What is your favorite European megalithic? (other than Stonehenge)
 

I love connecting with history, that is why I travel. One of my
most-sought connections is with ancient history, and there is nothing
more ancient than megalithics.

In 2006 in particular, I visited the south of England, and got lost in
the West Country in the search for ancient ruins. Wonderful
experience. One develops an eye for arrangement of stones that is not
accidental, and you can be alone with something few if any people have
seen.

I came across a stone arrangement I never saw before, and I've seen
hundreds of megalithics. It consisted of two concentric rings, ten
feet apart, with an interior area about ten feet across.

http://stepheda.com/England_2006/Day_5.html#13

The close arrangement of the stones is inconsistent with stone circles,
and I've seen no concentric stone circles apart from Stonehenge. Yet
there are two rings of stones, so these do not appear to be kerb stones
of a burial mound whose mound stones have been removed. The most
similar thing I've seen are some tombs near Culloden, Balnualan of
Clava, with two concentric rings of kerb stones with a mass of fill
stones between them:

http://stepheda.com/Scotland_2004_Me...f_Clava.html#8

But, Culloden and Cornwall are so far apart, I know from experience
seeing megalithics, that it is doubtful a cultural mixing occurred, and
if it did, where are the fill stones?

Offhand, it could also look like a fort on the Dun Carloway model. But
the space between the rings, at ten feet, is too larger, and the
interior space, ten feet across, is too small.

http://stepheda.com/Scotland_2004_Me...way_Broch.html

So: this is probably my favorite megalithic site, because of the
mystery behind it and its uniqueness. Does anyone have an explanation
for it?

What is your favorite megalithic in Europe? And why? Other than
Stonehenge, that is -- that could be an easy choice already.




--
Dan Stephenson
http://stepheda.com
Travel pages for Europe and the U.S.A. (and New Zealand too)

What is your favorite European megalithic? (other than Stonehenge)
 

On 2/17/2013 9:08 AM, Dan Stephenson wrote:

http://stepheda.com/Scotland_2004_Me...way_Broch.html

So: this is probably my favorite megalithic site, because of the mystery
behind it and its uniqueness. Does anyone have an explanation for it?

No idea. If you find an explanation, please share it.

What is your favorite megalithic in Europe? And why? Other than
Stonehenge, that is -- that could be an easy choice already.

The Ring of Brodgar, in Orkney.
It's approachable, and doesn't feel at all touristy.

What is your favorite European megalithic? (other than Stonehenge)
 

S Viemeister wrote:

On 2/17/2013 9:08 AM, Dan Stephenson wrote:
[]
What is your favorite megalithic in Europe? And why? Other than
Stonehenge, that is -- that could be an easy choice already.

The Ring of Brodgar, in Orkney.
It's approachable, and doesn't feel at all touristy.

Of those I've seen, my favourite too, also for its location.

David

--
(*) of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
www.davidhorne.net (email address on website)
"[Do you think the world learned anything from the first
world war?] No. They never learn." -Harry Patch (1898-2009)

What is your favorite European megalithic? (other than Stonehenge)
 

On Sunday, February 17, 2013 2:08:37 PM UTC, Dan Stephenson wrote:
I love connecting with history, that is why I travel. One of my

most-sought connections is with ancient history, and there is nothing

more ancient than megalithics.



In 2006 in particular, I visited the south of England, and got lost in

the West Country in the search for ancient ruins. Wonderful

experience. One develops an eye for arrangement of stones that is not

accidental, and you can be alone with something few if any people have

seen.



I came across a stone arrangement I never saw before, and I've seen

hundreds of megalithics. It consisted of two concentric rings, ten

feet apart, with an interior area about ten feet across.



http://stepheda.com/England_2006/Day_5.html#13



The close arrangement of the stones is inconsistent with stone circles,

and I've seen no concentric stone circles apart from Stonehenge. Yet

there are two rings of stones, so these do not appear to be kerb stones

of a burial mound whose mound stones have been removed. The most

similar thing I've seen are some tombs near Culloden, Balnualan of

Clava, with two concentric rings of kerb stones with a mass of fill

stones between them:



http://stepheda.com/Scotland_2004_Me...f_Clava.html#8



But, Culloden and Cornwall are so far apart, I know from experience

seeing megalithics, that it is doubtful a cultural mixing occurred, and

if it did, where are the fill stones?



Offhand, it could also look like a fort on the Dun Carloway model. But

the space between the rings, at ten feet, is too larger, and the

interior space, ten feet across, is too small.



http://stepheda.com/Scotland_2004_Me...way_Broch.html



So: this is probably my favorite megalithic site, because of the

mystery behind it and its uniqueness. Does anyone have an explanation

for it?



