Re: Neolithic site swap anyone | Forum

The Eternal Mar 31, 2005 23:24:21

Replying to Hob

I take the point about church architecture, but all are orientated east-west, so are similar, and have been for centuries. Orientation seems to be popular in Neolithic/Bronze Age burials.

What are the odds of a belief system, both spiritual and architectural, being very similar throughout Britain and Ireland during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages? Add to that the hardship involved in travelling just 50 miles and you have to wonder about the apparently similar belief systems.

Surely, if similar belief systems existed, then you would expect similar architectural edifices.

The fact that these similar edifices exist in Europe is perhaps idicative of early migration patterns.

Hob Mar 31, 2005 23:47:20

Replying to The Eternal

>What are the odds of a belief system, both spiritual and architectural, being very similar >throughout Britain and Ireland during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages?

I get your meaning TE, and I don't think that spiritual and practical considerations need to be mutually exclusive things. But it's easier to notice the similarities than the differences, and tempting to gloss over the latter in favour of bigging-up the former.

Mind you, I've got a thing about cup-marks, and they're virtually identical all over the globe, so I do reckon there's something in the idea that there was some kind of meta-cultural template waaaaay back whenever. Paleolithically even, whocansay?

StoneLifter Apr 1, 2005 07:22:22

Replying to The Eternal

The east-west orientation for churches harks back to the cross which symbolises ?

The year, with two solstices and two equinoxes. Maes Howe was built to open toward, and to capture the light of, the sunset on the shortest day. I captured some photographs of this happening in February, via the excellent winter webcam, and should send them to Dr Alison.