Devon and Cornwall
Carolyn Kennett FRAS
2024 Update and Report
In 1906, Sir Norman Lockyer unveiled his groundbreaking conclusions on astronomical alignments in his book tled Stonehenge And Other Bri sh Stone Monuments Astronomically Considered. This monumental work marked the culmina on of Lockyer's extensive tour through the prehistoric sites of southwestern Britain and beyond,undertakenoverthepreviousyearsalongsidehiswifeandphotographer,Lady Mary Lockyer. Within the pages of his book, Lockyer delved into his visionary concept of an ancient prac ce conducted by adept astronomer-priests, who me culously monitored the celes al phenomena and forged connec ons between the stones and local landmarks. He proposed that these links were established through the observa on of the Sun, Moon, and significant stars during key moments of the year. Lockyer's fascina on extended to what he termed "clock-stars" – as well as heliacal stars - celes al bodies that rose or set approximately an hour before sunrise, serving as harbingers of important fes vals, signalled cri cal days of the year, with a par cular emphasis on their relevance to the May fes val tradi on.
Fast forward to 2024, archaeoastronomer Carolyn Kenne embarks on a project centred around Mary Lockyer,delving into the sites documented by Lockyer during his explora ons in 1905and 1906. Kenne 'sinves ga on aimstorevisitLockyer'sideasin light of modern observa ons and interpreta ons. This report will reintroduce these sites alongside Lockyer's visionary concepts offering a contemporary lens through which to analyse their astronomical significance.
Dartmoor - Devon
The condi ons on high Dartmoor are peculiar; dense blinding mists are common, and, moreover, some mes come on almost without warning
Lockyer embarked on an expedi on to Dartmoor with the primary intent of studying its enigma c stone rows. His me culous observa ons revealed astronomical
alignments to intricate arrays of single, double and mul ple rows. Drawing parallels with Carnac in Bri any, he couldn't help but wonder if these monuments served a celes al purpose.
As Lockyer immersed himself in the rugged landscape, a compelling hypothesis began to form, perhaps these megalithic configura ons weren't solely ceremonial but also in part prac cal. Could they have func oned as guides for ancient travellers naviga ng the treacherous terrain of Dartmoor, especially during periods of limited visibility like fog or darkness? Maybe the northern direc on of many of the rows suggested a dual aspect, one both prac cal and ceremonial, as people guided themselves by the stars above. Intrigued by the possibility of astronomical significance, Lockyer turned his a en on toMerrivale, one of themostenigma csites on themoors.Here, amidstthe windsweptexpanses,he soughtcluestounlockthesecretsoftheseancientstonesand their poten al es to the celes al realm.
Merrivale
Lockyer's explora on of Dartmoor monuments began at Merrivale, where he found clear evidence of double stone rows oriented roughly at N. 82° E. These rows, one shorter than the other, feature stones about 2 to 3 feet high, with a gap of about 80 feet between the two rows. He emphasises that about half way along the avenue there is a kink – a small change in direc on – and rows may appear curved rather than straight due to the undula ng terrain. He declared that this should not put off anyone making astronomical interpreta ons.
Lockyer hypothesised that Merrivale could have served as a celes al beacon, par cularly signalling the advent of May Day with the heliacal rising of the Pleiades in 1500 BCE.Thisstellarclusterisrenownedforitsculturaland astronomicalsignificance. Delvinginto theno on of sacred streetsor processionalroutes, Lockyer drew parallels with the Via Sacra of Rome, sugges ng that these stone rows might have facilitated ceremonial or ritualis c processions. The saw Merrivale stone row as part of a wider tradi on with the Pleiades' role as markers for seasonal or agricultural events.
Lockyer's specula on regarding the possibility of stone rows serving as sacred streets or processional routes is a fascina ng concept. These ancient alignments, with their deliberate arrangement and o en imposing presence, evoke a sense of ceremonial significance. While the no on of processional routes is not uncommon even in contemporary mes, Lockyer's musings extend beyond mere conjecture, delving into the realm of symbolic representa on.
Despite no evidence, the idea of the rows being compared to the Via Sacra of Rome, the renowned Sacred Street, adds a layer to Lockyer's explora on as it resonates with the inherent grandeur and purposeful design of these megalithic structures. Lockyer's propensity for drawing parallels with the Classical world trod a fine line between scholarly inquiry and imagina ve specula on. This penchant for bold connec ons that some mes sparks new avenues of thought and inves ga on.
