The one thing we know about the North Barrow at Stonehenge is that it isn't a "barrow". This circular feature with a an outer bank, ditch and flat central section held a missing Station Stone originally. Where it fits into the chronology of Stonehenge is unclear. Atkinson's section of it is badly recorded and fails to answer one of the fundamental questions, is the circular structure older or younger, is it overlain or does it overlie the main henge bank. Even the age of it in relation to the Aubrey holes in it is unclear.
The best evidence seems to be from Sharpe's balloon photo which to my mind shows the barrow as a complete circle (partly destroyed by the track, with the henge bank overlying it, but others see the photograph as proving the opposite.
I also attach a detail from a photo Adam Stanford took this summer which shows the parch marks and a hint of the position of the Station Stone on the very edge of the path.
Click to embiggen
I have been informed by a mutual friend that the new marker for SS-94 has been situated in the wrong place. Sharpe's 1906 photo seems to confirm this.
I am firmly in the school that says the North Barrow pre-dates the Henge.
Clearly, the 'barrow' (a very poor generic term used by archaeologists) were constructions originally used as markers, with stone uprights at their centre (sadly, bodies and cremations were added by later civilisations to confuse academics) post dates the Aubrey Holes, as they are not seen on the barrow, unlike the centre marker stone.ReplyDelete
So if the AH's are contemporary with the moat (which is logical as they held the bluestones which in turn needed water from the moat to heal) - the barrow is 'post' AH & moat/ditch which explains the photo.
“Clearly, the ' barrow' (a very poor generic term used by archaeologists) “ReplyDelete
Then why did you use it in relation to the exactly the same monument ? e.g.
“As far as I'm concerned and the FACT that they have a moat and they are round and they are above ground shows me that 'statistically' the 'probability' its a barrow. “ See http://robertjohnlangdon.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/stone-circle-secrets-revealed.html . Scroll down to comments , which will also provide an antidote to the marker “theory “ .
I use the term 'barrow' for a prehistoric site built in the Mesolithic (long) and Neolithic (round) - all the others are later date copies. All the other 12 categories archaeologists use are generic and incorrect (in my humble opinion). Long Barrows are Navigational aids for boats, Round barrows are navigational aids for walkers.Delete
Hence the North Mound is a walkers navigational aid built in the Neolithic after the post glacial waters had subsided. This is confirmed but the lack of AH's on the photo time provided as the AH holes are Mesolithic built at the same time as the moat to house the bluestones.
Hope this free Christmas lecture clears up your confusion?
No , the confusion is all yours , in more ways than one , see below , and you have avoided the problem .ReplyDelete
You complained about the term used by archaeologists for a feature at Stonehenge i.e. the north barrow , when it was the same term used by yourself in relation to the same monument . In the unlikely event of you having learnt from the highlighting of your error in the comments from 18 months ago , it changes nothing, the quote is there for all to see .
“Hence the North Mound “ There is no “North mound “ , have you actually seen the site ? Or did you forget “Stukeley described them as “cavities “ and Wood as “concavities “ ?
Apart from the lack of evidence , fantasy dating , and comical implications for any of the “ideas” above (images of walkers wandering around in circles and bumping into each other “it’s thataway “ in barrow cemeteries ,springs to mind ) it is of no consequence how you “use “ the term .
Btw , the second half is obviously wrong but what does the first half of this mean ? “This is confirmed but the lack of AH's on the photo time provided as the AH holes are Mesolithic built at the same time as the moat to house the bluestones. “
“post dates the Aubrey Holes, as they are not seen on the barrow,”ReplyDelete
Have a look at the site of AH 46 .
Clue , see the map above .
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I think you'll find your AH46 is the Centre stone of the barrow AKA Station Hole 94 - proven as AH 47 is nowhere to be seen!Delete
“I think you'll find your AH46 is the Centre stone of the barrow AKA Station Hole 94 - proven as AH 47 is nowhere to be seen! “ReplyDelete
Is this an attempt at breaking the errors to words ratio record ?
It’s the hole for stone 94 not station hole 94 , have you seen the other 93 “ station holes “?
AH 46 is quite distinct from SH 94 , simply ,they are two different features
AH 47 is also distinct from AH 46 and SH 94 and found approximately midway between AH46 and AH 48 .