Friday 28 February 2014

Stone 19 and its hole

Last summer when it we had weeks of hot dry weather I noticed and published on this blog the discovery of some parchmarks in the south west corner of the Stonehenge outer sarsen circle - see http://www.sarsen.org/2013/07/partch-marks-at-stonehenge.html

This provided the first evidence (though not conclusive) for the existence of stoneholes, and hence, the stones 17 and 18. 

The stoneholes for 20 and 19, as well as other recorded holes, showed up as parchmarks as well.

The top of Stone 19 still lies on the ground and I thought it would be interesting to compare it with the parchmark of its stonehole. And it is a fairly good fit for width, though of course the missing part of the stone may have been wider or narrower.


The parchmark from the south west.


The remains of stone 19 (stone to the right is a fallen lintel) the break would be about half way down the stone, the bottom half is missing.


The top of Stone 19


One oft the tenons, much eroded, on the top of stone 19.

(click any to embiggen)

Wednesday 26 February 2014

The Temples of Albion




The Temples of Albion: An Exploration of the Purpose behind Stone Circles by Daniel Johnston

Dan was kind enough to send me a copy of this to review:

His description:
"Stonehenge Unhinged was an attempt to demonstrate how its builders may have used the Aubrey Circle from the time of the early monument as a calendar for marking the solstices and equinoxes as well as the traditional Celtic holidays. The Temples of Albion An Exploration of the Purpose behind Stone Circles is an effort to put the achievements at Stonehenge into perspective, not as a stand-alone calendar, but as the final act in an ongoing Great Stone Circle Race lasting hundreds of years. In the process, stone circles like Long Meg and Her Daughters, Avebury, the Grey Wethers, Castlerigg, the Hurlers and Swinside are all examined and their connections through time surveyed in such a way that the mystery of why stone circles were built falls before a cascade of connections and coincidence.
Suddenly, the problems of the number of stones at various sites, circles of all shapes and sizes and possible astronomical alignments all tumble before a simple, logical progression showing the gradual development of new circle technologies all groping towards the ultimate goal of The Calendar, realized at Stonehenge. Along the way, the capabilities and aspirations of the Neolithic minds behind the circles are examined. The evidence presented reveals these "howling barbarians" were far more capable and astute than currently recognized, pursuing an elusive goal for centuries and transmitting their knowledge, as it accumulated, to future generations. The result is a simple, logical and compelling story of regional competition and dissemination of new ideas, via trade, throughout the British Isles.
This is a journey of exploration which, as a result of new ideas, provides unanticipated insights into questions which have puzzled antiquarians and archeologists for centuries. Why were two of the largest circles in Britain built at Avebury? Why does Castlerigg have an enigmatic rectangle of stones in its interior? What is the meaning behind the deformed Celtic Cross which is Callanish? All these mysteries and many more are addressed and, suddenly, are no longer head-scratchers but perfectly sensible and functional expressions of purpose. Anyone who is fascinated by Stonehenge and all the other enigmatic stone circles of Britain will find this enthralling account of circle development not only credible but also an Occam’s razor which slices through the muddle which is our current lack of understanding. 123 Illustrations."


I found it fascinating, it is so full of interesting points that I have only managed to skim over the surface, it is something I will go back to and read at leisure. Even if you reject his theory completely it is well worth reading. If, like me, you are not yet a convert then it is an argument that has to be considered. But even ignoring the theory it is a rich read with quotes and background and stories that make it a joy to read.


My Amazon review:

This is an extraordinary follow up to Stonehenge Unhinged The Wheel of the Sun. It provides a tour of stone circles where the author brings his knowledge, and apposite quotes, to both describe the circles but also to argue his theory of their numerical application in the construction of calenders.
I'm not completely convinced but am not quite sure why not. Maybe I have read it too quickly when otherwise distracted, maybe I need a printed copy I can scribble in. But I really enjoyed reading it,and will continue to return to it both to absorb the atmosphere of the places he brings to life but also to tease out the argument and further consider it.
Anyone interested in Stonehenge and other ancient stone circles should have it on their bookshelf.

Monday 24 February 2014

Press Release from Rob Ixer on Lithics from within the Stonehenge Landscape

An update on my announcement of a possible Bluestone debitage scatter find at Stonehenge:



I discovered this surface scatter in the spoil from animal burrows, the black round object is from a rabbit, last summer.

