A Henge & A Mortise

Here we see two details, photos I had no idea I would be taking. In one, we see the carved protrusion that once was fitted for a depression in a horizontal stone. Mentioned in the prior post, this photo also show the mossy growth that adds depth and character to the look of the giant rocks.

Even more surprising to me was the clearly visible depression, almost like a shallow moat, that is the henge of Stonehenge. Diagrams at the site suggest ways of using the depression to help in the arduous task of standing these giants in place with the rudimentary tools of the time. And of course with manpower.

The awe of the age of Stonehenge, following hard upon the wonder of Windsor, would have been enough for a day's trip. But we were still on the road. We look at Bath in the next post.

Stonehenge

Older than Windsor? Must be headed to Stonehenge. How can something look and feel exactly as you expect it to, and at the same moment be surprising? For one thing, I never noticed or read about the mortise-and-tenon construction that made sense to me and yet astounded me. If you do not understand these words, look at the bump atop one of the vertical stones that has no cross stone on it. That bump was formed, made to fit snugly into a hole in the cross piece that was once up there.

To consider the age of this sundial/monument/whatever else it might have been truly reformulates the word "awesome" to my vocabulary. On the next post, we will look at what a "henge" is.

OLD IS RELATIVE

After the revelation of age seen at the Tower of London, just three days past,
Seeing Windsor Castle, just as old and also owned by William the Conqueror,
Underlines the newness of everything American, especially me.
Driving west and south from Windsor, though, changes it all again
As the two-lane road forks, we bear right, we park, we walk under the
Road, we come up the path face-to-face with the stone enigma
Called Stonehenge, surrounded by people and all alone, thirty to fifty
Centuries old in the windy cold summer sun.