Re: Durrington Walls | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Jon1985 Sep 15, 2005 17:23:06

Replying to Ishmael

been back to the site for a short time.
we've been very busy. the southern circle is amazing. there's talk of extending the trench into the bank for next year. lots of paper work to be done though to get permision.
one amendment, the whole area lines up with the winter, not summer solstice, it's a bit picky to point it out but is important. also, the whole rites of passage thing is only a thoery, we have to find evidence to prove it, seems sound enough though.
bulford looks interesting, is it connected with durrington walls or is it seperate. could it have been used as a graveyard for just a few important people, or is it something completely different. only time can reveal the clues. well, we'll just have to wait until next year before more can be revealed.

Ishmael Sep 15, 2005 17:31:05

Replying to Jon1985

I pointed out to Josh and Colin that the Cuckold stone is intervisible with the Bulford stone.
Maybe next season an exploration of that stone might be usefull.
The post holes were very interesting, stuffed full of bones and antlers and flints.
What with the phalic flints? Wosat all about?

Methinks a big dig at Marden henge is Long overdue ;)

The Eternal Sep 16, 2005 00:46:05

Replying to Jon1985

jon1985,
>the whole area lines up with the winter, not summer solstice

I've always been of the opinion that midwinter was the most important time, due to the desperation of the thought that the sun might never return.
Take the Stonehenge Avenue - why walk up the Avenue, then turn around to watch the midsummer sunrise? I doesn't make sense. You walk towards what you are expecting. The Avenue would lead you towards what you came to see, i.e. the midwinter sunset, especially if it was processional towards Stonehenge.
Why is the Avenue curved at the far end (furthest from Stonehenge) if it's meant to point to the midsummer sunrise? A curved track doesn't point, it leads (in this case to, or from, the river).
I think the evidence now hints to a winter festival in the Stonehenge district. Any evidence of the summer feasts at Durrington Walls could be explained by an excess of summer products - make hay whilst the sun shines - in the form af a summer binge. Of course they would have made sure there was plenty salted away for winter first, so maybe the summer months were plentiful in those years.
What d'ye reckon?
Regards,
TE.