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Fieldnotes
| You know how sometimes when you re-visit a place years later and maybe the stones are bigger or smaller, or it was further to walk than you remembered, or something will be different to how you remember it. This is not that place, it stayed unretarded and unchanged in my memory, it was just how I remembered it, and it was just as perfect a place as it was eleven years ago. Last time I came the rest of the family stayed in the motor home and I got to come here on my own and spend some quality time alone with a pair of perfect strangers, Christophe the guide and Pierre plats herself. This time the kids elected to stay on the beach and create some sand sculptures, apparently they're too old for sand castles now, which works well for me because Christophe aint here so we are totally alone now. Being alone at such a place as this is a rare thing in a Breton summer, but rather than rush round I take my time with her. First of all I take a good long look at the big standing stone in front of the passage entrance, the side that faces the sea is ragged and gnarled, bitten hard by the power of windy seas. But the reverse side is still smooth, and peppered with cup marks, one is as deep as a golf ball, one is half as deep and maybe ten more fainter still. Then I take a walk to the back of the passage on top of the capstones, there could be sixteen capstones but some maybe broken, so do you count it as one or two now. You can see the curve of the capstones as they cover the priceless art work underneath, at the elbow to the passage a side passage turns left, you can see it's two capstones from above as well. At the junction of these two passages the capstones have on their upper surfaces carved grooves, one stone has about nine another has only two. Their purpose eludes me, but I suspect they are not original. Whilst i'm at the far end a man enters the passage, then I can hear him swear in English about his wet feet, evidently there is a puddle of substantial size in side, he doesn't last long and soon rejoins his partner for their evening stroll on the beach. Now it's my go inside. A great man once said "Entering a burial chamber is a lot like making love to a beautiful woman" or he would have done if he ever did so. But I am and the thought isn't a million miles away from my mind. The first carved stone you pass is the entrance pillar itself, not arty carving but you can tell it's been done. The puddle inside is quite extensive but some one has put stones along its length to step along, tottering along I make it to the bend in the passage and the junction with the left turn. In side the smaller passage which doesn't go much more than ten feet it is dry, but there is debris from other visitors. I rejoin the main passage and look out for the arty bits, of which there is many, they are coming thick and fast and soon I'm looking for them on all the stones. It is a megalithic treasure trove this place the carvings are still so neat and fresh, I angle my torch, like so, to pick out the shapes more clearly, they are quite breathtaking. Now I'm at the end of the passage and a side slab cuts off the end six feet in an almost chamber, it's quite dry at the back and I sit for a while with my back to the wall. Someones coming, but the puddle dissuades them form disturbing our embrace and penetrating further, no puddle can dampen my ardor I'm in up to the hilt. "Entering a burial chamber is a lot like making love to a beautiful woman" Is it ? I'm sure that it is. Just then Eric comes looking for me and pokes his head in through a gap in the roof, caught again, our time is over, all too quickly, he informs me ive been here for an hour, how time flies when your having fun. Is it ? |
Posted by postman12th August 2014ce Edited 13th August 2014ce
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Comments (6) |
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| Oh, those are such great notes. |
Posted by thesweetcheat12th August 2014ce |
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Don't encourage him. I would say he should get out more, but given the mileage he's dedicated to the prehistoric, perhaps we now know what happens when you get out too much :) It sounds like an amazing place, especially with the added bonus of the carvings. |
Posted by Rhiannon13th August 2014ce |
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thanks very much. No encouragement needed, but spectating is allowed. It is amazing, virtually perfect. I love it hugely. |
Posted by postman 13th August 2014ce |
| Fantastic fieldnotes, brought back wonderful memories of one of my favourite sites, and some great words of wisdom I can draw on when trying to answer the inevitable bemused questions from colleagues and acquaintances who wonder just why it is I’m always so obsessed with ancient tombs! |
Posted by Ravenfeather13th August 2014ce |
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Rh: He doesn't need encouragement, obviously. P: Spectating may be just a bit wrong. RF: Your colleagues will certainly get some idea if you answer their questions with "Entering a burial chamber is a lot like making love to a beautiful woman". |
Posted by thesweetcheat 13th August 2014ce |
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Haha, very good. I dread to think what else interacting with megaliths could be like. |
Posted by postman 13th August 2014ce |
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