Re: YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

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Mr Hamhead Mar 7, 2008 16:52:43

Replying to Rhiannon

and how high would the centre post be?...and since when was Stonehenge neolithic?

It's a wonderful idea...but why is it the only one? if it had worked would they have not copied the idea on a smaller scale at many other places (or was there a patent taken out?).

I once had a dream that Silbury Hill was the last remains of a giant species of land living limpet...recent excavations have proved me wrong.

Mr H

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beatles Mar 7, 2008 20:52:50

Replying to Rhiannon

Rhiannon wrote:

Well I guess I agree Stonehenge could well be 'about' grain, because as you say the landscape around that time was being cleared, and plants were being domesticated. And you'd need to sow and reap your plants just at the right time - an astronomical 'instrument' would come in handy.

But isn't the carousel thing rather over-egging the pudding? I mean, Occams Razor and all that. Are there any post holes in the right place as supporting evidence for your theory? The central post for instance. That'd make a bloody big hole. I know you said they could move it around, but it would have to be huge and if it wasn't secured at the top it'd have to be secured at the bottom or surely people would get squashed?

I love my folklore and I notice you say "Old stories of sound coming from Stonehenge may be folk memories of the grinding and rumbling noises of the working mill." I haven't spotted these before and am intrigued to hear more / where you got this from.

hi, as for the central post in the granary theory; it would have been about 40 feet tall and not very thick since it carried no weight and did not rotate. it was about the size of a rural wooden electrical pole. the bottom of the post was probably sitting on a sort of sledge or skid plate becouse it had to be moved a bit from time to time to steer the carousel and keep it centered on the sarsen ring. it was held in place at its top by ropes to the ring of bluestones just inside the sarsen ring and also to the tops of the trilithons. the bottom of the post was held in place by ropes to the bluestones inside the horseshoe. these were the ones used to reposition the base of the pole and steer the carousel into the wind. this action overcame the effect of the wind trying to push the carousel off the sarsen ring.
thanks for this very good question.. take a look at the website video for more of an idea of how this thing worked.
clyde

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beatles Mar 10, 2008 12:44:34

Replying to Rhiannon

Rhiannon wrote:

Well I guess I agree Stonehenge could well be 'about' grain, because as you say the landscape around that time was being cleared, and plants were being domesticated. And you'd need to sow and reap your plants just at the right time - an astronomical 'instrument' would come in handy.

But isn't the carousel thing rather over-egging the pudding? I mean, Occams Razor and all that. Are there any post holes in the right place as supporting evidence for your theory? The central post for instance. That'd make a bloody big hole. I know you said they could move it around, but it would have to be huge and if it wasn't secured at the top it'd have to be secured at the bottom or surely people would get squashed?

I love my folklore and I notice you say "Old stories of sound coming from Stonehenge may be folk memories of the grinding and rumbling noises of the working mill." I haven't spotted these before and am intrigued to hear more / where you got this from.

there are two bits of folklore involved here. the one that you hear from severial sources is that the stones walked or moved around.... and isn't there another megalithic site where it is believed that the stones go down to the river to drink once ayear? perhaps the kings men or long meg and her daughters?

the folklore of sound or music or rumbling coming from stonehenge was told to me by a friend in wales. i do not know where he heard this. i wish i could tell you more......