THE BOOK
Some of the ideas discussed in this blog are published in my new book called "The Stonehenge Bluestones" -- available by post and through good bookshops everywhere. Bad bookshops might not have it....
To order, click
HERE

Thursday 10 April 2014

The Rhosyfelin "alcoves"


 The two alcoves in the Rhosyfelin rock face from which two of the Stonehenge bluestones were apparently taken.  Where are the alcoves?  oh, anywhere will do......

The ruling hypothesis rolls on, getting ever more elaborate.  In "Coast to Coast 2014" (the Pembs Coast National Park's free tourist newspaper) there is a big feature about those famous bluestones.......

Ir mentions the latest geological work, and the discoveries that the geologists have made in the last couple of years, allowing the provenancing of dolerites EXACTLY to Carngoedog and rhyolites EXACTLY to Craig Rhosyfelin.  Hmmm -- not sure that the provenancing is that exact, but let that pass for the moment.......

To quote the article, presumably written by PCNPA archaeologist Peter Crane, archaeologists "from universities across Britain" have discovered "two alcoves."  Presumably these are in the cliff face.  He goes on: "It seems that two of the bluestones were removed from this site and taken to Stonehenge."

Two alcoves?  Two bluestones?  Would somebody please show me where these two alcoves are supposed to be?  I have looked for ages at the rock face and can't see any alcoves anywhere from which orthostats might have been taken.  And it would not be a bad idea for people to be told the truth here -- namely that there is some debris at Stonehenge that appears to have come from Craig Rhosyfelin.  No standing stones.  There are two stumps in the ground that may be all that is left of two rhyolite orthostats, but these have never been properly sampled, and so we have no idea whether they are linked to Rhosyfelin ot not.

I imagine the National Park people saying -- "Oh, the tourists don't have to be told the truth.  All they want is a nice simple story without too many complications........"

And so the myth machine rolls on, driven by MPP and his merry band, with all sorts of hangers-on who appear to have lost the capacity for intelligent thought, let alone scientific analysis.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

The archeos have finally moved beyond parody!

Surely a new low!

A.G.

Myris of Alexandria said...

Oh the Rhosyfelin provenancing is just a exact as claimed, skill, a perfect eye and great luck.
Not certain whose alcoves we have. I like mine with red plush drapes and a hint of naughtiness behind them.
M

Myris of Alexandria said...

Please note it says, correctly, "leading geologists" you omitted that. Do report all the facts.
So that's all good then.
M.

BRIAN JOHN said...

Myris -- on the "exact" provenancing, I am less convinced than you are (and I speak as a leading geomorphologist)......... I have enumerated my reasons on this blog often enough.

Yes indeed, the article says "leading geologists" -- I hope that these august and learned gentlemen, whoever they may be, are a bit smarter than certain leading archaeologists who shall be nameless.

Constantinos Ragazas said...

Myris,

Has EH responded yet to Dr Ixer's appeal to sample the two buried stumps said to be the last best hope for matching the Rhosyfelin rhyolite debris at Stonehenge?

Kostas

Myris of Alexandria said...

Ah, exactly as acknowledged geomorphologist, you will know that there is little overlap in skill set between 'total petrography' and mineral geochemistry and ice and its wonders. A petrographer, however, good an eye, is no more competant to discuss the value of landforms, till deposits than the wretched amateur laying beneath the Clapham omnibus.
The ones I know (petrographers that is, I know no Cockney hoi paloi)are too canny to try.
M

BRIAN JOHN said...

Ah -- "trust me, I'm an expert." Now where have we heard that before?

Myris of Alexandria said...

I am informed that there is an application for an excavation at Stonehenge and that any further application by Dr Ixer was unlikely to succeed.
None has been made.

By the same token why believe expert Pleistocene wallahs.

Only experts bring anything to this benighted table, slim pickings as it may be.

Otherwise we are left with the lunatics, and a moated, flooded, ley-lined,drop-in monument.
As I never tire of saying. Experts are good within their field of expertise, outside they are worse than bad they are dangerous.
In the words of Sondheim, stick to your own kind.
M

Constantinos Ragazas said...

Myris,

Who will be excavating at Stonehenge? And if that would be MPP, can Dr Ixer perhaps combined efforts to include the sampling or not of the stumps? Surely MPP would like to know the truth about the Rhosefelin rhyolite debris found at Stonehenge? Just as you said you want!

You write, ”... stick to your own kind”. Not truth? What would sublime Apollo say about that!

Kostas

Anonymous said...

MPP wants to excavate two Aubrey holes, (I've heard on the grapevine)
PeteG

Myris of Alexandria said...

See the excellent Tim Daws' photos of Cryf on his blog.
I especially savour the Jolly Rotten black plastic bin liner bedecked proto-orthostat.
Now where is the number for the Turner Prize committee.
Super,super photos.
It all has come from one glorious moment on a Wednesday afternoon in a Jovian flash.
M

BRIAN JOHN said...

Nice photos, Tim! And thanks for drawing our attention to them, Myris. All very funereal, with shrouds and mysteries and so forth......

Myris of Alexandria. said...

It just needs the Druids to wave their arms and complete the mysteries.
Of course the only True Mystery is that of Eleusis about which I dare say nothing.
M

TonyH said...

At last, with the acceptance of the use of the term "alcoves" we are now able to safely use the expression "closet Human Tranportation supporters".

TonyH said...

Myris, has Steven Sondheim written any lyrics directly applicable to Stonehenge and its Studies?

"Send in the Clowns" springs to mind, with its ending "They're already here".

BRIAN JOHN said...

Next, we'll presumably have cupboards and wardrobes in the rock face.....

BRIAN JOHN said...

Ah, a wonderful song, in many splendid versions. And great words...

TonyH said...

Absolutely, Brian! A splendid County Planning Officer's Secretary with a great Welsh singing voice used to sing "Send In The Clowns" with great style around the Department where I worked in the 1970's. We all realised it was sung with great irony.Memories of Diane.