The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

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Sunkenkirk & Long Meg


I took my mum, as promised to Sunkenkirk last week. We parked in a little lay by fairly near to the site as she isn't too steady on her pins. I took my wild flower book TJJ & managed to identify a few blooms! She kept asking me what had "happened" to me over the last months & that I'd changed; I was more settled & less giddy. Sunkenkirk really enchants me; twice now on the approach I find myself questioning where it's hiding, & if I'm in the right place. I know where it should be but can't see it when all of a sudden it appears over the slight crest of a rise on the path. Like Castlerigg it sits in the centre of the landscape.
She wandered around & around touching the stones & exclaiming at their size & the effort involved in erecting them; & "what are they for?" She told me that she feels about trees the way I feel about stones & that she stands & hugs them; so we hugged some stones together! She commented that if anyone was to see us they'd suppose we were " off our rockers"! On the path back to the car we constantly turned back for one last look & she said she didn't want to leave. When we lost sight of the circle we found a tree & hugged that as well.
Next to Long Meg.; she got a fierce hug & some passers by stopped to chat & laughed with us. Mum traced the carvings with her finger & tears came to her eyes as she wondered about who'd gone before. Some ramblers who looked nearer mum's age passed by saying they should strip off & run around naked & find a sacrificial victim! A young goth couple from Italy set to & explained perfectly the known history of the place; the ramblers soon quieted & left with far more knowledge about their own history than when they'd arrived. The Italian couple had been to Castlerigg & I was proud to direct them to Little Meg. We discussed the journey to Sunkenkirk which they also hoped to see. They were to stop at Avebury on the way down South to Dover on their journey home. They were so excited & knew so much about our places. The boy told me they didn't have circles, cairns or barrows in Italy. They looked fantastic with their wild black hair & studded leather. We ate strawberries together which they'd offered me & mum. Their rickety old car didn't look capable of the distances they had to cover but they had every faith. We counted the stones together. My mum was blown away, as was I. Who'd have thought it she says.

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Anglesey May 21 & 22


Just a couple of nights in Angelsey. Limited time & mobility due to partner's broken hip!
First visit Caer Lob an iron age settlement nr Brynsiencyn. Rectangle shape, with double ditches, could have been moated. Real clear delineation. On the way to Bryn Celli Dhu; a beautifully shaped burial mound with a little henge. There's a replica ? sentinel stone with carvings; zig zags & spirals. In the chamber there's a free standing stone that the chap from " Standing With Stones" series thought could be a fossil tree-I wonder if this has been investigated. There are 5 little stones placed in front of one of the entrances. Inside some of the stones had perfect little circle holes where you can fit your finger. The adjoining field has a large stone in alignment. At midsummer solstice the sun rises and shines through the chamber. Beautiful walk to the site. The hawthorne & bluebells out in force.
Then to Plas Newydd ( a gorgeous stately home, worth seeing in itself, looks out over the Menai Straits. Has a large trompe l'oiel by Whistler covering one wall - footprints of Neptune emerging from the sea onto the patio; an avenue of tall pines leading to the house which scent the air on the right day.) Saw the Plas Newydd dolmen which looks like it's been plonked onto the grass in front of the house as a tourist attraction! It's striking. Had to stop the car & wait while two beautiful red squirrels crossed the road.
Only had one day of exploring so off to Trefignath, nr Holyhead on Holy Island. It's mighty, a cairn. One chamber partially supported by an out of place bricks & mortar column. Another section reminded me of an old fashioned box bed; three large stones as a megalithic head board, absolutely gorgeous. The monstrous aluminium works across the road is easy to ignore, just turn your back to it. Some lovely pinky red lichen on surrounding stones.
In neighbouring field stands Ty Mawr, a solitary standing stone which looks like a cowled figure (Julian says a druid) & next door to that another field which looked like it had placed stones ( to me that is.)
On to Penrhos Feilw, two huge standing stones; the ground they're on looks levelled. This place reminded me of sites like Sunkenkirk & Castlerigg in that it has glorious panoramic views, off to the bay & up to the majestic Holyhead mountain. This site is tucked away off a single track road. It's beautiful all around this area; shimmering little bays & rocky outcrops, not many folk about. Breathtaking.
On to Holyhead Mountain where I walked in awe around the hut circles. They are delightful, so wonderfully situated perched together on the side of the hill. Stone circular buildings with entrances and pathways linking. I could imagine the homesteads there and found it powerful and moving. The paths were ablaze with bluebells and ? white stitchwort and ? maiden pink. Tried to look the flowers up in my wild flowers book, but not sure. TJJ May know. The views were fantastic. It must be wild in Winter. Holyhead Mt looms above & the distant bay glimmers in the sunshine.
Went looking for Lligwy dolmen but partner's leg sore & time running out.
It was a great visit with so much more to see. Angelsey is such a beautiful place; wild and in the past somehow, even with the jet fighters zooming about overhead. To TJJ, happy holidays and travels.
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