Re: Developments at Avebury | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

tjj Nov 22, 2011 09:19:56

Replying to Sanctuary

Sanctuary wrote:

hedgeling" wrote:

Would advocate putting up the buried stones though.

I'd love to see the stones re-erected for what I consider three good reasons. Firstly, other than being returned to their rightful place after being hauled off the Downs or wherever they originated from, it would give us a further opportunity to carry out live experiments in the lifting, moving (for more than a few feet in some cases) and erecting of them in what we believe could have been the methods used by our great ancestors. Thirdly, and maybe the most important, the pure archaeology involved in the finding and re-escavating of the stone holes. And wouldn't it look great to see more pieces of the jigsaw in place.

I recall hearing a 'very good argument' why they should be left where they are but can't recall what the rationale was - perhaps it was to preserve the archaeology for the future generations when hopefully advancements in dating and conservation methods have been made.

I would like to ask an 'Avebury' question. In the Alexander Keiller Museum it says that one of the worst offenders for smashing up the stones was someone from Berwick Bassett and I noticed on my last walk that the church at Berwick Bassett is built of sarsen. Does anyone know know if these were Avebury stones?

VBB Nov 22, 2011 10:51:40

Replying to tjj

tjj wrote:

[quote="Sanctuary"]I would like to ask an 'Avebury' question. In the Alexander Keiller Museum it says that one of the worst offenders for smashing up the stones was someone from Berwick Bassett and I noticed on my last walk that the church at Berwick Bassett is built of sarsen. Does anyone know know if these were Avebury stones?

I think this is perhaps a reference to Caleb Baily, own of BB manor, but the sarsen nave there was constructed centuries prior to the birth of any of the named stone breakers.

hedgeling Nov 24, 2011 13:59:05

Replying to tjj

Maybe, but would take some detective work to find out, if records do exsist. What date is the church? Pewsey church has got sarsen stones as foundations. Anyway it is a miracle so much of avebury survived.

hedgeling Dec 12, 2011 19:10:25

Replying to tjj

Having witnessed the field clearences at coate/ broom manor i would say that some of the large stones were likely to have been on site before the monument was erected. Also some of the Burning pits may just be field clearance. There are piles of sarsen all over the place, that are field clearance.