THE PECULIAR HISTORY OF KING ARTHUR’S HALL, BODMIN MOOR; A RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE OF STONES AND EARTHWORK. A PERSONAL RETROSPECTIVE NARRATIVE OF RESEARCHINTRODUCTION
Having grown up with Professor A Thom’s 1967 book, “Megalithic Sites in Britain”; & the work of Dr Aubrey Burl, who lived not 20 miles away who I was in contact with, as well as many other similar researchers, I was well aware of the controversy surrounding the whole Megalithic Mathematics and Surveying storyline, and amassed many papers on that subject. We , my wife and I, decided the only recourse was to visit and investigate the subject, having surveying as part of our professional lives. We travelled the length and breadth of the UK and France randomly selecting these monuments to re-survey and endeavour also to understand the positioning of single Standing Stones in the landscape.
This led eventually to obtaining from Scotland a copy of Professor Thom’s survey drawings, practically all of them, as some were not in a fit state to pass through the print machine. Thus we could also study his work at first hand and either confirm or question his measurements which determined the standard proposed of 2.722 feet as the megalithic yard.
Our biggest regret was that Professor Thom, His son Professor A M Thom and A S Thom with the Merick family, having found the three measurements never put them together and our work on the survey triangle was just too late to inform Prof A Thom, but we were in contact with his son and daughter.
That finding was the fact that the three measurements used by Megalithic man was from their survey triangle based on 30/60/90 degrees with sides of 2.722; 4.714 and 5.444 feet, the yard , Rod or cane and the fathom. But of course Megalithic man require fractional or ratio figures which he could utilize being; 49/8 ; 33/7 ; 49/9.
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That information became for our research the most pertinent as the 1; root3; 2 triangle could be found in the most remarkable sites such as the West Kennet Avenue.
In 1990, the BAR International Series 560, produced two volumes , “Stone Rows and Standing Stones” “ Britain, Ireland & Brittany”; A and A S Thom. Collated with archaeological notes by A Burl. It contains a list of 65 papers by A Thom, with A M and A S Thom, the Merrick’s and other persons. Two excellent volumes for study purposes.
Then in 1998, the RCHME published its information and Richard Rudgley wrote, “Lost Civilizations of the Stone Age” and chapter 6, Palaeoscience, identifies “significant numbers” 7 and 14, which immediately led us to the conclusion of deliberate action by ancient mathematicians as PI = 22/7; root2 = 99/70 and the Rod is 33.7 and each can thus be expressed as a function of the other. Hence a system where fractions were the only methodology that could be used and had to be solvable in that manner. Thus to our minds the “Spurious 1! became part of the system; 99/70 squared = 9801/4900 to solve root2, which in our decimal system is 2.000204082, full length to the calculator, and thus probably one of the most accurate fractional numbers.
The fractional numbers of the three measurements being, 49/18 ; 33/7 ; 49/9 and become 7×7/2x3x3; 11×3/7; 7×7/3×3. Investigating the Bush Barrow Lozenge we found it was the twelfth part of 33/7 or 99/28 and thus 119,74mm as it measures.
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But whence came the measures? From Mesopotamia where the foot was 10.888 inches and thus 3 feet maketh the megalithic yard of 2.722 feet, 32.664 inches or 829.6656 mm.
If “Vitruvian Man” is studied, (the excellent diagram by Leonardo da Vinci) and the outstretched arms equal the height then fingertip to finger tip is 1660mm or 2 x 830mm, 2.722 feet, the person is 65.35 inches tall or 5 feet 5.33 inches and the standard height of the age for the peoples of the east and west. From the centre of the body to the finger tips gave the megalithic yard its raison d’etre. Texts MS2-7 on the website are complete records of metrological findings from the very beginnings and were our attempt to encourage metrology being part of the archaeological tools used daily.
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Thus armed with this data we proceeded to test each and every discovery accordingly.
KING ARTHUR’S HALL.
