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Stonehenge and its Environs

Stonehenge was built on solstice axis, dig confirm

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jonmor J
jonmor Sep 9, 2013 10:30:12
Replying to moss

There's two newish components to this:

Firstly Tim Daw's discovery that there are patches in the location of the missing stones. This evidence is a bit weak because this does not prove that there are stone-holes; just that there may have been holes prepared.

The second is the excavations under the A344: This may have revealed more evidence for MPP's periglacial theory. But it may not: You would expect these sort of formations regardless of whether or not the stripes found at the Avenue bend actually join up with the ones found under the road.

MPP also claims to be able to see "the big picture" and that this is a "missing piece in the jigsaw". It will be interesting to see what this means.

N nigelswift
nigelswift Sep 9, 2013 10:41:58
Replying to jonmor

Well this is a bit strange:

"It tells us a lot about why Stonehenge was located where it is and why they [prehistoric people] were so interested in the solstices. It's not to do with worshipping the sun, some kind of calendar or astronomical observatory; it's about how this place was special to prehistoric people."

I'd have thought it pointed to all those things. And as for being interested in the solstices not being to do with worshipping the sun how does he work that out?

S Sanctuary
Sanctuary Sep 9, 2013 10:50:13
Replying to jonmor

jonmor wrote:
There's two newish components to this:

Firstly Tim Daw's discovery that there are patches in the location of the missing stones. This evidence is a bit weak because this does not prove that there are stone-holes; just that there may have been holes prepared.

The second is the excavations under the A344: This may have revealed more evidence for MPP's periglacial theory. But it may not: You would expect these sort of formations regardless of whether or not the stripes found at the Avenue bend actually join up with the ones found under the road.

MPP also claims to be able to see "the big picture" and that this is a "missing piece in the jigsaw". It will be interesting to see what this means.

I think until we know a great deal more it should just be seen as the latest theory or a continuation of 'Work in Progress'. Interesting though nevertheless.
Just as an aside...it would be nice to find out a lot more about many other notable or otherwise stone circles if the money and effort was spent on them as well. Stanton Drew springs to mind.

N nigelswift
nigelswift Sep 9, 2013 12:44:36
Replying to jonmor

jonmor wrote:
regardless of whether or not the stripes found at the Avenue bend actually join up with the ones found under the road.
Should be easy enough to see if the two sets line up with each other. In fact it must be known already.

If they do it won't strengthen the argument that SH aligns with them as logically if aligned with them at all it would be aligned with the end bit.
So if they do it'll say nothing archaeological, only that the solstice alignment of the stripes is very, very exact which is a truly remarkable coincidence, not a "big, deliberate picture".

T tiompan
tiompan Sep 9, 2013 17:02:03
Replying to jonmor

jonmor wrote:
d.

The second is the excavations under the A344: This may have revealed more evidence for MPP's periglacial theory. But it may not: You would expect these sort of formations regardless of whether or not the stripes found at the Avenue bend actually join up with the ones found under the road.

Jon ,the stripes (whether periglacial or otherwise ) are not found at the bend .Atkinson had trenches dug at the bend but the stripes are associated with another Atkinson trench , T45 , approx 20 metres from the road .