On 
NAT 
ORE | DECEMBER 13, 1906 
While I am writing to you I see in the Scotsman 
(November 8) that recent explorations at Fernworthy 
Circle, on Dartmoor, have shown that every inch of its 
area is covered with wood charcoal. ‘‘In fact, fires 
seem to have been kindled all over the circle, for every 
scoop of the pick and shovel which was removed from 
the floor displayed charcoal.’’ Now this looks much 
more like the result of a succession of Beltaine, or other 
fires, year after year than of burials; and there would 
be the closest connection between the orientation of 
the circle which showed when the time of festival had 
arrived and the fire which proclaimed its 
advent. 
But any way, the more uses were made 
of the circles the better they are worth in- 
vestigating. 
I have no doubt that connected with your 
magnificent University (and I do not forget 
that I am now one of you) there is, or soon 
will be, a strong School of Archzology, 
happier than most such schools in that you 
have a fine field of exploration at your doors, 
for there are 175 stone circles in your shire 
alone, shown in the Ordnance maps. 
Now let me keep to my own parish and 
try to point out that a research touching the 
application of the orientation theory to these 
4a) 
circles would certainly be a source of the = B00 
greatest interest to the researcher. sa 
First he would have to arrange his observ- 700) 
ations so that he could discuss the value or Oi 
the futility of the theory taken as a whole; pie 00 
and then if the theory proved valid he would a 
have to hunt down the use of the May, ceo 3 
solstitial or equinoctial year and the stars a, 
used as clock-stars. The thing bristles with 
plots for detective stories. m8) AN 
What a time the alumnus of this School Ls 
who has best studied the methods of Sherlock Ae 
Holmes will have! Pn 
First of all, of course, he must visit the MO 900 
ground, that is, the circles, and among the Fad 
large number he need consider, in the first «1G: 
instance, only those that have well-marked ' ~~ 
recumbent stones. On this point he should = 
consult Mr. Ritchie, of Port Elphinstone, igo | © 
who has, I believe, photographed them all 
(and let me say here how grateful I am to 
him for the gift of several mounted prints, 
one of which, with his permission, I have 
copied above). Next, let him neglect the 
names, weights, and colours of the riders— 
I mean the stones—and simply determine the 
azimuth of the line at right angles to the 
recumbent stone taken across the circle, and 
the height of the horizon in that direction. 
Even the university theodolite is not abso- 
lutely necessary; an azimuth compass, and 
a “clinometer ’? which can go in the waist- 
coat pocket, will suffice for a reconnais- 
sance. 
Now for ‘‘ clues.”’ 
Are the azimuths all helter-skelter, that is, dis- 
tributed anyhow, among the four quarters of the circle 
from 0° to 359°? (If so, the culprits need not be 
sought among astronomers, and the orientation 
theory is all moonshine.) 
Is an azimuth, say between N. 10° and 2<° E., 
pretty common or quite exceptional? (If pretty 
common, this will strengthen the view that we are 
dealing with observations of a clock-star and that 
blind chance has nothing to do with the inquiry.) 
Is there any relation between the azimuths and the 
non-squared stones are most probably the oldest, if 
the azimuths decrease as the squaring gets more 
pronounced we are dealing with Capella; see 
diagram.) 
Is there another group of azimuths between N. 40° 
and 48° E.? (If so, as this is the solstitial align- 
ment, it will strengthen the astronomical view.) 
Are there any azimuths about N. 58° E.? The ris- 
ing place of the sun at the beginning of May at 
the Beltaine feast? (If not, we have an argument 
against great age, as the oldest sun alignments in 
ze 
test 
5 
7 
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SEAL MRIZON 
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N AZIMUTHS ~ a 
Fic. 3-—Showing the dates at which the stars Arcturus, Capella and Castor rose at 
the azimuths indicated, the heights of the horizon being taken into account. 
Cornwall and along the west coast deal with the May- 
ear. 
: Is ne Aberdeen form found anywhere else? (If so, 
the other regions in Europe or elsewhere to which it 
is common may be regarded as in some way con- 
nected with the form.) 
Is it a general rule that the heights of the stones 
decrease from the recumbent stone to the opposite 
side of the circle? (If so, the relation of this to the 
naos at Stonehenge must be considered.) 
I hope I have succeeded in showing you that there 
amount of squaring of the stones? (If so, as the 
NO. 1937, VOL 75| 
are many points of great interest connected with 
