Head To Head
Log In
Register
The Modern Antiquarian Forum »
Orkney »
Britain's Ancient Capital: Secrets Of Orkney
Log In to post a reply

194 messages
Topic View: Flat | Threaded
tiompan
tiompan
5758 posts

Re: Britain's Ancient Capital: Secrets Of Orkney
Jan 31, 2017, 13:26
Just had another look at Thornborough central in relation to the paper .
What is clear is that if there is any astronomy related to the entrances the moon is a far more likely than the sun .
The observation point is considered to be from the centre of the monument , a fair enough possibility in itself but the opposite terminal could also be a possibility although there is not much difference in the width of the horizon between the two choices But as noted earlier the view that is included in the assessment is actually over parts of the bank providing a much wider horizon than is suggested by the gaps between the terminals , which are pretty wide (16 -20 wide gaps don't provide the kind of limits of the passage of a passage grave or through stones onto the Avenue at Stonehenge ) . Why did they extend the view to include looking over the bank rather than than in the most obvious one of between the terminals ? I would have thought that the bank terminals make the most sensible point to choose as the limits for observing ,with a choice of looking straight down the centre or the four possible choices of the terminal to terminal when looking in one direction . But if you do that , you don't get a view of the solstice ,as that occurs over the bank , not in the gap , when looking in both directions , but you do get a an orientation towards the standstills , in both directions . Hope this is not too confusing .
Topic Outline:

The Modern Antiquarian Forum Index