FREE STANDING WITH STONES: A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY THROUGH MEGALITHIC BRITAIN AND IRELAND PDF

Rupert Soskin,Timothy Darvill | 192 pages | 29 Jun 2009 | Thames & Hudson Ltd | 9780500051580 | English | London, United Kingdom Standing with Stones

Picking a top 10 from our wealth of prehistoric monuments is a little like choosing your favourite records of all time: almost impossible - it depends on your mood. Some sites are overwhelming in their complexity, others are peaceful and solitary. Some by the road, others a two-hour walk away, but whatever your preference, there are more than enough to keep any fan happy for years. So, donning my many-mooded hat, I have chosen the following for their extraordinary diversity of megalithic magic. Perhaps the most intricate Standing with Stones: A Photographic Journey Through Megalithic Britain and Ireland all, Callanish is testament to our ancestors' vast knowledge of astronomy. Standing on the Hebridean Isle of Lewis, overlooking the chill waters of Loch Roag, the cruciform arrangement of has a at its axis, all aligned to view the heavens. Most notably, the full lunar cycle of Once in each cycle, the moon is low enough in the sky to skim the horizon before it sets. Callanish was built with such precision that after appearing and disappearing between the stones, the moon finally seems to set within the circle itself. It begs the question: how many generations of observation were necessary to plot the alignments before erecting so many stones with such accuracy. The majority of ancient sites are mysterious because we're never exactly sure how they were used, or by how many individuals. But on Mainland, Orkney, at the prehistoric village of Skara Brae, the people are almost tangible and for once, everything seems so familiar. The houses seem impossibly modern. Five thousand years old but with recessed shelving, dressers and, most extraordinary of all, a drainage system. The village is also not far from the island's other "show sites": the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgarthe latter being the third largest Henge in the whole of Britain. I love this place. Hidden in the southern part of the plantation forest which skirts Fernworthy Reservoir on Dartmoor, the stone row at Assycombe has an almost Lord of the Rings feel to it. A long way from any road, the place is still, silent and rarely visited. I have been here on a number of occasions and never seen anyone nearby. The secluded forest setting probably gives a false impression. This place must have been very busy in those far-off times. Other rows and stone circles abound on Dartmoor and without its covering of trees, this area Standing with Stones: A Photographic Journey Through Megalithic Britain and Ireland seem more like one busy, sprawling settlement. However, for a modern-day walker in search of peaceful solitude, Assycombe is as good as it gets. If you like rock art, this place is a must-see. Astonishingly, the remarkable group of mounds and passage tombs at Knowth are home to over a quarter of all the rock art in Europe. From simple spirals to carvings which look like diagrams, this is a remarkable place to visit. The site is one of a group in the Boyne Valley which includes the renowned passage tomb of Newgrange Standing with Stones: A Photographic Journey Through Megalithic Britain and Ireland, also adorned with plenty of beautiful engravings. Take a day at the seaside with a little prehistoric magic thrown in. Formby Point is another of those rare places where individual people, rather than societies have left their mark. Six thousand years ago these sands were baked hard in the sun, capturing a wealth of footprints and animal tracks. It's an amazing feeling to actually walk in the same footsteps as one of our distant ancestors, following their path towards the sea and back. The waves are gradually wearing them away but the same waves sometimes expose new prints too, so it can be an exciting day out, searching the sands for an ancient snapshot in time. High on a hill near Llandrillo, the cairn-circle of Moel ty Uchaf is the perfect place to relax and watch the sun set behind the distant hills. There are a number of burial sites in the surrounding fields so a few thousand years ago the site was probably a little busier than it is today. Take a look at the field walls on your way up the hill. They are full of bigger stones which have clearly been taken from other nearby ancient sites long since disappeared. All too often these farm walls are the only remaining clues to structures and settlements that once brought life to the now- quiet landscape. To me, the most majestic of all our stones circles, Castlerigg is also one of the oldest, built over 5, years ago. It is spectacularly placed. Surrounded by mountains, the feeling is that the entire landscape is part of the site, like a huge natural cathedral. It is likely that this was once a centre for axe-trading, a Standing with Stones: A Photographic Journey Through Megalithic Britain and Ireland of prehistoric market place. Inside the eastern edge of the ring is a large rectangular arrangement of stones where excavations revealed a charcoal pit, but no sign of burials. I call it the barbecue area. Quoit is a monster. This huge stands by the road close to modern houses and shows an aspect of prehistory that is often overlooked: we still live in the settlements chosen by our ancestors. Finding sites within modern towns and villages sometimes seems incongruous, but they just show us that these places have been inhabited for thousands of years. Who knows what lies beneath those houses? The sheer size of Trethevy, especially the precarious-looking capstone, can only make us marvel at the ingenuity and skill of the builders: Just how did they Standing with Stones: A Photographic Journey Through Megalithic Britain and Ireland it? This enchanting and mysterious site overlooking Caenarfon Bay looks like a second world War bunker from the outside, but that makes it all the more surprising to find what lies beneath. Bold, abstract carvings adorn the imposing stone which stands like a guardian inside the entrance. Other spiral markings have been carved into other stones within the burial chambers themselves. The most remarkable thing about this site, however, is that archaeologists discovered the central area to have held a ritual fire which had burned for a long, long time. Analysis revealed the ingredients to have been a witches' brew containing eel, wrasse, whiting, rabbit, shrew, mouse, snake, frog and toad. All these creatures must have held some magical significance to our ancestors, other that, or it's the curious remains Standing with Stones: A Photographic Journey Through Megalithic Britain and Ireland a long forgotten dinner recipe. is situated amid rolling farmlands and is not among the largest of British henges. But its smaller size somehow makes its form easier to appreciate. The deep inner ditch; the high, steep banks; and Standing with Stones: A Photographic Journey Through Megalithic Britain and Ireland raised central platform, all point towards a place of spectacle. What makes this place so exciting is that as you approach, you can only see the steep slope of the bank. Climb to the top and the sudden appearance of its great arena takes your breath away United Kingdom holidays. Rupert Soskin has travelled the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland photographing megalithic sites. Here are his favourites. Ancient sights Photograph: Rupert Soskin. Rupert Soskin. Callanish, Isle of Lewis, The Hebrides Perhaps the most intricate of all, Callanish is testament to our ancestors' vast knowledge of astronomy. Skara BraeMainland, Orkney The majority of ancient sites are mysterious because we're never exactly sure how they were used, or by how many individuals. Assycombe, Dartmoor, Devon I love this place. Formby Point, Liverpool Take a day at the seaside with a little prehistoric magic thrown in. Moel ty Uchaf, Gwynedd, North Wales High on a hill near Llandrillo, the cairn-circle of Moel ty Uchaf is the perfect place to relax and watch the sun set behind the distant hills. Castlerigg, Cumbria To me, the most majestic of all our stones circles, Castlerigg is also one of the oldest, built over 5, years ago. Trethevy Quoit, Trethevy Quoit is a monster. Barclodiad y Gawres, Anglesey This enchanting and mysterious site overlooking Caenarfon Bay looks like a second world War bunker from the outside, but that makes it all the more surprising to find what lies beneath. Arbor Low, Derbyshire Standing with Stones: A Photographic Journey Through Megalithic Britain and Ireland Low is situated amid rolling farmlands and is not among the largest of British henges. Standing with Stones (Video ) - IMDb

