Longbarrows

david hobbs · Longbarrows

Anyone have a theory on the consruction and sighting of long barrows.

I do but I wonder what yours might be

david hobbs

No theories Meiah?

meiah

Not a one!!! I haven't looked at Longbarrows to any great extent, and I don't really know the difference between the long ones and the round ones (apart from their shape)

The ones I have visited do have an air about them, almost like they are focussing, clearing.
They seem to me to be to do with renewal rather than death, but then that is the same with many churchyards. A number of them have changed, evolved over their lifetime, but that again seems a good thing.

Being as how i live on the chalk, the ones I have visited are also on the chalklands, and on the old ways, and on high ground. And with the chalk, there is often underlying water in these places. They are good places to be, when you need clear space, or new ways of seeing things, an new path.

There is one just outside of Basingstoke, called Mothers Mound, which just lifts you from your troubles, and so you see clearly again, you see the good rather than being mired in the grot. Its a rebirth.

I don't know if that is why they are where they are, its just my feeling.
Also, I don't know if that applies to all of them, or just the ones I have wanted to visit.

So, whats your theory?

david hobbs

OK here is my theory.

I have noticed that the barrows all have a distant horizon for about two thirds of their circumference. The direction that the barrow faces always have a close horizon giving the impression that you are looking into nowhere. If you look at the way they are constructed they are long and narrow with only the first say 10% hollow. The rest is solid and of no obvious use. I think that the barrows represent the male penis and the hollow the testicles. They knew that we came here initially through the penis and I think that they felt that when we died we came back again through another one, ie the long barrow that the bodies were placed in and the deceased were going to a new life in the unknown through that representatrion of the male organ.

meiah

Okaaayyy....so why were some of them reworkings of the original round ones?

david hobbs

How old do you think I am.

Beliefs change over the generations. Look at the way our churches are constructed on ancient sites. Same site. Different people.

david hobbs

meiah

Waylands Smithy was originally a rounder / oval one, later enlarged and extended to become a longbarrow.

Having done some reading though, I think I was wrong. Although this was developed, looks like round barrows came much more recently than long barrows, so a round barrow is unlikely to have become a long barrow.

david hobbs

So does my penis theory stand up ?

meiah

Its certainly looking more promising

david hobbs

Let me put it another way.

Does it hold water

meiah

How doe s this tie in with West Kennet Longbarrow being positioned so close to Swallowhead Springs?

(yes, really!!)

Oh, and I was wrong, West Kennet is aligned with the sun at the Spring Equinox

Raymond

white wolf

West Kennet Longbarrow .........

not too far from where i live and is well worth a visit if you are ever in the area,that along with avebury and stone henge.

ww

Raymond

Is that an invitation, WW?

white wolf

Any time you are in these here parts Raymond the wolf will come out of his forest.

ww

Raymond

Actually me and a friend of mine are planning a little trip down your way (as soon as he's got the rear axl on his car replaced - who knew???) I may just take you up on that WW

white wolf

Okey Dokey Raymond.

dont forget Silbury Hill aswell.