In 1998, the RCHME published the Monument Identifier for KAH as unique identifier 433143, number SX17NW27, with a centre point given as SX12987765. The first two sentences read as follows; “A rectangular enclosure 159 x 66 feet surrounded by a solid earth bank 7ftx5ft high with no ditch. On the inside is a retaining wall of large stones set up on end, about 60 still in place, although only about forty erect”. It also refers to similar enclosure in Brittany. But the main document referred to is RCHME suppl. Rept 11; Bodmin Moor an Archaeological Survey, volume 1, 1994 28ff fig 19 ( N Johnson and P Rose). Using the Inter-library Loan System we found it to be an actual book which contains a survey drawing and a reconstruction drawing of the stones lining the enclosure. However on inspection the two drawings which would have been separately produced and then reduced for publication were slightly at variance, and was at variance to the survey drawing in the Journal of Anthropological Institute.
Previously though we had found, through the libraries we frequented, the following data.
There was a first text concerning the KAH, written by John Norden in 1618, but not published until 1728. It was part of his “Specula Britanniae Pars” series and the text for Cornwall, which he visited in 1587, page 71, “The Hundred of Trigg” is as follows; Arthures Hall, d 14. A place so called , and by tradition helde to be a place whereunto that famous K. Arthure refoerted: It is a square plott about 60 foote longe and about 35 foote broad, situate on a playne Mountayne, wrowghte some 3 foote into the grounde and by reason of the depression of the place, there standeth a stange or Poole of water, the place sett rounde aboute with flatt stones in this manner;
There is then a very small diagram which has sides of 20, 15, 8 and 10 stones drawn.
In August 1895, volume XIII, The Journal of the Anthropological Institute published a text by A L Lewis FSA; “Rude Stone Monuments on Bodmin Moor” and pages 107/108 plus plate VIII produce an excellent survey and description as follows;
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“This remarkable structure consists of a bank of earth, the present breadth of which varies from 12 to 20 feet at the base, and its height from 5 to 7 feet; this bank encloses an oblong space, 159 feet long, from north to south ( within 5 degrees to west of north), 64 feet wide at the north and 68 ½ feet wide at the south. Twelve stones stand or lie in line inside the north end of the bank, eighteen inside the east side , six inside the south end and nineteen inside the west side; they seem to have formed a kind of retaining wall to the inner side of the bank, but are mostly pressed inward and in many cases nearly buried by its gradual wearing away, it is indeed probable that many stones are quite covered, and that the lines, if not quite continuous, were originally much ore complete than they are now, but this can only be ascertained by digging or boring; the largest stones remaining in position are about five feet high. The middle of the enclosure is a foot or so lower than the ground outside, and in wet weather is full of water, which finds an outlet in the south-west corner. All the corners of the embankment are more or less broken and rounded, and it is lower at the north and south ends than the east and west sides, but there is no appearance of any special entrance, the angles of the lines of stones d being well defined, except, perhaps, at the southwest corner.”
Here we read of the oblong space being 159 feet N/S and two dimensions for breadth, but inspecting the survey drawing of the existing stones those dimensions are not in fact the breadth of the enclosure which is in fact 66 feet, the dimension generally quoted. Thus in 1895 the stones of KAH were a basic 159 x 66 feet or 33.729 x 4.714 feet and 14 x 4.714 feet. But study the survey drawing and again the dimensions given are not the overall as the N/S has two dimensions, 159 and 160.276 feet to the west and east of the north side stones. Then the sense of the measurements is gained in that it becomes 34 x 4.714 feet x 14 x 4.714 feet, dictated by the stones themselves. Curiously I count 50 stones by John Norden and 55 stones by A L Lewis.
In 1906, the Victoria History of the County of Cornwall was published and contains in the section “The Stone Circles of Cornwall”, pp379-406, survey drawings of an excellent quality ( as do most of the VHC volumes) and lists the stones actuality; i.e. leans l & r etc. On page 393 the discussion is “On King Arthur’s Down”, about 800 yards N W of Leaze, stands the curious enclosure known as KHA. It may be described as a rectangular enclosure, 159 feet long and 66 feet across, formed by a solid bank of earth from 12 feet to 20 feet wide and 7 feet to 5 feet high.” ( written by A L Lewis)
It also describes all the conjecture regarding its possible raison d’etre and remarks about rectangular enclosures in Brittany being, 110 feet x 50 feet and 120 feet x 40 feet. The diagram is as per A L Lewis 1891-1894.
