Stonehenge 181
Image by Snuzz

I suppose you could argue that if the bluestones were so special why aren’t there other circles that use bluestones. The answer is not a new one, but it might be argued that the bluestones at Stonehenge were not quarried for Stonehenge but were already an existing 'special' circle that was dismantled and transported to the new Stonehenge site for religious or social reasons.

We know from examples elsewhere in the world (not to mention the Stone of Scone here) that objects of religious or social importance were transported considerable distances where they then came to symbolise power, continuity, suppression, sacredness or whatever; that would seem to fit in with some of the myths and legends that surround the movement of the bluestones but... who knows...

Looking at the situation sideways (and Rob Ixer is a *it*it) might it be that the zircon crystals in the bluestones make them special? If it was a pre-existing circle that was transported - and Thom constantly reminds his readers what excellent sailors the megalith makers were - then we should expect something - some mark - to have been left behind.

That'd be nice because that's the myth isn't it, that the circle existed elsewhere beforehand.

But then again, there's loads of bluestone chips at stonehenge aren't there (I think)? So taking a hammer to a stone-(you've brought from another circle because it's already a sacred stone).. that just seems a bit of an odd thing to do.

Then again, bringing them from miles away is a bit of an odd thing to do in the first place. But maybe not as apparently unlikely as gathering the only (however many) glacial erratic bluestones in the whole of wiltshire and not leaving any behind anywhere.

stonehenge eh. tsch.