STONEHENGE — STEVENS 457 



The diameter of the circle of Aubrey Holes is 288 feet, and the 

 center from which this circle was struck is not that of the existing 

 Stonehenge, but lies about 2 feet 6 inches to the south of it. The 

 fact that Stonehenge has two distinct centers, one for the Aubrey 

 Holes and one for the circle of Trilithons, may very well suggest that 

 the Aubrey Holes and the existing circle at Stonehenge do not belong 

 to the same date, and that there were two distinct periods of building 

 at Stonehenge. 



THE STONES OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE 



Outside the circle of Trilithons stand four stones. One, the 

 "Friar's Heel," stands on the northeast, inside the Avenue. The 

 second, also on the northeast and just within the Ditch, has been 

 named the "Slaughter Stone." The remaining two stones are on the 

 line of the Aubrey Holes at the southeast and northwest respectively. 

 The "Friar's Heel" and the two stones at the southeast and northwest 

 are un worked, but the Slaughter Stone was worked. All signs of 

 working on its exposed surface have been obliterated by time, but 

 when it was uncovered during excavation, the tool marks on its sides 

 were very plainly visible. 



THE "FRIAR'S HEEL" 



This stone is the largest of the outlying stones of the circle. It 

 is 16 feet high and leans inward. The name is a remarkable one 

 and is derived from a legend, whose origin is unknown, which links 

 the stone with the Devil. 



In early times the worship of stones was very common, and even 

 the Jews were not untainted by it, and such rites were sternly re- 

 proved by Isaiah and other prophets. Later on, in Christian times, 

 the custom continued and was forbidden by the Council of Tours 

 and later on by Cnut. They belonged to the bad old days of paganism 

 and were, therefore, of the Devil, and hence the "devil-legend." 



Much has been written about the rising of the sun over this stone on 

 Midsunmier Day. Many people have seen it, and there are plenty of 

 photographs showing the disk of the sun just over the peak of the 

 stone. It should not be forgotten that the stone lies within the Ave- 

 nue and is very roughly on the axis of the circle facing the so-called 

 Altar Stone. These facts should indicate the possibility of a con- 

 nection between Stonehenge and the sun. Further indication of the 

 importance of this stone, to the builders, was forthcoming when exca- 

 vation on the western side revealed a circular trench about 30 feet in 

 diameter surrounding it. The eastern portion of this had been 

 destroyed by the present-day roadway. 



