Hob wrote:
fitzcoraldo wrote:
The most bizarre discovery of the trip was a WWII mortar in a linear feature just north of the White Hag circle.
Definitely a WWII mortar? Not WWI Practice trenches? They're scheduling those things in Northumberland these days.Sorry, not very megalithic I know, but I'm mildly enthused about them 'cos they look so interesting on aerial/satellite photos. Like honeycombs.
Ahem. Anyway, yes. Rocks. They're good they are.
You didn't get a chance to see what's going at the southern end down by Shap Wells Hotel did you? I really don't know any detail about the layout of the destroyed Shap avenues, but there were some pretty linear looking groups of pink granite boulders down by the hotel and it's associated chalybate spring.
Sorry about the delay, I've been away.
The mortar was definitely a mortar, I've seen a couple before so when I saw the rusty fins sticking out of the rubble bank I sorta stood back.
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/59885/images/white_hag.html
As to whether the bomb was attached to the fins, I don't know and wasn't prepared to find out.
I didn't get down to Shap Wells but the whole area around Shap and Crosby Ravensworth is covered with lines of granite boulders, whether those alignments are natural or man made is another issue.
I went and had a look at these
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/3830/castlehowe_scar_stone_row.htmland came away none the wiser.
However just above them and behind Iron Hill are a number of named stones that display similar features including this one
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/10142/harberwain_stone.html
At that recent bash in Penrith there was mention of boulder burials and materials being deposited into limestone grykes beneath. Kinda makes you think?
Echoes of Torbhlaren perhaps?
cheers
fitz