While alterna ve interpreta ons, such as individual stones represen ng en es or concepts offer equally intriguing perspec ves, the no on of sacred pathways underscores the poten al communal ceremonial aspect of ancient rows. Whether serving as conduits for ritualis c processions or embodying symbolic meanings, the stone rows of Dartmoor con nue to cap vate the imagina on.
The Pleiades:alsoknownastheSevenSisters,isaprominentstarclusterlocatedinthe constella on of Taurus. It's one of the nearest star clusters to Earth and is easily visible to the naked eye in the night sky, especially in the Northern Hemisphere.
Heliacal Rising:Theheliacal rising of astarhappensannually. Itbecomesvisibleon the eastern horizon in the morning light a er a period of not being visible in the night sky. The mings of this event could link to celebra on dates, as well as agricultural and seasonal changes.
The heliacal rising of the Pleiades occurs when the cluster becomes visible just before sunrise a er a period of being obscured by the Sun's glare. This event has been significant in various cultures and civilisa ons throughout history, o en marking the beginning of certain seasons or serving as a naviga onal aid. The heliacal rising of the Pleiades could serve as a calendrical mer for May Day or Beltane.
Cultural Significance: The Pleiades have been observed and revered by numerous cultures around the world throughout history. They feature prominently in many mythologies both current and historical. These range from the classical civilisa ons of ancient Greece to indigenous peoples, including the Maori of New Zealand, and the first na ons of North America. We can see this interest in the Pleiades as far back as 1500 BCE when they appear on the Nebra Sky Disc.
On the Nebra Sky Disk, the Pleiades are represented by seven dots or circles known as the Seven Sisters. The significance of the Pleiades on the Nebra Sky Disk is not en rely clear, as the disk itself lacks inscrip ons or explanatory text. However, it's widely interpreted as an astronomical instrument or a symbolic representa on of celes al events and cosmological beliefs. Some interpreta ons suggest that the posi oning of thePleiadesonthediskmayhaveservedasamarkerforseasonaloragriculturalevents and could have acted as a marker for a reset of a lunar calendar.
The presence of the Pleiades on the disk indicates the importance of these stars in the astronomical knowledge and cultural prac ces of the Bronze Age people who created it.
Conclusions about Merrivale
Lockyer's proposal regarding the astronomical significance of Merrivale offers a compelling narra ve, yet it appears to overlook certain complexi es of the site's broadermegalithiclandscape.Whileheacknowledgesthepresenceofthestonecircle, his focus on the double stone rows fails to men on many of the other features within the complex, which extend into the wider landscape.
EnglishHeritage'sdatingplacestheconstructionoftherowsmuchearlierthanLockyer suggests, challenging his Pleiades alignment's feasibility. In essence this must prompt a reconsideration of Lockyer’s interpretation and the skyscapes under which Merrivale's megaliths were erected. Recent astronomical interpretations, such as those proposed by Jack Walker in Dartmoor Sun, suggest alternative alignments tied to solar phenomena. Walker's observation of an east-west alignment from one end of the long row to the other shorter row, corresponding with equinox sunsets, offers a compelling alternative perspective to Lockyer's hypothesis.
Merrivale circle and menhir – Lady Mary LockyerThe authors personal experiences have included witnessing the Beltane/Lughnasadh cross-quarter sunset at Merrivale. This provided poignant insights into the site's atmospheric and phenomenological dimensions.
The interplay of sunlight and shadows cast over the surrounding landscape, coupled with the evoca vepresenceofstanding stones, imbuesthe experiencewith a senseof melessness and connec on to the natural world. Par cularly striking was the large monolith standing stone, which seemed to take on the phenomenological appearance of an anamorphic figure in mo on, evoking the silhoue e of a person walking through the landscape.
In conclusion, while Lockyer's proposal regarding the Pleiades alignment at Merrivale offers one intriguing perspective, a more nuanced understanding of the site's astronomical and cultural significance emerges through the consideration of alternative interpretations and firsthand experiences. The enigmatic allure of Merrivale continues to inspire curiosity and contemplation, inviting further exploration into its multifaceted layers of meaning and symbolism.
Other rows on Dartmoor and varying interpreta ons.
LockyervisitedandconsideredaselectednumberedofotherrowsonDartmoor.These were grouped into those being solar aligned – (Equinox and May day aligned) and those being stellar aligned like Stalldon Moor, Challacombe and Fernworthy. Several stellar aligned rows related to heliacal rising stars which heralded May Day and others he termed clock stars. In this instance it was the star Arcturus. He considers the rows individually as well as a group. Perhaps what is surprising is the lack of detail about Down Tor (Hingston Hill) row – the most spectacular row on all of Dartmoor. It is doub ul heever visited thisrowasitonly appears in a tablesugges ng a link between the row and the rising May Sun.
