Thinking About The Builders…..Back to Swandro….‘New’ Stone Circle…
by Bernie Bell - 09:35 on 04 August 2023
Thinking About The Builders…
I was talking with someone at the Ness, who mentioned something I’d never thought about – the actual builders. I’ve thought about the folk with the knowledge and social position to plan and organize the building of the structures. I’ve thought about the folk who came there on Pilgrimage. I’ve thought about the folk who lived in the area and wondered what did they make of it all? I’ve never really given thought to the builders, and Kevin presented me with the idea that they would need to have been young.
Life expectancy in the Neolithic wasn’t as short and grim as used to be thought - but still, by the time someone was getting on a bit they’d have had a hard life and wouldn’t be so likely to be hefting big stones about. It would need to have been a relatively youthful work-force – working under strict supervision.
Or maybe I just like the idea of a building-site full of Aiden Turner look-alikes - shirts off – hefting stones. I’m only human!
I also thought – the people around there will have been farmers - would they have the time to give to this work? I’m thinking of the activity going on around me here, now – all hours of the day – while there is daylight to work in. Maybe they put in some hours part-time as a service to their community? Also – they wouldn’t have the expertise – even under supervision – they weren’t stonemasons or builders as such - they were farmers – who do need to be Jacks-of-all-trades – but…..
So – were the builders local, or did they come in from elsewhere? Were they Neolithic Navvies? Maybe coming from somewhere where they had learnt their trade – such as the Bru na Boinne?...
https://theorkneynews.scot/2022/04/20/the-irish-connection-among-others/
Then, talking with someone else about this idea, I suggested that there could be a comparison with the Ness today – the excavations planned and supervised by the older – or should I say more experienced – people. Some of the physical work is done by older folk, but it has to be said that much of the work-force consists of younger people. Admittedly, to me anyone under 50 is ‘young’ these days - but many of the diggers are actually young and – from other places.
Another example of how what happened at the Ness, still happens at the Ness..
Mebbe.
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While I’m here …..Dig Diary update….NEOLITHIC WOOD…
https://www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/2023-day-24/
My tuppence worth….
https://theorkneynews.scot/2021/08/09/holy-moly-neolithic-wood/
…..which included a couple of my diggin’ rhymes – first one based on ‘Norwegian Wood ‘ by The Beatles…….
There once was a dig,
Or should I say,
It was this year.
It turned up some wood,
Isn’t it good,
Neolithic Wood?
Found by ’The Two J’s’,
Then carefully eased out by Jo.
When it gets analyzed,
There’ll be so much to know.
It might be from posts,
And if that’s so,
Then what were they for?
To support
Something?
Or raise something off of the floor?
And, given more time,
What might they find,
About that wood?
Isn’t it good,
Neolithic Wood!
And….Structure 12 again….it’s not wood…but – look at that picture of the hammerstone…just….look at it!
https://www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/another-hammerstone-and-a-site-awash-with-planning-frames/
It’s small
And it’s round
You don’t get many
To the pound
Hammerstone
Hammerstone………
Maybe I should make a Ness songbook?
AND…..
Anne Mitchell tells it like it is….
https://www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/the-f-word/
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Back to Swandro….
https://www.swandro.co.uk/post/trying-not-to-think-about-backfilling
Cuddling collies - good for the soul – I had a good old fuss with Tam at the Ness – Ooops - this one’s meant to be about Swandro….
https://www.swandro.co.uk/post/not-rain-high-tech-gear
“To the right of the hearth is a whale vertebra hollowed out into a bowl or a socket, sunk next to the hearth itself,”
A handy bowl right next to where you’re cooking – speaks to my domestic soul – or is it one of a pair of uprights to support a cross-bar for roasting?
I always likes a groovy worked stone.
And then…
https://www.swandro.co.uk/post/oil-lamps-galore
“It being a full moon on the 1st August we've got Spring tides at the moment, so the sea was lapping at the lower levels of site…”
That’s Swandro - in a nutshell.
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‘New’ Stone Circle…
From Duncan Lunan…
“Sighthill Stone Circle with Duncan Lunan and Kenny Brophy
https://www.stonemepodcast.com/programmes/sighthill-stone-circle
Stone Me - Podcast by Matthew Magee - We jump forward to examine the first astrologically-aligned stone circle in Scotland to be built for 3,500 years with the person who conceived it and a stone circle expert. What can we learn about the motivation behind those ancient sites from the creator of a modern one?
Guests: Site creator Duncan Lunan and Glasgow University archaeologist Kenny Brophy”
But what’s ‘new’?...
https://theorkneynews.scot/2018/04/09/real-stones-and-fake-stones/
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Here’s one I made earlier…. https://theorkneynews.scot/2021/12/07/stormy-weather/
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