[Stones] The Great Bank

[Ric]

--- NIGELSWIFT at aol.com wrote:

>  
> In a message dated 02/09/2007 12:47:30 GMT Standard
> Time,  
> littlestone at supanet.com writes:
> 
> but there is no  'mound' here - show me "the north
> side" of 'Silbaby' ~ it 
> does not  exist?
> 
> 
> 
> I beg your very pardon Ric!

granted :)

> If there's no mound, what's this? 
>
_http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/33298/images/silbaby.html_
> 
>
(http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/33298/images/silbaby.html)
> 
> and this?
>
_http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/33377/images/silbaby.html_
> 
>
(http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/33377/images/silbaby.html)
> 
>  
> If it wasn't for a sort of raised vehicular
> causeway, from the verge  to the 
> top of the mound (created by dumping lorries I
> reckon) 

"lorries" - can you be a little more specific, please?
- if you are correct, these 'road works' should appear
in the local council archive somewhere?

>the whole of the  upper 
> portion would be visible, well proud of the slope of
> Waden, all 360 degees  
> of it.
>  
> Anyhow, isn't it a bit archaeologist-like to say "I
> can find no precedent  
> for a monumental mound built against a hill, ergo it
> isn't a mound? ;)
> After all, so far as Archaeology is concerned,
> Silbaby doesn't exist at  all!

Nigel - i think there are far too many presumptions
here - the Dragon's Mound at Uffington is a natural
chalk mound set against the steep ascent graced by the
White Horse, so there are 'precedents' for what you
are describing: it's just that there is '0' evidence
for the riverward spur of Waden Hill being an
artificial construction?

>  
>  
> BTW, if you draw a line from the centre of the
> Sanctuary to the centre of  
> the round top of Silbury it passes as far as can be
> ascertained precisely  
> through the centre of the round top of Silbaby.
> Quite a coincidence for a mere  
> "spur" of Waden I reckon.

i think that's exactly what it is, a spur of Waden
Hill shaped into a steep bluff by the Kennet over many
millennia

>  
> And did you know a broken bronze axe was found in
> Silbaby's  ditch?

no, i did no know this - but it ties in with the round
barrows / earthworks on the bluff, which directly
overlooked the West Kennet Palisade Enclosures; this
especial region would have retained its local
numinousity hundreds or more years, after the
palisades were gone - hence the burials/earthworks up
here, which Stukeley - genius that he was - detected? 

Ric