Cornwall
The Lockyer’s soon le Dartmoor behind. Guided by a number of the local aristocrats andlandowners,theiri neraryledthemthroughthecap va nglandscapesofBodmin Moor, central Cornwall and to the west. Their visits took place over 1905 and 1906 during which they visited a myriad of remarkable sites that bore testament to Cornwall's rich megalithic heritage. Among the highlights of their expedi on was a thrilling visit to an ac ve archaeological excava on at the enigma c Stripple Stones circle, nestled amidst the rugged expanse of Bodmin Moor.
Lockyer’s sky heroes
Within the course of his inves ga on Lockyer iden fied several stars with alignments includingtheSun.TheseincludedArcturus,Capella,Betelgeuseandthestarclusterthe Pleiades. He suggested reasons why these were important enough to the builders to layout their monuments around them. They were in effect stars which had characteris cs which made them stand out through their brightness of colour, stars which had strong cultural links and mythologies surrounding them.
The stars he chose to consider fi ed with his preferred mings within the calendar, such as the sols ces and par cularly the May Day alignment which he felt was of upmost importance. In doing this he ignored lots of other features in the sky which may have been equally important to the builders of the monuments. These included the Moon, the Milky Way and mul tude of other sky phenomena which can occur.
The Hurlers and Arcturus
On the moor, about a mile to the south of the singular pile of granite slabs, which rest upon and overlap each other, and is vulgarly called the Cheesewring, there are three large circles of granite stones placed in a nearly straight line in a north-north-east, and south-south-west direc on.
During Lockyer's visit to the Hurlers he found a group of three circles located approximately five miles north of Liskeard, leading him to intriguing conclusions regarding the alignments of the stones and their rela onship to celes al phenomena, par cularlythestarArcturus.Thecircleshadnothadtheconserva onworkwhichwas undertaken by Arthur Courtney Raleigh Radford and Charles Kenneth Cro Andrew in the1930s. Theredon’tseemto be any photographsoftheLockyer’satthe Hurlersand the status of the site at the me of their visit is possibly the reason for this.
The site consists of large granite stones arranged into three circles which form nearly a straight line axis on a rising slope, with the middle circle being the greatest in
diameter. Lockyer noted the change in the alignments of the sightlines as a person moved between circles par cularly with the northern Stowes Hill. This was similar to those observed in Egyp an temples due to precession, which led him to inves gate their celes al significance.
By studying maps and plans of the circles, Lockyer iden fied sightlines between the circles along its axis with Arcturus. These measurements were made from the centres of one of the three circles to the centre of the next, giving slightly different angles and posi ons on the horizon. This would mean that the star would rise in rela on to one axis at one date before moving off and eventually not rising along it anymore. As me passed the stars rising posi on on the horizon would move due to precession and would then rise in alignment with the next circle. From this Lockyer was able to take measurements of the star Arcturus and relate this to a me it would rise in alignment to each circle. Through calcula ons were based on the star’s declina ons, Lockyer es mated the approximate dates of use for each circle aligning with Arcturus, ranging from2170BCEforthesoutherncircleto1900BCEforthenortherncircle.Heconcluded that the three circles were built at different dates to each other, over an extensive 300 year period.
Lockyer's inquiry extended beyond the celes al alignments to the fes vals and saints associated with the local area. He discussed that Arcturus served as a clock-star and a warnerfortheAugustfes val, whichcoincidedwiththelocalfeastdaysofSaintsJus n and Claire.
During subsequent visits to the Hurlers, accompanied by Captain J.S. Henderson and Mr. Horton Bolitho, Lockyer noted the extensive mining opera ons that had affected the landscape, making it challenging to dis nguish between inves gated barrows and otherfeatures.Despitetheobstacles,Lockyercon nuedhisinves ga onsmakingnote of alignments to barrows, standing stones and hilltops.
What is a clock-star?
Clock-stars are stars which rise and set close to north and are circumpolar or nearly circumpolar. As they circle around a northern celes al pole the me of the night can be es mated. Both Arcturus and Capella were considered to be clock-stars by Lockyer. The pa ern of the plough can be used similarly.
Arcturus
Arcturus is one of the brightest stars visible in the night sky and holds a special place in the mythology and cultural beliefs of various civilisa ons throughout history. It is a red giant star located in the constella on of Boötes (the Herdsman), and it is the
brightest star in this constella on. With an apparent magnitude of -0.04, Arcturus is the fourth brightest star in the en re sky, a er Sirius, Canopus, and Alpha Centauri.