Build up your Halloween Watchlist with our list of the most popular horror titles on Netflix in October. See the list. Title: Standing with Stones Video There are about 1, stone circles in the British Isles. If you include other megalithic monuments such as stone rows, long barrows, cairns, cists, standing stones and others, the number runs to tens of thousands. Rupert Soskin and Standing with Stones: A Photographic Journey Through Megalithic Britain and Ireland Bott have produced a magical journey through the British Isles Standing with Stones: A Photographic Journey Through Megalithic Britain and Ireland ponder the most mysterious of all the rich archaeological wonders of these islands, the first ones. Soskin's warm and friendly manner hides a huge dedication to his subject, the amazing variety of megalithic monuments, being only one far beyond just standing stones, to be found throughout England, Ireland and Wales. The dreamy music adds to the sense of timelessness and mystery as we visit site after site, each holding its own surprises. Driven by passion, this journey contains humour and wit, along with many shifts in emphasis and perspective to keep the production lively and interesting throughout its one-and-a-half hours. This is a must see for anyone fascinated by prehistory. Looking for some great streaming picks? Check out some of the IMDb editors' favorites movies and shows to round out your Watchlist. Visit our What to Watch page. Sign In. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Full Cast and Crew. Release Dates. Official Sites. Company Credits. Technical Specs. Plot Summary. Plot Keywords. Parents Guide. External Sites. User Reviews. User Ratings. External Reviews. Metacritic Reviews. Photo Gallery. Trailers and Videos. Crazy Credits. Alternate Versions. Rate This. If you include other megalithic monuments such as stone rows, long barrows, cairns, cists, standing stones and others, the number Director: Michael Bott. Writer: Rupert Soskin. Star: Rupert Soskin. Added to Watchlist. The Best Horror Movies on Netflix. Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Photos Add Image Add an image Do you have any images for this title? Edit Cast Credited cast: Rupert Soskin Edit Storyline There are about 1, stone circles in the British Isles. Genres: Documentary. Certificate: Not Rated. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report this. Add the first question. Edit Details Official Sites: Official site. Country: UK. Language: English. Budget: GBP25, estimated. Production Co: Illuminated Word Ltd. Runtime: min. Color: Color. Edit page. October Streaming Picks. Back to School Picks. Clear your history. Standing with Stones documentary film - Megalithic Sites

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. A breathtaking photographic journey from Cornwall to Orkney, taking in Standing with Stones: A Photographic Journey Through Megalithic Britain and Ireland wonders of megalithic Britain and Ireland and revealing their power, majesty and magical settings. From stone circles and henges to long barrows and cairns, our distant ancestors left us tantalizing signs of their long-forgotten lives. From the tip of Cornwall to the far Scottish isles, a wonderful variety of ancient stone monuments present an enigmatic face to the world. Some sites, like Stonehenge and Newgrange, are often visited, whilst many, such as Fernworthy and Bleasedale are barely known at all. What were such sites really for? Why did ancient people expend so much time and energy on creating these mysterious structures? Format: Hardback. Size: Extent: pp. Publication date: 16 March ISBN: Out of stock. Add to Wish List. Previous Chronicle of the Roman Republic Chronicles. Next The Complete Ice Age. Further Details. Specifications Format: Hardback Size: What Temple? About the Author Rupert Soskin is a nature photographer, writer, naturalist and explorer. His photographs have been copiously printed in books, magazines and wildlife publications. List of Contributors Timothy Darvill. You May Also Like. Newgrange Michael J. Solving Stonehenge Anthony Johnson Out of stock.