BBC Bitesize on "summer solstice myths and the truth behind them"
That Stonehenge was built to align to the Solstices is one of the very few certainties about it.
To downgrade this to a being just a claim by English Heritage and on par with myths about Merlin and Aliens is insulting. That was also a "burial ground" is an additional fact not an alternative one.
"That Stonehenge was built to align to the Solstices is one of the very few certainties about it"
ReplyDeleteThat wording is strong Tim. Whilst it's entirely possible that they did have that intent, there's very little evidence for it other than the alignment itself (a circular argument). There's also counter-evidence. For example, if a designer wanted to align to solstice (to get the best view for example), then it would have been better to locate Stonehenge a little to the West: here you get better and more sweeping views of the event.
When considering the mid summer solstice I have several problems. It would not be easy to get from their home to the site as the sun rises. The sun sits in the same place fof about 9 days , which one do they use. The spacing of the circle sarsens is wider at the view of the heel stone.
ReplyDeleteIf you stand at the heel stone at the mid winter solstice you are already there in the evening. The gap is through the large trilithon so is easier to judge. The moon can help you judge the actual day. I am sure there are holes in this proposition but I believe it is well on the way