Arcturus has been significant in many other cultures worldwide, including ancient Egyp an, Babylonian, andIslamiccivilisa ons, eachwith theirown interpreta onsand mythological associa ons. It’s likely to have been significant to the people who were living in prehistoric Britain. Due to its brightness and dis nc ve posi on in the sky, Arcturus has also been used as a naviga onal aid by travellers throughout history. Its heliacal rising and se ng have been important markers for agricultural and seasonal ac vi es in many cultures.
Lockyer’scalcula ons showin 1900 BCE at Dartmoor’sla tudeArcturus doesnot set –it is circumpolar and rotates around the northern sky. If there was a large hill towards the north it could bounce along or hide behind a hill if it was at least 3 degrees in height. That would have proved an amazingly visual sight and is one of the reasons why Lockyerwaskeen tosuggestArcturus asan alignmentfor siteswith northern hills.
Conclusions about the Hurlers circles
Lockyer’s theory is based on the effects of stellar precession and from this he suggests a mul staged build with a focus on the star Arcturus. Archaeological evidence has found that this hillside was considered to be significant over a long period of me although there is no archaeological evidence that the Hurlers circles had an extended meline of being built. Lockyer’s inves ga on does not take into account the wider aspects of megalithic discoveries in the immediate local area aswell astheextended moorland.
Recent inves ga ons havemadeexci ngdiscoverieswhichaddtotherichnessoftheHurlersloca on.These include the inter-circle pavement which was uncovered in the 1930s excava on and subsequently inves gated by Archaeologist Jacky Nowakowski in the 2013 Watching the Sun dig. This pavement extends between the middle and upper circles and was made of many smaller stones of varying geological types. Inves ga ons suggest that thepavementcould berepresenta veoftheMilky Way and the axisofthe circlealong with the posi on of Rillaton Barrowatthe top oftheridgeway thecirclesrelatesto the
spring equinox. The Milky Way would rise horizontal to the circles, connec ng the processional route for the living through the circles with the cosmological pathway for thedead.EquinoxsolaralignmentsbetweenthemiddlecircleanddistantKitHill,along with the southern circle and a local cairn, layer up this interpreta on. There are mul ple examples of cardinal posi oned sites on Bodmin Moor such as the local standingstonesthePiperswhichframetheCheesewringdirectlynorthofthem.During the 2016 Reading the Hurlers dig a standing stone was discovered to the NE of the upper circle. It was found to hold a significant posi on on the hillside as it is the first place where Cornwall’s tallest hill Brown Willy could be seen. Addi onally this would be the posi on of the se ng summer sols ce Sun. Another common theme for Bodmin Moor is the long line of summer sols ce sunsets which focus on Brown Willy. Craddock Moor circle and Goodaver circle are two of the monuments which are part of this set.
May Day! May Day!
Lockyer's explora on of May Day monuments in Britain began with him tracing similar May Day aligned sites in Egypt with origins of 5000 BCE. He suggests that while monuments in Britain emerged around 2000 BCE it's plausible that May worship could havearrived earlierdueto coastal trade routes. Hisidea of interconnec on fromEgypt to Britain and the mings have been widely cri cised. There is li le evidence for this ever happening at least in this manner. Even if this no on wasn’t transported from far afield the beginning of May isn’t just an arbitrary date in the year. Its posi on in the solar calendar marks the half way point between the spring equinox and summer sols ce - it’s known as a cross quarter day.
Cross Quarter Days (May Day included)
Crossquarter daysfall in themiddleof thesols ces and equinoxes, May Day isjustone of four cross quarter days. The four dates in the solar calendar fall at the start of February, May, August and October. Along with the sols ces and equinoxes they effec vely split the year into eight segments. The four cross quarter (CQ) days appear at the start of the month and are currently celebrated on the 1st of the month. In the past these dates could have ranged from any me from the 1st to the 9th of the month depending on how they were measured. If a person counted the number of days between the sols ce and equinox and divided it by two or if they were to measure on the ground the distance of the daily solar displacement and divide that by two this would givedifferent mings. Oneproblemwith alignmentsand CQ daysisthe rangeof days it could fall on and therefore azimuths it could be linked to. Whatever measurement was chosen by Lockyer he considered the azimuth of the May and
August alignments to be the same, as were the February and November CQ alignments.