(click pictures to enlarge)

Over two hundred chips were seen  on the surface. The find was very close to Stonehenge, in the landscape but not within the Stonehenge Triangle. It was on the footpath of the A344 between the tunnel and Heel Stone, which has now been covered over with the restoration of the landscape scheme.

Rob Ixer has very kindly examined a sample and provided me with a Press Release on the findings:

Lithics from within the Stonehenge landscape collected by Mr T. Daw.

A selection of small lithics were collected by Mr T. Daw from within the Stonehenge landscape, they were macroscopically identified using x20 magnification. Their uniform but very restricted size range is of note as this would be unusual for Stonehenge debitage.

They comprise a mixture of modern roadstones, mainly fine-grained basalt , altered basalt and felsite, plus a single Stonehenge saccharoidal sarsen. The majority of the lithics are fine-grained igneous and similar in appearance to the spotted dolerites comprising most of the bluestones. Although the lithics are too small to determine macroscopically they appear to include two different types. No non-dolerite bluestone (rhyolite, tuff/ashes, sandstone) was recognised.

Two representative samples were sectioned to determine if either main group of lithics was a Stonehenge bluestone but neither was.  A sample of the abundant white feldspar and one of the rare, white feldspar classes of possible preselite were sectioned and petrographically described in transmitted and reflected light.  Neither thin section showed Preseli Dolerite.

The abundant white feldspar is an altered feldspathic rock possibly a basalt and the rare white feldspar rock is an altered felsite and more acidic carrying primary quartz.

The two sections add to the large number of adventitious lithics-mainly 19th and 20th century roadstones found in the Stonehenge Landscape.

Archive

Saccharoidal sarsen                                                                                     1.3g
Purple fine-grained lava same as from Fargo Wood Test Pits             1.9; 0.4g
Black, non-epidote bearing fine-grained dolerite with ?bornite         1.4g
Basalt/micrite                                                                                                0.4g
Abundant white feldspar     basalt                                                             1.1; 0.9g
Few white feldspar                                                                                        1.6; 1.5; 1.0; 0.6g

Rare, white feldspar, some pale green colouration   felsite                  1.6; 1.4; 1.3; 1.2; 3x0.8; 2x0.7;       0.6; 0.4

Saturday 22 February 2014

Marden Area Investigations

I note the excellent CONFERENCE : Archaeology in Wiltshire 2014 (09:30 am, Saturday, 15 March 2014) will include:

Andy Payne and Neil Linford (English Heritage)
Recent discoveries in the Marden area and the Vale of Pewsey
Initial results from the English Heritage survey work in the Vale of Pewsey and which are informing a fieldwork project being undertaken over the next few months.

Very interesting. I have covered the Marden area a few times on the blog. Here are some links to some of the posts. The first two are the most relevant I think.




Sarsen.org: Marden Henges And The Sarsen Route To Stonehenge
18 Mar 2013
When I wrote that short pamphlet I didn't look carefully at the route through Marden assuming that it would have roughly followed the present road. But the southern boundary of Marden Henge is incomplete where it adjoins ...


Sarsen.org: Wilsford Henge and Marden Barrow Report Now Available
17 Aug 2013
A geophysical survey was conducted as part of the Marden Environs NMP enhancement project (RASMIS 6302) over an area of approximately 20ha, encompassing a barrow cemetery and henge, both known from previous ...



Sarsen.org: The South Marden Causeway
31 Mar 2013
Pastscape - Detailed Result: MARDEN HENGE Marden Henge is one of the largest Neolithic henge monuments in the British Isles, and lies between Stonehenge and Avebury. The earthworks are fairly irregular, and consist of ...

Sarsen.org: Was Marden Henge the builder's yard for Stonehenge ...
10 Apr 2012
If it wasn't a village, or a temple, or a farm, or a cemetery, what was Marden for? Leary suspects the answer may be emerging in stone working tools, and flakes of sarsen, turning up all over the site. If you were going to drag ...

