Big-up Throwing Stones

wideford Apr 20, 2006 09:58:51

In his book "Orcadiana" Gregor Lamb proposes that the tales of giants throwing stones derive from stone-lifting contests. These latter are still held in a few places - did it precede tossing the caber, one wonders. It has always struck me that in these giants' stories we could have a window into prehistoric relations between settlement areas. Thoughts ?

FourWinds Apr 20, 2006 10:11:45

Replying to wideford

It has long been held that mythical peoples, such as the Formorians & Tuatha da Dannan in Ireland, are memories of ancient races.

The problem with the Irish myths is that they tell of five invasions, while modern theory doesn't support large scale invasions into the British Isles.

As for thrown stones, I'm not sure. I just think they're ancient boundaries. Then the tale comes along that So-And-So placed the stone there to keep Such-And-Such out. This in turn mutates to become So-And-So threw this stone at Such-And-Such.

tiompan Apr 20, 2006 10:51:03

Replying to wideford

Most that I know are erratics and certainly required at least the devil or a few giant's to lift never mind throw. Ideal boundary markers .

StoneLifter Apr 20, 2006 11:30:47

Replying to wideford

There's - or there used to be - a Sports Day activity that was 'throwing the cricket ball'. It used to be a junior bit of putting the shot and javelin hurling and is quite close. The carved stone balls could have been usefully chucked competitively, though none are chipped from landing on a another stone. The reality TV endurance shows are a trial of some kind of strength. Tossing the caber might always have been a chucking a tree trunk competition.