A challenge with the May CQ Day is that it could relate to Sun rise or set on days between the 1st and the 9th May and their related posi ons on the horizon - this extends to nearly to 5 degrees of the horizon. This occurs with all the CQ days depending on how you measure it. These mes of year do have some further significancethough,par cularlyinagriculturalsocie esasthe metoplant,takeca le onto the higher ground, start to harvest and bring ca le back onto lower pastures. Therefore the division of the year may have been made at these mes. They likely notestheminalessprecisemannerandcouldhavebeensomethingwhichwouldhave been relevant in their cosmological worldview.
The stars heralding May Day
As well as the importance of the Pleiades as a rising star, Lockyer also felt Antares as an evening se ng star could indicate May Day. Alignments to these stars become just as important for him to iden fy as the May Day Sun.
In Cornwall the chief alignments from the circles there are with azimuths N. 10°-20° E. watching the rise of the clock-star, N. 64°-68° E. watching the rise of the May sun, N. 75°-82° E. watching the rise of the Pleiades.
LockyerarguesthatmonumentsinCornwallwerebuilttocelebrateMayDaytradi ons. May Day fes vi es are deeply embedded into the cultural fabric of Cornwall, with vibrant fes vals such as the Obby Oss in Padstow and the Furry Dance in Helston carrying on age-old customs. It is not known whether these tradi ons extend as far back as the prehistoric past. The enduring nature of May Day celebra ons hints at the possibility of ancient roots, with echoes of seasonal rites and fes vi es resona ng through the ages. However, unravelling the precise origins of these tradi ons proves elusive and the associa on between ancient monuments and May Day fes vi es remains specula ve.
Merry Maidens - a cross quarter site?
Easter 1905, Norman and Mary Lockyer arrive at the Merry Maidens and find a wellpreserved ancient monument comprising 19 granite stones, some rectangular and varying in height. Surrounding the circle are various features including monoliths, the Pipers (two stone pillars), Goon-Rith (a monolith), and a holed stone, all indica ng a rich historical landscape. Preserva on efforts by Lord Falmouth had safeguarded the site from ploughing, while local inves ga ons uncovered the poten al existence of a second circle.
Lockyergotpermissiontobreakanopeninginthehighwall-boundarywhichprevented anyviewalongthe“Pipers”sightlineandheiden fiedseveralastronomicalalignments between them and the Merry Maidens stone circle. His alignments suggested that the Merry Maidens was a site visited on cross quarter days. Alignments with the posi ons of stars such as Capella and Antares were noted, poten ally heralding events like the February sunrise and the May Day, respec vely.
He noted that the posi on of the Pleiades, aligned with certain features of the site. Standing with Goon-Rith at your back looking up the hill to the Merry Maidens circle, the Pleiades would rise above the circle - a warning of the May Day sugges ng its significancein rela on totheMay sunrise. Thissuggeststhatthe erec on of structures like Goon-Rith might have been influenced by celes al events. Overall the alignments and the posi oning of the stones at the Merry Maidens served not only ceremonial or structural purposes but also astronomical observa on and tracking of celes al phenomena.
Lockyer's methodology drew cri cism for its tendency to draw connec ons between monuments from disparate periods, o en without substan al evidence to support such asser ons. In par cular, his linking of sites like stone crosses and St. Buryan Church to the circles implied a significance in the pre-Chris an world, though this lacked robust evidence specific to these loca ons.
One notableomission in Lockyer'sinves ga onswashisoversight ofthesecond circle, a factor that detracted from the comprehensiveness of his analyses. Addi onally, his neglect of lunar alignments at the Merry Maidens, instead focusing solely on May Day and other cross-quarter alignments, represents a missed opportunity to explore the full celes al significance of the site.
Merry Maidens – Lady Mary LockyerSubsequent inves ga ons into the Merry Maidens have revealed a broader spectrum of alignments, including cardinal points like North, East, and West, as well as lunar alignments corresponding to various phases of the Moon's cycle. Of par cular intrigue is the possibility of aligning with the most northern se ng Moon during a stands ll year, poten ally crea ng a striking alignment with the nearest of the Pipers.
Conclusion - Was it all cross quarter madness?
Observa on at sites is cri cal to discovery and following an August cross quarter sunrise the author no ced the lengthening of the shadows from the stones. The shadows made connec ons to stones on the opposite side of the circle. The shadows extended down the slope to a singular point – reaching out to the loca on of the secondcirclewasoneofthemoreunexpectedandunpredictedobserva onstheyhave ever made. Thiseffectwill happen about 10 minutesa er sunriseon both Beltaneand Lughnasadh. Maybe it wasn’t all cross quarter madness a er all!.
