Re: Barrow cemeteries on Overton Hill | Forum

tiompan Apr 7, 2009 19:34:18

Replying to Stoneshifter

Stoneshifter wrote:

I consulted Thom's annotated survey of Avebury - which is criticised as 'fanciful', I know. It's the lunar maximum moonrise that is indicated by one of the sections of the Z-Stones, through the southern entrance, (and I know these were questionably located by Mr Marmalade). The two dirty great portal stones are shaped, I believe, to facilitate this observation, which is now barred by a copse of elm? trees. I remember watching this southern moonrise from a putative stone circle site high in the Northumbrian fells. I never realised what a grand experience it would be.

Soon be time for the first crop circles to appear - oh, freak out !

I think the fanciful is fully justified . Just checked the azimuth from the westernmost point of the Z feature which is the most likely to produce an orientation to a moonrise and taking stones 1 & 98 as the entrance stones orientation is 171 for 1 and 163 for 98 through the gap 167 which if continued certainly goes through the barrow cemetry but is way out for the max moonrise .

Stoneshifter Apr 7, 2009 19:57:25

Replying to tiompan

The Z-Stones were reconstructed by Keillor, if I remember correctly, and that's where the error will lie, I should think. There's enough alignments to the southernmost moonrise at other sites to, at least, expect one at Avebury. Without the southern circle the Z-stones are the best possibility. Still not found the barrow(s) on Waden Hill that are in that direction, though, nor identified the species of tree in the copse. Ultimately it's not important!

moss Apr 7, 2009 20:50:22

Replying to tiompan

"certainly goes through the barrow cemetry but is way out for the max moonrise"

Surely the barrow cemeteries are for burying the dead, and got added to over the centuries, often they are in straight lines, as if later 'chiefs/elders' are added on. For instance............ Priddy Nine barrows and Ashen Hill barrow cemeteries are both in straight lines at oblique angles to each other in the same field.... is there alignments on either of them?
Beech trees are your safest bet in wiltshire SS ;)