356 Recent Wiltshire Boohs, Pamphlets, and Articles. 



years or more such an important structure — a structure which by the 

 requirements of the theory implies considerable accompanying settlement 

 — in Wiltshire, and yet have left behind them not one single relic of any 

 kind that could be ascribed to either of these nations ? 



" Stonehenge ; some New Observations and a 



Suggestion," was the title of a paper read in the Anthropological 

 Section of the British Association on Sept. 16th, at Dover, by Alfred 

 Eddowes. The author believed that the grooved stone was used for 

 supporting a pole which formed the pointer of a sundial to indicate the 

 time of day, or the season of the year by the length of its shadow. 

 Commonsense appears to have been imported into the discussion which 

 followed by Mr. A. J. Evans, who entered a much-needed protest against 

 the attempt to apply precise and scientific measurements and ideas to 

 what is in reality a rude monument, which ought to be regarded not 

 alone, but in relation to a large series of rude stone circles all over the 

 world. 



Stonehenge, its probable Origin, History, and 



Purpose, by Edward Clodd. An article in Daily Chronicle, Aug. 

 26th, maintains that its origin is sepulchral, its date about the middle of 

 the 3rd century B.C., to which date the barrows surrounding it are 

 assigned — that the structure itself is a glorified cromlech — and that it 

 possibly once surrounded a sacred tree. 



Stonehenge. " Great Sepulchral Shrine— Origin 

 and Purpose of Stonehenge — Fatuous Theories 

 discussed— the Riddle read in the light of Archae- 

 ology." An article in the Western Mail, Aug. 29th, 1899, reproducing 

 Mr. Clodd's theory, mentioned above, that Stonehenge was an elaborated 

 cromlech — that its origin is sepulchral — the outer circle representing the 

 ring of stones round the barrow — the trilithons the dolmen or stone 

 chamber — and the avenue the entrance to the chamber. As to the age of 

 the monument the Bronze Age round barrows around it are held to place 

 it about the middle of the third century B.C. There is something to be 

 said for this theory, but the weak point is that none of the surrounding 

 Bronze Age barrows are chambered, whilst the earlier long barrows are. 



Stonehenge regarded from a Masonic point of view. 



By a Freemason. Article in Daily Chronicle, Aug. 23rd, 1899. 



The " Masonic point of view " is, of course, not to be understanded by 

 the uninitiated. It includes this statement: — "The Roman sappers, 

 however, to whom nothing was sacred, were perchance the greatest 

 demolishers, and I strongly suspect that what is known as Vespasian's 

 camp is built of material stolen from the primaeval acropolis'of Stonehenge." 



