Re: Silbury's spiral path | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Littlestone Nov 3, 2005 17:43:16

Replying to Ishmael

Fascinating! The path starts off clockwise, then anticlockwise, clockwise again to the summit (much like the route a modern mountain road would take).

Wonder what the logistics are here? If you wanted to get to the top with the least amount of effort would that alternating route be the easiest way of doing it? I can see the logic behind such a path if it's going up a mountain side but what would be the point of doing that way in the case of a truncated cone? People going up and down would always be visible from one side of the cone of course...?

Ishmael Nov 3, 2005 17:48:59

Replying to Littlestone

Look again. Its a Double pathway that cross over itself.

StoneLifter Nov 3, 2005 17:55:44

Replying to Littlestone

Picture at top left - http://www.bolton.org.uk/pikefair.html - there's no ceremonial route laid out and, unfortunately, I was passenger in a Landrover that strayed to the top one quiet evening. Rivington Pike (the name 'pike' is said to originate from the profile of the fish's head) is also the historic site of beacons being lit - not an impossible hangover from something similar at solstices, moonsets etc.