Re: Boles Barrow bluestone | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Boles Barrow 1

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Boles Barrow bluestone

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Rhiannon Sep 10, 2006 17:16:22

Replying to FourWinds

I think they found lots of bluestone chippings at stonehenge though (don't quote me on that), proving that they were worked there. It's interesting that another's turned up in a nother place. Though it is only inches across. Could have just been shoved in a pocket (like I'm sure many of us carry round odd bits of stone and stuff we've found)? In fact, lots of stones (at stonehenge, the rollrights) have been hammered at over the years for souvenirs. I've got a big bit of stone from Cumbria that's the same sort as the axes from there. Like a little connection. I'm not sure what significance you can put on the new find?? The supposed one at Boles barrow was a hulking great thing.
Anyway more info required from somewhere or other I suppose

Pete G Sep 10, 2006 17:36:03

Replying to Rhiannon

Woodhenge has now revealed 4 pieces of Bluestone (as of saturday) and the Cursus test pits 7.
There is a scattering of bluestones on the Avenue just outside Stonehenge and Stukeley and John Gale reported seeing stone holes on each side of the avenue there.
There are plans to dig at the avenue in the coming years as the Stonehenge Riverside project has another 7 years to run.
There is a write up on the Boles barrow bluestone in WANHS magazine but I can't recall the vol off hand.
Boles barrow is difficult to access as it is on Army land.
There is a chance fpr a nosey around when they allow the ex villagers of Imber onto the plain each year to tend graves in the churchyard.
Terence Meaden's family hail from Imber so I will see if I can get to go along on this years open day and stop off at the Barrow for a look around.
The Boles bluestone looks worked so I will search for fragments to see if it was worked insitu.
PeteG

The Eternal Sep 14, 2006 00:56:46

Replying to Rhiannon

Rhiannon,
[quote="Rhiannon"]I think they found lots of bluestone chippings at stonehenge though (don't quote me on that), proving that they were worked there.

Indeed they did. The interesting thing is that bluestone chippings have been excavated at other nearby sites in lesser quantities. If they had been moved to the Stonehenge area by glaciation (a large area, agreed, as per the area of the sarsen gathering), then you would expect to find a few whole bluestones in the area, or at least lumps of, as you do sarsens. What a coincidence if the number of bluestones moved to the area by the end of the northern glacier matched exactly the numbers required by the builders of Stonehenge.
Makes ye think, eh?
Regards,
TE.