Othersitesin Cornwallhavelinkstothe crossquarterdays,par cularly the oneswhich frame the darker winter months Samhain and Imbolc. These include - Boscawen-ûn circle and the posi on of the quartz stone (see below), the Long Cairn on Rough Tor and its alignment with Showery Tor at Samhain, the holed stones on Tregeseal which could have acted as a countdown calendar to the winter sols ce from Samhain. An example of a possible May alignment is found at Stannon stone circle (pictured above) with the alignmentat May Day tothesunriseand Rough Tor. Although thereislimited evidence of CQ alignments there is some, nevertheless. The framing of winter months between Samhain and Imbolc is more evident like at the Long Cairn on Rough Tor. It’s
likely that the mes of year coinciding with the change of the seasons would have been important but they were not likely to be marked with precision.
Here comes the Sun - Tregeseal
The rocks on the summit, in which there is a remarkable depression, are s ll by local supers on supposed to emit evil sounds by night
During the winter of 1906, Norman Lockyer, accompanied by Mary and local an quarians Mr. Horton Bolitho and Mr. Thomas, conducted an explora on of the Tregeseal circles, located on Truthwall Common near St. Just in Cornwall. These circles comprised two structures, with the eastern circle boas ng a diameter of 69 feet and containing nine erect and four prostrate stones. Lockyer, focusing on the northeast quadrantofthesite,notedsignificantfeaturessuchasarenownedlongstone,Boswens Menhir on a distant hill, a cluster of holed stones, and the prominent landmark Carn Kenidjack to the north. Employing maps and a miner's dial, Lockyer calculated approximate azimuths and eleva ons for various points of interest, including the apex of Carn Kenidjack and the Longstone. He suggested that the apex of the Carn related to Arcturus rising in 2330 BCE. The two barrows to the NE of the circles were in the posi onofthesummersols cesunrise(picturedabove),whereastheBoswensMenhir
Tregeseal stone circle – Lady Mary LockyerwouldhavetheMayDay sunrise.Hedidn’tnotethe missing circleorthe seagaptothe south west which framed the Isles of Scilly upon it. Nor did he make any interpreta on of the holed stones.
Tregeseal Conclusions
Lockyer'sobserva onregardingthealignmentofthetwobarrowswiththesols celine issupported by recorded observa ons and photographs(see below)and hasstood the test of me. Boswens Menhir is in the posi on of a May Day sunrise and Lockyer also noted it can be seen from the ridge with Nine Maidens circle on it and is in the posi on of the winter sols ce sunset.
The upland landscape extending down the spine ofthePenwithHillsseems to draw attention to the winter solstice. Monument after monument tag each other and significant hilltops in alignment with this celestial event. This culminates at the Tregeseal circles where the winter solstice sunset dramatically descends over the Isles of Scilly. This liminal space is an intermittently visible distant and mysterious sight which likely held countless stories and myths for the people of Penwith.
The holed stones, possibly serving as Sun catchers, could have played a pivotal role during the winter sols ce, cas ng sunlight onto shadows forming behind the stones as the days grew shorter. Adding to the celes al story of the region there is further down the valley a Scillonian-style entrance grave also aligns with the winter sols ce. The majes c Chun Quoit, connec ng the winter sols ce sunset to a propped stone atop Carn Kenidjack, reflects a personalized effort laden with profound meaning.
The symbolism of the Sun, even during the darkest mes, likely held significance, represen ng renewal amidst the winter's chill. Lockyer's fascina on with the northern skyline, though profound, perhaps should have been counterbalanced by an explora on of the area facing the permanent sunshine. As this offers a different perspec ve on the interplay of light and darkness in this ancient landscape.
Lockyer and an inclement visit to Boscawen-ûn stone circle
Lockyer writes that his visit to Boscawen-ûn was hindered by pouring rain, preventing any observations.Wehavesincefound a photograph ofLockyer taking measurements at the site in better conditions (see back cover) so it seems he got the opportunity to return!!
AccompaniedbyMr.HortonBolitho,theywereintroducedtothetenant,Mr.Hannibal Rowe, who guided them to the circle and the nearby stone cross. He describes the circle as an oval set in uncultivated and heathy ground. The monument consists of nineteen standing stones, with one being a quartz block and the rest granite. Within the circle there is a tall monolith leaning to the northeast, standing 8 feet out of the ground. Utilising a 6-inch map and subsequent measurements of the skyline heights by Mr. H. Bolitho with a miner's dial, Lockyer and his team calculated declinations for various markswithinthevicinity.Thesecalculations providedinsightsintothecelestial alignments of the site. Notable alignments included those with the stone cross, the ‘Finemenhir’,andtheBlindFiddler,whichwereassociatedwithcelestialevents.These events included the rising and setting of stars and the positions of the Sun during solstices and May festivals. He highlighted the solstice alignment to the pointed stone in the lane leading to Boscawen-ûn farm. His alignments once again focused to the north and east of the site.
