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.
To be honest I've never really given it much thought, but they certainly didn't do these things without good reason. The setup 'suggests' the tree is the focal point and I wonder if something dramatic once happened there. Was there any evidence found when the tree was removed of it actually being grown in that position originally? I was considering it may have been dug up, up-ended and 'replanted' as a form of warning to keep others away from the spot and erecting the ring around it as you would a fence. Anyone else care to offer their theory. ?
I'll get my coat :-