What is your favorite megalithic in Europe? And why? Other than

Stonehenge, that is -- that could be an easy choice already.









--

Dan Stephenson

http://stepheda.com

Travel pages for Europe and the U.S.A. (and New Zealand too)

Tarxien (and other sites), Malta.
Absolutely incomparable - and, I believe, the oldest.

What is your favorite European megalithic? (other than Stonehenge)
 

What is your favorite megalithic in Europe? And why? Other than
Stonehenge, that is -- that could be an easy choice already.

The Ring of Brodgar, in Orkney.
It's approachable, and doesn't feel at all touristy.

I replied to this part, then had other thoughts. Tarxien in Malta is also
fascinating. So is the Taula Sanctuary on, I think, Minorca. Sicily has
some great sites, but a bit later. Back in Orkney, there are so many sites,
but trying to stick to megalithic keeps the list shorter. Skara Brae is
stone. . .
--
Erilar, biblioholic medievalist with iPad

What is your favorite European megalithic? (other than Stonehenge)
 

S Viemeister wrote:
On 2/17/2013 9:08 AM, Dan Stephenson wrote:

http://stepheda.com/Scotland_2004_Me...way_Broch.html

So: this is probably my favorite megalithic site, because of the mystery
behind it and its uniqueness. Does anyone have an explanation for it?

No idea. If you find an explanation, please share it.

What is your favorite megalithic in Europe? And why? Other than
Stonehenge, that is -- that could be an easy choice already.

The Ring of Brodgar, in Orkney.
It's approachable, and doesn't feel at all touristy.

That's high my list, too.

--
Erilar, biblioholic medievalist with iPad

What is your favorite European megalithic? (other than Stonehenge)
 

On 2/18/2013 11:06 AM, Erilar wrote:

What is your favorite megalithic in Europe? And why? Other than
Stonehenge, that is -- that could be an easy choice already.

The Ring of Brodgar, in Orkney.
It's approachable, and doesn't feel at all touristy.

I replied to this part, then had other thoughts. Tarxien in Malta is also
fascinating. So is the Taula Sanctuary on, I think, Minorca. Sicily has
some great sites, but a bit later. Back in Orkney, there are so many sites,
but trying to stick to megalithic keeps the list shorter. Skara Brae is
stone. . .

Yes, I _loved_ Skara Brae!

What is your favorite European megalithic? (other than Stonehenge)
 

S Viemeister wrote:

On 2/18/2013 11:06 AM, Erilar wrote:

What is your favorite megalithic in Europe? And why? Other than
Stonehenge, that is -- that could be an easy choice already.

The Ring of Brodgar, in Orkney.
It's approachable, and doesn't feel at all touristy.

I replied to this part, then had other thoughts. Tarxien in Malta is also
fascinating. So is the Taula Sanctuary on, I think, Minorca. Sicily has
some great sites, but a bit later. Back in Orkney, there are so many sites,
but trying to stick to megalithic keeps the list shorter. Skara Brae is
stone. . .

Yes, I _loved_ Skara Brae!

First time I visited, we wandered around the site at midnight in June.
That was the 80s, not sure if you can still do that?

David

--
(*) of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
www.davidhorne.net (email address on website)
"[Do you think the world learned anything from the first
world war?] No. They never learn." -Harry Patch (1898-2009)

What is your favorite European megalithic? (other than Stonehenge)
 

On 2/18/2013 12:48 PM, David Horne wrote:
S Viemeister wrote:
On 2/18/2013 11:06 AM, Erilar wrote:

I replied to this part, then had other thoughts. Tarxien in Malta is also
fascinating. So is the Taula Sanctuary on, I think, Minorca. Sicily has
some great sites, but a bit later. Back in Orkney, there are so many sites,
but trying to stick to megalithic keeps the list shorter. Skara Brae is
stone. . .

Yes, I _loved_ Skara Brae!

First time I visited, we wandered around the site at midnight in June.
That was the 80s, not sure if you can still do that?

Don't know - we were there in the 90s, in the middle of the day.

What is your favorite European megalithic? (other than Stonehenge)
 

What is your favorite megalithic in Europe? And why? Other than
Stonehenge, that is -- that could be an easy choice already.
Tarxien (and other sites), Malta.
Absolutely incomparable - and, I believe, the oldest.

A little way outside Europe, but Gobekli Tepe near Urfa makes
Tarxien and Stonehenge look as modern as a Wal-Mart.

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