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FourWinds F
FourWinds May 30, 2004 11:21:49
Replying to GordonP

>> On personal note, this was my first visit to a prehistoric site ...

Oh dear. And so it begins!

It's great that you enjoyed it. I'm gobsmacked that anyone who's been posting on here for so long has never been to see one. I assume your first sight of the Avebury stones up close hasn't altered your ideas?

West Kennett is something else isn't it!? I think I'm the only person on the planet that fails to have his boat floated by Silbury. I think this is because I have extreme difficulty in allowing myself to believe that something so HUGE is manmade. It's a kind of defensive mechanism of some sort I think.

G GordonP
GordonP May 30, 2004 15:33:05
Replying to FourWinds

Hi Four Winds
Yes, shameful thing to admit, especially after so many postings on TMA.

And yes again, seeing the stones up close has indeed changed my ideas, I am now more than ever convinced of the futility of any method of stone moving that does not involve the use of levers.

Why-o-why do the archeos continue to tell the public, and more importantly children that such stones must have been dragged about, when they must know in their hearts such feats are impossible. Why can't they admit that they just don't know, and leave it at that!!!

Standing by the stone that shields the entrance to the West Kennet long barrow, legs still aching from the climb up the hill, only a fool would believe that the stone had been dragged there.

All the best Gordon

L Littlestone
Littlestone May 30, 2004 16:33:38
Replying to FourWinds

Try viewing Silbury from a distance (its eases the mind and soothes the soul that way!).

I've always felt that there are at least three very different aspects to Silbury - one ON the Hill, one up-close and one from a distance. One of the most distant views of Silbury is from Winterbourne Bassett - go south 200-300 metres down the farm road from the Bassett Circle and look towards the southerely tree line - you have to search a while to see it but it's worthwhile.

Silbury's also visible from most of the approach roads into Avebury but not at all times of the year. It's visible from just one point in/on the Avebury Circle - from the north-east bank of the Avebury Ridge (though it's also visible from some of the houses within Avebury).

Silbury spotting is more than just satisfying it's also a lot of fun (especially if you have kids) and will give you and them a personal and very special memory of this most amazing of mounds.

If anyone knows of a more distant view of Silbury than the one from Witerbourne Bassett I'd really like to know.