Re: Stone corrals | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Stone corrals

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Littlestone Dec 3, 2005 00:13:44

Replying to David Raven

>...what's a 'corral configuration'?<

To be honest Dave it's all still just an idea (though I'm encouraged by your friend's suggestion that, "...a local site may have been in use as a stock corral..." and would be interested to hear more about that.

Though I have great respect for our ancient circles perhaps it's also worthwhile looking at things from a different angle sometimes and not just accepting 'in vogue' ideas that stone circles were places of esoteric/religious/festive gathering but that some were just simple pens for livestock.

I look at tiompan's photo at http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/img_fullsize/39584.jpg for example, and nickbrand's photo at http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/img_fullsize/13499.jpg, and I really don't see anything esoteric there; just stones that may have formed posts for pens.

Happy to be disproved on that however :-)

Moth Dec 3, 2005 01:24:19

Replying to Littlestone

Hmmm. not to disagree with your actual premise, LS, but not sure about those examples. They look like they could be 'cairn circles' to me - the retaining 'wall' to keep in cairn material.

Like this http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/19469 or a 'single' version of this http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/9633

love

Moth

nigelswift Dec 3, 2005 09:16:14

Replying to Littlestone

"Though I have great respect for our ancient circles perhaps it's also worthwhile looking at things from a different angle sometimes and not just accepting 'in vogue' ideas that stone circles were places of esoteric/religious/festive gathering but that some were just simple pens for livestock."

Very fair point, but extending the speculations to big showy places like Avebury is a step too far IMHO. If I didn't know you better I might think you had your tongue in your cheek and were enjoying stirring the pot! ;) Such effort, such aesthetics, such longevity - for a simple non-ritual function that could have been achieved by a wooden fence!

But small circles, yes, why not. Britain is plastered with stone animal pounds that have a similar feel to them. Wonder if anyone has analysed whether the entrances to those tend to be in a particular position? Away from the prevailing wind for instance? ;)

BigSweetie Dec 3, 2005 10:58:47

Replying to Littlestone

I do think your theory's an interesting one, and I'm sure in some places stone circles may have had other uses. however, I am almost certain Meikle Findowie isn't one of them. The tallest stone here is about a metre high, with most of the rest being much smaller. Not obvious in the photos is that inside the main circle is a second ring of much smaller stones

It isn't thought to have had a cairn in it either, just a double circle of stones. As with other sites in the remoter parts of Perthshire, the circles were probably built with smaller stones due to the manpower rquired

Cheers
Andy

Rune Dec 4, 2005 14:35:03

Replying to Littlestone

>>I look at tiompan's photo at http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/img_fullsize/39584.jpg for example, and nickbrand's photo at http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/img_fullsize/13499.jpg, and I really don't see anything esoteric there; just stones that may have formed posts for pens.
<<

I dunno, Littlestone. I'm going to leap into the thread here so apologies if these points have already been raised. From a practical point of view...

Are we thinking here of corralling animals on say an overnight stop on a long drove road whilst en route to market?
Our ancestors weren't stupid, if they wanted animal pens and the available material was stone, why didn't they build solid walls with one gateway? Why do half a job? Why have gaps that needed constant reinforcement and vigilance against predators?

Also, on or near the top of a hill is the least sheltered spot, how would they get water to the stock kept there? Hard to tell with the scale of things, but animals can jump a fair way, goats, no chance of penning in either of those areas, sheep, maybe, cattle could just step over the stones, deer would bound out, 6 ft fences aren't any probs to a deer, pigs, were they ever 'herded'?

Or, are we thinking of say a lambing pen? For sheep not brought to the valleys for lambing? Somewhere on the high grazing ground that would provide shelter in winter for the ewes and their young, somewhere to keep the lambs safe from predators? Again, a solid stone wall is much more effective, think of wolves and foxes easily gaining access through those gaps and think of that concentration of sheep in that small area for a period of time, what would they eat and where would the water supply be?

They are only my thoughts, I'm not discounting the corral idea, we ought to look for other than ritual and esoteric use, I'm just wondering how it would work in practise.

Rune