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Portal Tomb
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The Titan, Atlas, was ordered to stand and support the high heavens on his shoulders, a comparison that often comes to mind at portal tombs; all those vast blocks held from plummeting by ancient limbs and ingenuity. None is held higher than here, the tallest (portal tomb) portal stones in the British Isles; 3.6m and 3.5m from the ground and capped by a great horned firmament, starred, appropriately, with blazing quartz.
Equally impressive is the symbiosis between this primus and the secondary capstone. Neither, being otherwise supported on just one side, would stay aloft without its companion. The former rests on one portal and the doorstone, then pins the latter onto the backstone and a pad on one sidestone. Have a look at Ryaner's photograph, from behind the monument, for a partial illustration.
*Measurements taken from the (very, very thorough): Kytmannow, 'Portal Tombs In The Landscape', BAR 455, 2008, 37. Great book.
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Posted by gjrk
30th March 2009ce
Edited 31st March 2009ce
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