Conclusions about Boscawen-ûn
Afterdecadesoffascinationandscrutinybyarchaeoastronomersincludingtheauthor, Boscawen-ûn remains enigmatic, with conclusions that are as diverse as they are inconclusive. The initial suggestions by Lockyer, although intriguing, have faced significant methodological criticism, leaving much room for doubt.
Boscawen- ûn circle - Lady Mary Lockyer
The Society for the Astronomical Study of Ancient Stone Monuments, Penzance (see below) visited the site, had tea, and made no observations, but exclaimed a wish to revisit in the following years. Alexander Thom surveyed Boscawen-ûn in 1962 and categorised it as a flat circle. He made no suggested astronomical alignments. John Michellmappedanumberofnon-astronomicalalignmentsbetweenBoscawen-ûnand the surrounding stones and expanded on Lockyer’s suggestions with material on related menhirs. John Barnatt claims there are no known astronomical alignments with menhirs at Boscawen-ûn. He criticises Lockyer’s alignments saying - astronomical alignments claimed by Lockyer are not convincing. He continues his discussion saying that the quartz stone is orientated towards Candlemas, but he feels it would be difficult to make the measurements involved to prove this. Aubury Burl states that Cornish circles have a tendency to havetheir largest stone at theWSW location, in the caseof Boscawen-ûn this is a quartz stone. This aligns with the February and November Sunset. Ian McNeil Cooke suggested through observation that the rock art he discovered on the central stone is aligned with the solstice Sun and as his suggested cist.
A recent reinvestigation by the author sheds new light on Boscawen-ûn’s solar connections, re-emphasisingthequartz stone's placement and its association with the shifting of the Sun during winter months. The illumination of rock art during the summer solstice further underscores the site's potential astronomical significance. Of particular interest is the proposed alignment with the winter solstice sunrise and the Lamorna gap, a natural feature crucial for sea access (see photo above). This alignment, coupled with the presence of the Trelew line of standing stones leading to the circle, suggests a potential ceremonial processional route. The tantalising possibility of witnessing the winter solstice sunrise from the sea gap, followed by a procession to Tregeseal for the sunset, hints at a dynamic and dramatic cosmological ritual that may have once played out across the landscape, connecting ancient communities with the celestial realm in a profound way.
Local Enthusiasts Establish The Society for the Astronomical Study of Ancient Stone Monuments
In a captivating lecture held at St John’s Hall in Penzance on April 25th, 1906, renowned astronomer Lockyer illuminated a packed auditorium with his profound insights into astronomical discoveries spanning from Karnak, Egypt, to Stonehenge, and culminating in his latest findings in Cornwall. Utilising magic lantern slides to illustrate his journey through time and space, Lockyer left the audience spellbound as he unveiled the celestial mysteries enshrined within ancient stone monuments. Expressing his conviction that only a fraction of the work had been completed in this realmofinquiry,Lockyerstirredtheheartsandmindsofattendeeswithacalltoaction. Inspired by his impassioned plea for further exploration, a group of locals banded together at Mr Henry Thomas’s office on Thursday 14th November 1906 to form the Society for the Astronomical Study of Ancient Stone Monuments.
Lockyer felt that the formation of this society heralded a new era of scholarly pursuit and community engagement, promising to unlock the secrets of Cornwall's ancient past through the lens of astronomy. Widely reported in local newspapers, the establishment ofthissocietymarked a momentous occasion in astronomical research, signalling a collective commitment to unravelling the supposed astronomical mysteries of ancient stone monuments.
With their inaugural meeting held in April 1907, the society embarked on a mission to revisit and expand upon Lockyer's observations at various stone circle sites. Their first expedition led them to Boscawen-ûn in June 1907, where the group readily engaged in discussions about Lockyer's methods and the local discovery of a ceremonial urn. However, despite their enthusiasm, no measurements were taken during this initial visit, leaving behind a sense of frustration but also a determination to conduct more organised endeavours in the future.
