Re: Henge corrals? | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Littlestone Dec 19, 2005 22:38:45

Replying to PeterH

>It is foolish to look upon Neolithic society as a ritual obsessed spiritual paradise. The entire economy needs to be understood.<

Yes, I agree, and I must say I've been taken aback by the rather blinkered view of some contributors to this thread when they seem to imply that most (all?) circles and henges were ritual and/or ceremonial in concept. We just do not know that to be true (nor, might I add, do we know it to be false :-) but I do get a little uneasy when I hear people claim circles and henges to be totally one thing or the other.

It's simplifying it I know but Stonehenge and Callanish suggests to me places that were probably totally ritual and/or ceremonial. Avebury suggests a place of ritual, ceremonial <i>and</i> utilitarian use, while many smaller circles and henges suggest a predominately utilitarian (with perhaps an element also of the ritual/ceremonial). What I find particularly disturbing is the blanket assumption that all circles and henges were for ritual/ceremonial use without conclusive evidence to support that assumption - until that evidence is forthcoming then I would say any reasonable* alternative idea for the use of these structures should be given a fair hearing.

* By reasonable I mean anything not connected to the Crystal Entity, energy lines, the seventh dimension or doors into altered states of perception (one does, however, need to keep an open mind in these matters :-)

fitzcoraldo Dec 19, 2005 22:51:11

Replying to Littlestone

Sorry to interrupt this cosy coupling but can one of you point me to one piece of hard archaeological evidence to support your 'Henge Corrals?' theories.

cropredy Dec 19, 2005 23:34:47

Replying to Littlestone

How can You say that energy lines, are unreasonable ?
Why does the idea of a form of cosmic energy come up against almost zealous hatred?
No way were the special stones of many sites lugged over many miles, built to such extrordinary alignments, just to keep livestock in, they may have progressed to this as the origonal usage died out, but origonally they were clearly all part of a knowledge that has been forgotten.
All I find, links the sites to luner alignments, alignments that are so easy to find, no complicated apparatus required, no stupid MY, measure,all the alignments are free to all, I am not claiming any special gifts, just something that is in all.
Once the sites evolved, then of course the more intelligent would have used them to detect and predict, this probably developed into various cults.
The sites are where the lines etc are, I can find sites suitable for circles etc with ease, all the best sites though, like seats in a theatre have been booked, most now have churchs on them, or the odd prehistoric relic.