Re: Avebury Village | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

moss Dec 23, 2005 16:33:52

Replying to Kammer

It was probably used as a defensive site over a long period... Burl says that it was called "Waleditch" in 1289 - the moat of the Britons. Maybe it is the site of the battle of Arthur which trogs round this part of country looking for various venues.. Its very overlaid with Roman and Saxon history.. if you go into wordplay
Adams Grave =Wodnesbeorh
Wansdyke = Wodins ditch
Piggledean = pyttel-dentu Valley of the hawks
Chittoe = may have been coed-yw, (the yew wood)
and Sambourne, which comes from the celtic, as does Kennet, comes from sumina, which may have meant water.
Sorry going off track but Burl is always fascinating, but the roman road to Bath goes beneath Silbury Hill, and Sandy lane just up the road from Calne was one of the changing places for horses I believe. Perhaps all these early people were to superstitious to settle within the stones - that came later

Ishmael Dec 23, 2005 16:38:37

Replying to moss

>but the roman road to Bath goes beneath Silbury Hill

The Roman road makes a sharp turn before Silbury hill.
If it went beneath then Silbury could not be neolithic.

Littlestone Dec 23, 2005 17:02:21

Replying to moss

Ishmael writes below that -

>The Roman road makes a sharp turn before Silbury hill. If it went beneath then Silbury could not be neolithic.<

Yes, quite, and I think it's worth mentioning that Adams Grave, Wansdyke and Piggledean are all some way <i>outside</i> Avebury Village (though I guess you might just about allow Waden Hill in).

>Sambourne, which comes from the celtic, as does Kennet, comes from sumina, which may have meant water.<

Forgive my ignorance, but was is 'sumina'? I'm also not sure what you mean by the word 'Kennet' being 'Celtic' nor your understanding of the origin of the word Kennet to mean 'water'. My own understanding of the etymology of the word 'Kennet' is something quite different (though I'd be happy to learn of alternative theories :-)

PeterH Dec 23, 2005 17:26:14

Replying to moss

and not forgetting Trusloe -"the mound of fallen leaves and rubbish"