Re: Hey hey, another wet day | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

fitzcoraldo Sep 3, 2008 22:59:18

Replying to tiompan

Hi G
As I think I've mentioned before I get a bit lost on astro stuff, azimuths and such like. I much prefer the looser idea of rough orientations. Although I have to admit that some sites do have a precise encoding I believe many have a general idea, linked to a cosmology of cardinal points.

I have a problem with the interpretation of the monuments of eastern Cumbria which hinges around the cultural preception of the area. Because it's Cumbria and Cumbria generally means the fells there's a sort of assumption by some that the landscape orientation of many of the monuments are associated with the central fells.
When I visit the area the overall impression I get is the Pennines and the rivers, Eden, Eamont, Lowther and Lyvennet, the fertile valley, the mystical river, with it's blood red stone sandstones, the bones of the earth white limestone, the full-on madness of the Helm wind that blows out of nowhere with a force that can uproot trees or take the roof from a house, a wind that blows down from a hill that was deemed so wicked that they had to send a saint up there to exorcise it. The self same hill that dominates Long Meg, Little Meg, Glassonby and is framed in the entrance when looking out from Mayburgh Henge.

fitzranter.

tiompan Sep 3, 2008 23:25:01

Replying to fitzcoraldo

fitzcoraldo wrote:

Hi G
I much prefer the looser idea of rough orientations.

So do I , I don't buy the Thom precision stuff . It just means that things are a bit fuzzier and it's more difficult to show intention . As far as Long Meg goes it's very difficult to find the centre which is usually considered where to start for an "alignment " ,but anywhere give a few metres and look through the portal or Long Meg , which is nearly two degrees difference over 80 metres so quite a wide horizon to pick from , and the solstice sun will set in that general direction . I find that acceptable but difficult to prove and certainly not "precisely " aligned .

Stoneshifter Sep 4, 2008 00:23:51

Replying to fitzcoraldo

Yes, the hills are the starting off places. The ideal was almost hemispherical, certainly in the Pennines, so it is easy to impute a fecund association, and a need to promote that association.Wheat certainly didn't produce at four tonnes a hectare as it will here now. As there were no instruments in prehistoric times capable of measuring closer than about a degree of horizon it is pointless to look for modern accuracy in monuments. And, yes, it is impossible to determine where the centre of an irregular circle actually lies - this will have been lost with the rest of the oral lore. Remembering Swallows and Amazons (based in Cumbria) and their method of navigation, it is surprising that any has survived at all. More has been passed down through the local masons, of course.