With the
most beautiful weather in ages Sarah and I set off to a day
in the Wiltshire countryside. First stop Stonehenge. It really
is an amazing feat considering it was made approx 2000BC. It's
totally unique and a complete mystery. There are of course many
theories on its existence but it most likely had something to
do with religion.
The outer circle originally had 30 standing stones, probably
joined together with a top stone. Then there was an inner circle
of 60 stones. Within this was a horseshoe of five paired stones.
These were taller than the outer circle. Then there was a further
horseshoe around the middle alter, which originally numbered
19 stones. The stones of course are incredibly heavy. Two station
stones align with specific sun movements, one aligning with
the sunrise on the Winter Soliste (shortest day) and the other
with the Summer Soliste (longest day).
Some stones
are from 20 miles away while other stones travelled from the
Preseli Mountain in southwest Wales. Again it is a mystery as
to how the stones were transported here. Probably some kind
of rolling raft, occupying hundreds of men's time and patience.
Some stones have a linking stone across the top. These were
made by a simple tongue and groove joint, showing skills of
the primitive people that made the structure. They were stood
up using a pit as a lever and ropes pulled by men. The top stones
were levered up using a kind of scaffolding raised one layer
of timber poles at a time
There really
was a mystical peaceful feeling out there. The fact that it
is 4 thousand years old is hard to get over.
We drove
on to Devizes for lunch. Within the town is a small 15th century
Lane, with Elizabethan style architecture.
From here
it was a further 20 minutes to Avebury. Although less well known
than Stonehenge it is accessible and a lot larger than its counterpart.
Sarah brought the guide and we followed the recommended route.
It took about an hour to wander over the site. You were able
to walk right beside the stones unlike Stonehenge that is roped
off due to vandals. It is truly fascinating with a very large
outer circle (now cut in half by a public road).
Much of
it was pillaged and used to build housing in the area in the
Middle Ages. There are then two circles side by side within
the outer circle. Inside one of these is the Z feature, which
looks like a perfect D, go figure? Like Stonehenge there is
a deep ditch around the outer circle.
I'm seated
here in the Devil's seat. It is said that if you walk around
this stone 100 times anti-clockwise you will summon the devil
himself. From the Avebury Circles is a path leading to other
important historical features in the area. It's called The Avenue
and is also lined with standing stones. It leads to The Sanctuary,
another set of stone circles. We didn't get to visit this today.
Nearby also is the West Kennet Long Barrow. This is a Bronze
Age burial chamber, which is open to the public. Again we didn't
visit this today. All across the countryside are these Barrows.
They are raised mounds of earth like small hills. It is thought
that the closer they are to Stonehenge and Avebury circle the
more important the person might have been.
It was a
great day and really puts our very short lives into perspective.
I wonder if our contributions such as the Sky Tower (Auckland
and Millennium Dome (London) will puzzle people in the next
2000 years?
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