigated too?  That suggests to me that the geologists have found even greater diversity in the bluestone fragments assemblage at Stonehenge -- or maybe they are looking for the source of the Newall Boulder.  If so, I would applaud that, except that if they find  a site that looks approximately right, they will immediately label it as another Neolithic quarry........  And the Altar Stone from Central or Northern Britain?  Now that would be fun.

As for all the stuff about ancestor cults, zones of the dead and the living, east and west, liminal zones, unity and unification -- there are plenty of archaeologists who will not be too impressed, and who will no doubt have plenty to say.

Oh dear oh dear............... and probably with no reference at all to any of his ideas being disputed by others who known his key sites far better than he does.

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MPP talk to Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society — 10 March 2023

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Many thanks to Jon for allowing me to use his notes.

1. Jon’s post on Twitter — part of a thread

2: MPP's team is now "very confident" that the Aubrey holes held bluestones and that the nearby Bluestonehenge held others.

3: The bluestone quarries at Carn Geodog (and Craig Rhosyfelin), for which there is "plenty of evidence" were described, together with work on the Sarsen Quarries (@davidjnash was mentioned). Also noted that the Geodog Quarries were "closed down in the 30thC BC".

4: Quarrying methods, including Dolerite Wedge hammering methods, were described in some detail together with the newly discovered quarry at Garn Ddu-fach.  Geological work, including that of Ixer & Bevins, was also mentioned.

5: Waun Mawn, where there "had clearly been a larger circle" was described, together with its unfinished status. This is now thought of as an "abandoned Stone Circle". The recent findings at Cerrig Lladron were not specifically mentioned.

6: There will be a new Pembrokeshire dig in the summer. Mike was cagey on where this would be but, based on the slide shown, I noticed a "new" dot to the east of Rhos y Felin.

7: Wherever that new excavation will be, the remains of four possible Neolithic henges will be excavated

8: A development on the Altar Stone: this is now thought to have been sourced from "Central or Northern Britain".  (my note: major development this one!)

9: Strontium research was reviewed, showing that the people buried at Stonehenge were "individuals consistent with living in West Wales".

10: The pits surrounding Durrington were described in some detail. These dated to 2460-2200BC.

11: The Ancestor theory, and Ramilisonina's suggestions on Stonehenge were reviewed & restated with reference to Domains of the Dead and of the Living.

12: The Beaker people, who set up a camp to the North of Stonehenge "came from Ukraine". With this came the "reintegration with Europe".

13: The "liminal zone between territories", within which Stonehenge lies, (between the East And West farmers & before the Beakers arrived) was described together with the suggestion that Stonehenge was a "statement of Unity".  

14: I think I've described this faithfully (but if there are any errors please let me know!)