47 replies to this topic

[yogro]

Does anybody have any ideas as to the  function of the neolithic stone balls  found in Scotland. Genesis Veracity, I think your numerical expertise would come in handy here.

[Genesis Veracity]

They were astronomical markers of metonic and precession cycles on ground circles.

[Cakes]

Round rocks roll well. maybe moving big ones is easier if they're round? nah, because they made small round ones too?

since Rock and Roll will never die, maybe it's always been alive? and these are Signs?

One page I saw says those Folks were maybe into admiring the power of the Sun and Moon (me too, I love the Solstice and the Equinox because they are holidays and they also have to do with gardening).

Actually, that seems like a good enough reason to me. That's kind of what I am doing right now too. I've been gardening for a few years and I have seen that the youngsters need some basic pointers when it comes to knowing when to plant and such. i am writing texts for them but actually I am doing it for myself. if I could make a sculpture garden or a sundial or a place to celebrate this part of my life I would happily (compulsively?) do so.

Speaking of, GroundHog's Day is coming~!

ps-those rocks kinda look like smilies too

or seeds

[yogro]

Genesis Veracity, on 24 January 2006, 1:06, said:

They were astronomical markers of metonic and precession cycles on ground circles.

Stone balls are approx 3" in diameter.Modern theorists claim the balls exhibit representations of the Platonic solids.

[Cakes]

It means "Kilroy Was Here" (and still is...


aren't we?)

[yogro]

Genesis Veracity, on 24 January 2006, 1:06, said:

They were astronomical markers of metonic and precession cycles on ground circles.

Why not belt decorations, totems, talismen, tokens, badges of rank.

[severus]

check out a report written by gavin Mcgregor of Glasgow university, i think it's available on aback issues of the proceedings of the society of antiquaries of scotland

[Diego]

yogro, on 23 January 2006, 21:44, said:

Does anybody have any ideas as to the  function of the neolithic stone balls  found in Scotland.

We believe there is too little evidence available to determine the exact function of these objects. In our opinion, the best description is the one written by our friend Sigurd Towrie in his website Orkneyjar:

These items served no obvious practical purpose so are thought to have a ritual or symbolic purpose. Although we really have no clear idea as to the purpose of the stone balls a few other examples have been found in Orkney, with around 400 found across Scotland.
The most widely accepted theory regarding these objects is that they were symbols of status, marking the owners as significant within the society.
Were they passed around communal events marking the holder as somehow significant? Or perhaps carried in processions or used withion religious events. Or were they merely gaming pieces, used to pass the long winter nights?
It has even been suggested that the knobbly stones may represent the sun with rays of sunlight emanating from the central orb.

You may find extensive info and many photographs on the Hunterian Museum's website.

Hope this helps!

[yogro]

Best representations can be found in 'Scotland in Pagan times.' J Anderson(1886)

[stonecarver]

Carved Stone Balls...

a comprehensive academic paper by Dorothy Marshall, 1977 in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries Scotland, includes a catalogue and drawings of all the decorated balls, as well as some photos. The best collection is at the National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh.

I have been researching this topic for several years (it was the subject of my Archaeology degree dissertation, and my MA dissertation)... there is no consensus (amongst archaeologists) for a possible function, and in the latter years of the 20th Century, archaeologists tended to associate them with high status and/or some symbolic role.

Good paper by Edmonds in a book edited by Sheridan, 1993: 'Vessels for the Ancestors', and there are excellent discussions in another edited book, 'Symbols of Power at the Time of Stonehenge'.

As for any connection with Platonic Solids, i have just written a paper for the Lithic Studies Society which covers this in detail. If you want more info, feel free to e-mail me...

[Peregrine]

Hi Stonecarver,

Thanks for this information.
I am very interested in your dissertations and your recent paper about a connection with Platonic Solids.
Have you considered to publish them on this forum as a special topic ?
I 'm sure a lot of people here would appreciate this immensely.
It would be a great contribution to a better understanding of the ancient objects.

All best,  Peregrine.  

[123hopp]

Hi, guys - Regards from a new member.

Well, there are only a few big decorated balls in Sweden, connected with large tumuli covering bodies of legendary first rulers. But there are plenty of stone eggs placed at some dominating points within farms, in many town suburbs and around cottages. Those most decorative of them are covered with intertangled plant motives or stylized snake bodies.
From the location of them, I conclude they could demarcate hierarchically spaced central points in the net of life-energy (plasma) streams.
Quite generally, I`ve met two kinds of them. The first could denote a common "head" within a territory (yin/yang streams flowing in and out), while the second type is doubled and used to demarcate a "dipol" composed of a separate yin-centre and yang-centre spaced some meters or more apart.
My proposition of meaning deals with those hypothetical "down-to-earth" levels of the Net. And it doesn`t  exclude astroarchaeological explanations, which are probably mostly valid for big cult centres, accepting a "cosmic energy" to distribute it further down the hierarchically organized net of local centres and paths.

123hopp

[Peregrine]

Hi 123hopp,

A very interesting posting.

Are these stone eggs that you mention perhaps carved from Rhodonite ?
Rhodonite is a silicate (quartz) composite, similar to rose quartz.
It is known that, at Easter, Russian children would exchange eggs, carved from Rhodonite.
A variety of Rhodonite is also found near the Manganese deposits at Wermland, Sweden.

All best,  Peregrine.

[stonecarver]

Yes, the carved stone eggs from Scandinavia are a very interesting phenomenon... i spent several summers over in Scandinavia and examined many specimens (as well as recording and looking at the stone-carvings etc).

The eggs appear to be part of an entirely different cultural tradition and there is no apparent equivalent here in the archaeological record. That does not mean they did not fulfil the same role or function however. The egg might be a metaphor for birth, renewal, life... and the last couple of posts are interesting takes...

There are some quite good papers on the eggs, i'll see if i can find them amongst my files here at home and then post the references and a synopsis.

The carved stone balls meanwhile, are a very regionally delimited type of stone object... some of you might be interested in some very recent papers that i am aware of which are going to press. As soon as they become public domain i will post the relevant websites and links.

[kevin.b]

123hopp, welcome, I am a dowser, I follow two flows of plasma.
One flows on top of the other in opposite directions.
The top left spinning creates life and sustains it.
The lower grim reaper , right spinning dissolves all.
Keep these two dragons in balance ( perigrines labyrinth ) and all will be fine.
The plasma spirals in/out at points where many lines cross.
Google Walter russell.
Google fibonacci.
Google willhelm reicht
I am in awe at what I dowse, it is creation, and decay.
Space is full of plasma, you should know this?,  you have been there before, everything has, and will be again.
Kevin