harestonesdown wrote:
Btw, my thoughts are (probably influenced by being a gardener) the central oak was a way of making offerings to the earth, it makes perfect sense really. (well to me) The upside down nature was so the roots "drew" offerings down into the earth. in it's natural life the roots were responsible for drawing up nutrients, turn it upside down and it could perform the same but in reverse. i've never heard another theory that makes any sense at all.
I personally liked the theory that the tree placed that way "placed" it into the underworld or the world of the dead. Thus allowing the corpse placed in its roots for excarnation (if there was one!) an easy way into the underworld. Similar to yours I guess. Anyone else care to offer their theory. ?