Standing with Stones DVD

close
more_vert
Rupert Soskin R
Rupert Soskin Jan 28, 2008 21:28:32
Replying to scubi63

Hi Scubi,
I agree with you that the pulped indentations could have been made when the tree fell. The most exciting thing about them though, is the fact that they can only happen on soft tissue. Actually it was those marks more than anything else that convinced me it was really wood and not a freak piece of mudstone.
As for the notches, it's not unusual to have crystals forming in irregular rock surfaces, in fact, if you mooch around the rocks close by in the field, there are calcite crystals which look superficially similar. The thing is the way they have affected the 'tree trunk' matrix. If it was normal crystal growth in stone it would not have caused the lateral shift... if you see what I mean. The 'dragged' bark would simply not be there.

There was one geologist I really wanted to check this out for me, Dr Alan Timms, ex Natural History and Geology Museum, a man who taught me more about the earth than anyone. Unfortunately I can't track him down since he took early retirement and I just haven't had the time to find a dendrochronologist to get on the case. The sad fact is that there is no non-destructive way to verify it. You'd have to take various samples, possibly even a core, and I can't see the authorities rushing in to that:-)

Bloody ought to though!


Rupert

F FourWinds
FourWinds Jan 28, 2008 22:58:18
Replying to Rupert Soskin

The stone in Bryn Celli Ddu causes problems because it's so very odd. It's so odd that it's easier to ignore it than consider it. There aren't many examples of a free-standing standing stone in a tomb. The only two definites I can think of are Cairn F at Carrowkeel and Cairn L at Loughcrew. Some early reports of Newgrange mentioned a fallen stone in the chamber, but no evidence of this was found during excavation.

Both of the two Irish ones mentioned would have been visible from the entrance, unlike the BCD one, which is hidden away round the corner. They are also square in plan.

If you're right (and I think all of us hope you are), then it's a great bit of spotting. So, while we're considering round sectioned stones what do you think of http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/44255 in the same context? There aren't many of them about.