Sarsen.org: Marden Henge Excavations
11 Sep 2011
Marden Henge Excavations: "Mike Parker Pearson has recently put forward a new theory regarding the route for the sarsens from the Avebury area to Stonehenge. He believes that the stones were taken from the sarsen fields ...

Sarsen.org: Wilsford Henge
29 Jul 2013
Wilsford Henge. I have updated my post on Marden and Wilsford henges with some new aerial photos from Lizzie Bryant

Sarsen.org: English Heritage 2012 Research Reports on Stonehenge
11 Nov 2012
The opportunity has been taken to report a previous survey of the nearby long barrow Wilsford 34. The most significant issues raised are: the previously accepted relationships between the Lake Barrows and adjacent linear ...

Thursday 20 February 2014

EH Research News now online

RESEARCH NEWS ISSUE 20

This is the magazine version of Research News. It reports on projects being undertaken to support the National Heritage Protection Plan, whether commissioned from, or jointly funded with, external partners or undertaken directly by our own expert staff.

PDF: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/research-news-20/RN20_web.pdf

Saturday 15 February 2014

Stonehenge's Soggy Bottom

The water table has risen so high that Stonehenge Bottom is now holding water - a winterbourne that I haven't seen before.




Click to embiggen

Friday 7 February 2014

Restoring the Larkhill Sun Gap

Restoring the Larkhill Sun Gap

Simon Banton writes:

Due to plantations of trees growing on Larkhill the summer solstice sunrise as seen from Stonehenge no longer appears to the left of the tip of the Heelstone but to its right.
I think something should be done to restore the correct view.

Once upon a time, the military took account of the importance of the view of solstice sunrise from Stonehenge.
When - in 1910 - the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company gained permission to establish their flying school alongside the Army's aerodrome on Larkhill they were compelled to build their hangars so as to leave a gap for the summer solstice sunrise to shine down to Stonehenge.

This became known as the "Sun Gap"

Larkhill Sun Gap (original from http://www.crossandcockade.com/uploads/Gaz12.pdf)



.... more at: Restoring the Larkhill Sun Gap

Thursday 6 February 2014

STONEHENGE: 20TH CENTURY EXCAVATIONS PROJECT REPORT ON GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS 1993-4

http://research.english-heritage.org.uk/report/?4604

This report describes geophysical exploration of Stonehenge and the triangle of land that encloses it (the 'Stonehenge Triangle') undertaken in 1993-4 by the Ancient Monuments Laboratory. The surveys were carried out on behalf of English Heritage and Wessex Archaeology for the Twentieth Century Excavations at Stonehenge Project and consisted of a magnetometer survey of the whole triangle and a detailed resistivity survey of the famous henge monument. The magnetometer results provide new information on monuments and features in the triangle, some already documented but not previously subject to detailed study or survey. The resistivity data enhances the existing body of excavation and survey evidence for the arrangement and structure of the henge monument in its various phases. Both surveys therefore make a significant contribution to further understanding the history of an area at the heart of a landscape of outstanding archaeological importance.


Author: Payne , A W

DOWNLOAD REPORT - 3.3mb - STONEHENGE: 20TH CENTURY EXCAVATIONS PROJECT REPORT ON GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS 1993-4

Tuesday 4 February 2014

The New Hub Building at Stonehenge

The old visitor centre is being demolished and this is the hub building that will be erected in its place.


Click to embiggen

From: The planning application documents at http://services.wiltshire.gov.uk/UniDoc/Document/Search/DSA,499657, the full hub plans are at http://services.wiltshire.gov.uk/UniDoc/Document/File/Uy8yMDA5LzE1MjcsNjcyNzY=

(Planning documents URLS may change)

Sunday 2 February 2014

Stonehenge - The Stone Hanger?


Looking across from Stonehenge towards Luxenborough plantation, the block of trees on the right, I was reminded that on the Downs of southern England, and maybe elsewhere, such blocks of woodland on the edges and slopes are known as "Hangers" or "Hangings" from the Anglo-Saxon "Hangra": A wood on a hill-side.

In my opinion Stonehenge gets its name from being a Stone "Hanger" as it sits on the edge of a slope, It is as simple as that. And from "Hanger" we get "Henge" and a whole pottage of word derivations.

From the Google Street view car one can rotate the camera and see the similarity in outline between the wood and stone "Hangers".



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