Re: Silbury Sun Roll. | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Silbury Hill 180

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Silbury Sun Roll.

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nigelswift May 7, 2011 16:33:42

Replying to tiompan

Oh blimey you had me going there!

Actually, I bet it DOES get adopted as a.... well, you know the rest.

I suppose the sun adopts a different roll angle every day so it was bound to happen one day in the year. Ditto all of Tesco's roofs.

goffik May 7, 2011 16:46:40

Replying to nigelswift

Are you suggesting that the ancients who first designed Tesco's roofs had greater plans than merely keeping the ancient shoppers dry on a wet day? Whooa! That's made me re-evaluate a few things, I can tell you...

In the 70s, the old Tesco building had a hole in the roof that, at certain times, you could probably see the sun through.

AND their 4 bottles of beer for a fiver deals aren't to be sniffed at, either! (Other supermarkets are available)

G x

tiompan May 7, 2011 16:57:13

Replying to nigelswift

nigelswift wrote:

Oh blimey you had me going there!

Actually, I bet it DOES get adopted as a.... well, you know the rest.

I suppose the sun adopts a different roll angle every day so it was bound to happen one day in the year. Ditto all of Tesco's roofs.

The maximum difference of rise and set angles in the UK is between 20-40 .Near the solstices it changes quicker than at the equinoxes .
It needs the sun to set or rise at the same angle as the slope but also be in the right place to allow it to be seen , so no guarantees even with hills /man made mounds with the right angle . The horizon is very imporatnt too .If the horizon from the palidaded enclosure was higher it wouldn't work , i.e. if Waden Hill wasn't in the way you might have seen a "roll up " .They are quite common but go unnoticed because people don't stand about or don't happen to be in the right spot at the right time .

Sanctuary May 7, 2011 17:22:26

Replying to nigelswift

nigelswift wrote:

Oh blimey you had me going there!

Actually, I bet it DOES get adopted as a.... well, you know the rest.

I suppose the sun adopts a different roll angle every day so it was bound to happen one day in the year. Ditto all of Tesco's roofs.

Every little helps!