What is ?
Answers to some of your many questions !
Although it is not known exactly why Stone Circles and Standing Stones were constructed, there have been many theories offered. The most popular one is associated with Ley Lines and Earth Energy Lines. It is scientifically accepted that there is a great deal of electromagnetic interference in and around many of these sites at particular times of the day or year, no concrete scientific evidence or research as yet has uncovered an explanation for this anomaly.
Across the United Kingdom and some parts of Europe there are still remains of many Stone circles but it is known that many were destroyed over the centuries to use in the construction of roads and walls. Added to this it is also reported that some Stone Circles were destroyed to make way for Christian churches, as these sites were originally believed to be used by Pagans, Druids and their contemporaries before Christianity came to Europe. Many of the oldest churches are reported to have been constructed upon the very site where a Stone Circle or some form of ancient pre-christian religious site once stood. Added to this some of the churches then used some of the stones in the construction of the churches!
Across the United Kingdom and some parts of Europe there are still remains of many Stone circles but it is known that many were destroyed over the centuries to use in the construction of roads and walls. Added to this it is also reported that some Stone Circles were destroyed to make way for Christian churches, as these sites were originally believed to be used by Pagans, Druids and their contemporaries before Christianity came to Europe. Many of the oldest churches are reported to have been constructed upon the very site where a Stone Circle or some form of ancient pre-christian religious site once stood. Added to this some of the churches then used some of the stones in the construction of the churches!
Post created: Apr 13, 2010 | Updated
The term "ley lines" was coined by Alfred Watkins when explaining his theory that ancient sites around Britain had actually been constructed or formed giving alignments between and across the inhabited landscape of Britain. The sites mentioned include Stone Circles, Standing Stones, Long Barrows, Cairns, Burial Mounds and Churches.
In 1921 Watkins had an idea about alignments and set about noting and measuring these sites to help support his theory. His first book entitled, "Early British Trackways" was published in 1922 and was the result of a lecture he had given the previous year. After this he continued to pursue his study of the alignment theory. In 1925 he published what is said to be his main book entitled, "The Old Straight Track", later books were "The Ley Hunters Manual" (1927) and the "Archaic Tracks Around Cambridge" (1932). Shortly after the publishing of the Old Straight Track, The Straight Track Postal Portfolio club was formed enable people to exchange and circulate information, including viewpoints and photographs, with each other. Major F.C. Taylor in the 1930's was the secretary, but the deaths of Alfred Watkins and Major Taylor and the advent of the Second World War meant that the club closed. Luckily a handful of people kept the interest alive right through to the 1960's when a new cycle of theories emerged.
It is said that the word "Ley" comes from the Saxon word for cleared glade. Paul Devereux and Ian Thompson, in their book, The Ley Guide, quote from the Concise Oxford English Dictionary that the word "ley" can be linked to "lea" meaning a "tracked of open ground." Watkins believed that the image of the actual ley surveyors/designers can be seen by looking at the chalk figure known as "The Long Man of Wilmington," located in Sussex. In 1974 these types of design in the Southern parts of Britain have been linked to the markings on the pampa/ground close to Nasca, Peru, by Maria Reiche a German expert.
In 1921 Watkins had an idea about alignments and set about noting and measuring these sites to help support his theory. His first book entitled, "Early British Trackways" was published in 1922 and was the result of a lecture he had given the previous year. After this he continued to pursue his study of the alignment theory. In 1925 he published what is said to be his main book entitled, "The Old Straight Track", later books were "The Ley Hunters Manual" (1927) and the "Archaic Tracks Around Cambridge" (1932). Shortly after the publishing of the Old Straight Track, The Straight Track Postal Portfolio club was formed enable people to exchange and circulate information, including viewpoints and photographs, with each other. Major F.C. Taylor in the 1930's was the secretary, but the deaths of Alfred Watkins and Major Taylor and the advent of the Second World War meant that the club closed. Luckily a handful of people kept the interest alive right through to the 1960's when a new cycle of theories emerged.
It is said that the word "Ley" comes from the Saxon word for cleared glade. Paul Devereux and Ian Thompson, in their book, The Ley Guide, quote from the Concise Oxford English Dictionary that the word "ley" can be linked to "lea" meaning a "tracked of open ground." Watkins believed that the image of the actual ley surveyors/designers can be seen by looking at the chalk figure known as "The Long Man of Wilmington," located in Sussex. In 1974 these types of design in the Southern parts of Britain have been linked to the markings on the pampa/ground close to Nasca, Peru, by Maria Reiche a German expert.
Post created: Apr 13, 2010 | Updated
The theory that a location or site possesses supernatural energies which can sometimes be marked by stone circles, standing stones, etc. The term "Earth Energies" is connected with topics from Fen Shui to Ley Lines and fundamentally argues that Planet Earth is a living planet and has energies which are produced by all living things passing around it that can be tapped into or channelled at specific locations. To date research has been done regarding changes in electromagnetic fields but science is still unable to fully explain (scientifically measure) the principals behind the concept and so it is still open to debate although a change in magnetic fields has in the past been recorded with no explanation as to why it should change.
Post created: Apr 13, 2010 | Updated