The followingsummer, the society shifted their focus to Tregeseal stone circlenear St. Just.Here,theyestablishedapresenceatthesite,erecting ashedwithinthecircleand employing a theodolite to take precise measurements of the local horizon. They
maintained regular visits to the circle, particularly on significant days throughout the year. The group seemed keen to include measurements to more than just menhirs. The alignments suggested included features like barrows as well natural landscape features such as hilltops. At the Tregeseal stone circle the northern horizon is dominated by Carn Kenidjack and its barrow, alongside Carguney hill (Carn Beam) and its barrow. Ther group concluded that a spectator at the circle could see the circumpolar star Arcturus set into the barrow before rising on the adjacent Carn Kenidjack later in the same night.
Alongside Tregeseal they investigated the Wendron circles near Redruth. These, like the Tregeseal circle, were a pair. Like Tregeseal the alignments focused on the space between the two circles not on the circle itself. This was particularly true for the May Day alignment at Tregeseal and Boswens Menhir. At Wendron the two circles were in a fair condition and according to the tenant a barrow had once stood on the site of the farmhouse. This barrow was long gone but would be in the position of the setting Sun on the winter solstice.
Despite the Society's endeavours, their documented activities cease in 1911, leaving the reasons for their disbandment uncertain. However, their legacy endures through thepreservationanddonationoftheirminutesandpamphletstotheCornwallRecords Office at Kresen Kernow, offering future generations a valuable insight into the local impact of Lockyer's visit and the enduring fascination with Cornwall's ancient monuments.
Lockyer’s May Day Stellar sites. Monument.
Merry Maidens Pleiades (R)
Antares (S) 1310
The Hurlers
Antares (S) 1720
Pleiades (R) 1610
Merrivale Pleiades (R) 1610
1420
Boscawen-un Pleiades (R) 1480
Tregaseal Pleiades (R) 1270
Longstone (Tregaseal) Pleiades (R) 1030 (R) = rising. (S) = se ng.
Lockyer’s May Day Sun sites
Lockyer’s Heliacal rising stars
Date 1900 BCE 1400 BCE.
May Castor rising N. 41° E. Pleiades rising N. 77° E.
Antares se ng S. 75° W. Antares se ng S. 72° W.
August Arcturus circumpolar. Arcturus rising N. 17° E.
February Capella rising N. 36° E. Capella rising N. 28° E.
Summer Sols ce Betelgeuse rising N. 87° E. Betelgeuse rising N. 90° E.
Arcturus se ng N. 18° W. Arcturus se ng (late) N. 16° W. with hill 3 high
αSerpen s se ng N. 53° W.
Winter Sols ce Sheat rising (early) N. 72° E. Castor se ng N. 37° W.
Markab rising (late) S. 89° E. Pollux se ng N. 42° W.
Bibliography
Carolyn Kenne (2022) Sites of Prehistoric Bodmin Moor Cornwall Stargazers ISBN 979-8846842687.
Carolyn Kenne and Cheryl Straffon. (2020) Watching The Sun: How the Ancients connected with the Sun in Cornwall. Meyn Mamvro and Mayes Crea ve Ltd.
Jacqueline A Nowakowski and Carolyn Kenne (2019) Inves ga ng Archaeology and Astronomy at The Hurlers, Cornwall 2013-2019. Skyscapes Archaeology. Vol. 6(1),pp. 53–85.
Carolyn Kenne (2018) Celes al Stone Circles of West Cornwall. Cornwall Stargazers ISBN 978-1973529125. Carolyn Kenne (2016) Adventures in Archaeoastronomy at Boscawen-ûn. SHA Bulle n vol 27 Autumn 2016 pp. 38-42.
Carolyn Kenne (2016) Adventures in Archaeoastronomy at Boscawen-ûn (Disserta on uploaded to Academia online).
Norman Lockyer (1906) Stonehenge and Other Bri sh Stone Monuments Astronomically Considered (1906; second edi on, 1909).
Society for the Astronomical Study of Ancient Stone Monuments, Cornwall. Documents held in Kresen Kernow archive 1907-1911 pamphlets.
Jack Walker (2005) Dartmoor Sun. Halsgrove.
Lady Mary Lockyer with her tripod and camera – photographer unknown.
The black and white photographs throughout this document were taken by Mary Lockyer as she accompanied her husband on their grand tour of ancient sites.
Reproduced with the kind permission of the Norman Lockyer Observatory.
A complete set of the records and pamphlets of The Society for the Astronomical Study of Ancient Stone Monuments are archived in Kresen Kernow, Cornwall.
All colour photographs by the author @carolynkenne
This research was made possible by a Mayes Crea ve project exploring Mary Lockyer’s life funded by The Na onal Lo ery Heritage Fund.
