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| Stone Formation Archive 1997 |
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 Stone Formations news, views, gallery and archive brought to you by Weird Wiltshire Introduction Latest News News Archive Stonehenge Stonehenge Project Stonehenge 360 Avebury Saviours Stones Village Solstice Wayland Smithy Long Barrow Woodhenge Gallery Summer Solstice Gallery 2002 Summer Solstice Gallery 2004 Postcards Wallpaper Links  |
First published on May 9, 1997 A NEW theory claims the stone circle at Avebury was a centre for pagan fertility rituals. Bradford on Avon scientist Terence Meaden says he has discovered proof that the 4,000-year-old stones were deliberately positioned and used to celebrate the marriage of the gods in major festivals in Spring and Midsummer. He said the key to the mystery was the discovery of a female stone, with markings representing a woman's anatomy. "It has been there for 4,000 years but no one had noticed it before." He said the female stone represents the earth goddess and an obelisk was the male sun god on Earth, with the sun's shadow making the connecting link. Dr Meaden has made an 18-year study of Avebury, Stonehenge and the megalithic period. He said fertility celebrations were important to the ancient farmers to help stimulate growth and abundance in their crops, animals and women. Dr Meaden says the stones would have been placed so the alignments and coupling of different stones continued throughout the year at the time of the four major pagan festivals. "It was something they could recognise visually as happening before them," he said. "It would be like watching a television drama unfold. Everybody present could see it happen. Back to 1997 index |
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