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Cumbria
despite all the amputations
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All this talk of Shap has set me off thinking again. So here's one.
What is it with the Cumbrians banging walls through their monuments? I know it happens elsewhere but the Cumbrians seem to be particular good at this form of mutilation.
Here's a few examples
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/38303 Iron Hill
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/37001 Wilson Scar
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/6460 Leacet Hill
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/35645 Long Meg
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/30180 Hird Wood
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/41423 Studfold gate
What d'ya reckon to the liminal aspect of these monuments with repect to prehistoric boundaries and their survival into the present day? On my local moors it's barrows that tend to run along boundaries other areas employ standing stones to perform a similar function.
Or
Is this a chicken and an egg thing that may only go back as far as the acts of enclosure. Sort of - "well we're gonna enclose the land, so we'll use some prominent landmarks....see all them mounds running along that ridge? everything to the south of them belongs to me"
But
The barrows tend to follow ridges
Whereas
The Cumbrian circles aren't so clear cut and occur in varying geographical locations
So
Is there a connection between the barrow/boundaries and the circle/boundaries?
I used to be quite sure about the prehistoric boundary thing but now I ain't so sure...whatcha reckon?

An interesting aside
I guess it's also worth mentioning the wonderful site of Millin Bay recently highlighted by FW, where the monument was constructed over the top of the wall. http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/23406

confitzed?.....I am


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fitzcoraldo
Posted by fitzcoraldo
24th March 2006ce
16:07

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