Yesterday I went to a meeting at the Folklore Centre, the subject matter was 'When the British met Indian Folklore - A Megalithic Problem' It sounds just right up my street but at first I had my doubts. The lecturer seemed to concentrate on three males, who were in the army out there in the 19th century and who had decided to question the megalith building of cromlechs out in India. Of course these three were outstanding examples of 'The Glorious Past of Britain'* out and out racist, observing from the fine heights of their superiority over the tribal nature of the people around them. Interesting fact, this megalithic building still goes on, so there is not much to distinguish between old or modern.
But she made me think the lecturer about a place much nearer to home, the Prescelli hills with its prehistoric trackway that ran from Ireland through Wales down to Stonehenge. There are a lot of archaeological evidence in this area of prehistoric stones still not analysed.
It is almost given, that the bluestones at Stonehenge were transported from one of the quarries in the hills. There is an argument against it of course, saying that it was the glacials of an earlier time that had brought the bluestones to this corner of Wiltshire. But thinking about it, why are there not other bluestones still littered around?
There was a good crowd there, but it seemed mostly that the men asked questions, even her husband who had driven her down, much to her crossness. But the Folklore Centre is going from success to success, it is right next door to the old Hippodrome, which is also much used. I do like the idea that civic use is part of these large buildings, whether film shows, plays or even the local children who go there for talks. They file past the house two by two, chattering like birds, excited by the adventure.
*Why did I earmark that? Well it was listening to the radio this morning and hearing that the Reform Party are going to remoralise our young and put up more statues to the great and good. For god's sake don't these people understand their history?
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| Prescelli landscape |
It is always a frightening thing to watch the big and powerful make unilateral decisions about who is 'great and good'.
ReplyDeleteI am beginning to think it is a sign of insecurity by the middle aged male in past history, who feel that their 'worth' may not be recognised in the future. An interviewer was questioning young females about the so-called hate young people feel towards Churchill. Not one said they hated him. It is typical of the politics that swirl around us at this time for a false assumption to be thrown into the ring to be hoisted high on a righteous petard. If that makes sense;)
DeleteWhen I think back to all of the history that I wasn't taught, I'm still learning of terrible things that I had never heard before. It makes me sad to realize how awful humans have been for ever and ever.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is we are all human with faults as well as goodness. But in reality we should learn from past history and not repeat it Ellen.
ReplyDeleteIt's always the old men who ask questions at any meetings - they like to hear the sound of their own voices!!
ReplyDelete;) Perhaps Sue or perhaps they have no one to talk to back home.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like Stonehenge's story will never reach "THE END". There's always somethings new to be said, some theory, some finding. We will never know the exact truth. However, I understood that geo-scientists using modern analysis techniques had found the precise source of Stonehenge's bluestones in the Preseli Hills.
ReplyDeleteSome men love the sound of their own voices and are insensitive to the presence of women at meetings of different types. It's all, "Listen to me! Listen to me!"
Yes they found the quarry from where the bluestones came from, I think it will be a few years before the complete site is analysed though. Foel Drygarn, which is a hillfort/settlement, it houses three large stone barrows, has at its base large vertical stones that would have been ideal as well.
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