When is a standing stone not a standing stone?

Mr Hamhead Jan 4, 2004 23:28:44

I've had one of those days....spent this morning down the road looking at a group of supposedly standing stones, (see Essa Stones, East Cornwall). OK so there are two upright stone in a field and nearby there are several other stones either laying in fields or built into walls.
The evidence that makes these standing stones and not just scratching posts seams to be that there was a barrow marked on the OS map of 1813 in a nearby field.
As I travel around Cornwall I often come across stones, especially on the moors, that could be menhirs, part of circles...or scratching posts! I am no expert on the matter but would like to know how those that are tell one from the other.

pure joy Jan 5, 2004 22:32:53

Replying to Mr Hamhead

I'm also no expert.....

maybe we need to find an expert in here!

Re scratching / rubbing posts - I can only say what i've read, which basically boils down to warning signs of stones that might be scratching posts, such as stones in the middle of a clear field and stones that are about the height of a cow's back (about 1.5 metres)

Kammer Jan 6, 2004 09:20:35

Replying to Mr Hamhead

I know what you mean about the scratching posts. They're a bit confusing. There are a number of stones that I've visited that I've subsequently found out aren't prehistoric. On the whole I just haven't listed them.

I usually place some trust in the NMRW (National Monument Record of Wales), but I wonder whether I am a bit too trusting at times. Just because the records say something isn't prehistoric, is that correct? What evidence do they have to date the site? If I can find the time I'll pay a visit to the NMRW library and dig deeper into their records. This usually helps, but it's very time consuming. In a lot of cases the records of different archaeological bodies contradict each other. If one or more think a site *is* prehistoric, then I tend to stick it up on TMA.

Hope this helps.

K x

FourWinds Jan 6, 2004 09:32:22

Replying to Mr Hamhead

Some Irish stone rows are thought by some to be the remains of old walls. It was once the practice (apparently) to build dry stone walls in sections with orthostatic stones every so often. I have never seen an intact wall of this construction, so I can not take it as gospel.

Pairs of evenly matched stones in a field could indicate an old gateway, where the hedge has been taken up and the stones left for rubbing.

Position is also key ...

If a stone is in the centre of a small field then it's likely to be a scratching post. In the middle of a large field it could have once stood in a hedge and been a boundary marker.

On a ridge or hilltop it is also likely to be a boundary marker.

Alongside a track/road it's likely to be a route marker.

I also consider landscape features and a stone's relationship to them.

elderford Jan 6, 2004 10:48:54

Replying to Mr Hamhead

Another consideration is boundary markers.