Having been a “student” of the VCH volumes, using my readers card for B.L. and C.U.L., plus the inter-library Loan scheme I noted that the Victorian enthusiasm for work particularly on the ancient monuments and surveys was very good indeed and that it could be reconciled to that of Professor A Thom in terms of accuracy of survey. It also was noted that Professor Thom did not survey King Arthur’s Hall.
Well before 1998 when the RCHME produced their Monument Detail Sheet, we had driven through Brittany and the closer “Departements” searching out the Stones etc., and Dr Aubrey Burl’s book was a great guide, “Megalithic Brittany” published in 1985. In 1989, Jean Pierre Mohem’s book ,”The World of Megaliths” was published and earlier in 1973, Henri Dontonville, “Histoire et Geographie Mythiques de la France”, was published, found on a trip there. We also noted that each region had its own listing of Megalithic Sites and Structures, we obtained some, but too many to note here. The point of that section is to ensure new entrants to the “Megalithic” story in France realize the wealth of information available.
In that vein, for Professor A Thom there are 28 texts listed in the NMRS Oracle Database , 1967 -1984, and the book “Walking in all the Squares” is an excellent epitaph.
Whilst in France we happened upon what is now called “the Pilons Garougnaux”, which in our time was “La Gaudinais”, and it happened to be a rectangle c60 x 24 feet to our quick survey. We sent a copy to Dr Burl to add to his data bank. We noted that 60 feet is 22.043 x 2.722 feet and 24 is 8.817 x 2.722 feet where-as 9 units is 24.5 feet. However 24 is also 5.0112 x 4.714 feet, and to cause even more problems, the text “Histoire de Langan” gives 17m x 8m!
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Thus it was the RCHME 1998 Monument Details which started this exploration and then in 1994 the EH Bodmin Moor book appeared. There-in as figure 19 , are two drawings of KAH, one a survey and the other a reconstruction of the Stones set upright. However to my eye they were not compatible as when aligned from “Field Survey” to “reconstruction” there was a slight error of plan reduction ( quite normal with photo copiers etc.), and the scale bar was obviously also an addition as it was inaccurate for the dimensions and meant that any comparison of the two to understand the geometry was not possible. But, in an attempt, by using just the millimetre measurements as drawn, it became apparent that the whole structure had been accurately designed with the earth ramparts providing a view of the centre of the Stone Enclosure. It is based on a 160.276 x 66 feet measurement, but note, I have only used the millimetre dimensions of the copies as scaled to indicate the setting out parameters.
If this was a medieval cattle pound, I doubt they would have been too worried about accuracy and access through the stones would be a requirement.
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If this was a Roman construct the last design fault they would make is to construct around the perimeter an earthen bank higher that the stones thus enabling enemies to look down on them. And surely they would have provided one or two stepped passages down into the arena if it was to be something like a small Gladiatorial Pit! With viewing galleries on the earth works.
Therefore perhaps a comprehensive dig should be undertaken if it is thought an important enough monument to warrant it?
THE CONFIRMATION OF THE ROD OR CANE AS 4.714 FEET
Journeying through N Wales , one site intrigued us, Sarn Y Bryn Caled. The tourist information hinted at something special and thus we contacted the Archaeologists and obtained a copy of their text describing the whole site. It is a Timber Henge and Cursus site.
The proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 60, published in 1994, pp 143-223 a complete text for Sarn Y Bryn Caled, and includes excellent diagrams of explanation and the chance to explore the metrology of the site. When the depth of each post hole was excavated it was obvious their base O.D. showed they had ben levelled to a given depth which was originally 4.714 feet. When we analysed the circle it was obvious that the spacing around the perimeter was exactly 2 x 4.714 feet for the 20 posts. The archaeologists suspected the normal depth/ top height was a 1:2 ratio, that is the actual log was 3 x 4.714 feet, but what they did not realize was that the whole formed a henge of square openings, 2 x 4.714 wide and 2 x 4.714 feet high. We wrote to them with this fact and they freely acknowledged they had not recognized this fact, even though they had produced a perspective drawing of the henge as built!!!.
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Thus from the Smalandsstenar site to N Wales the same measurement of 4.714 feet was utilized, and Megalithic Man had three measurements in his survey armoury.
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And then in 2010, CUP published the text “The Archaeology of Measurement” edited by Iain Morley and Colin Renfrew, and I thought , at last, perhaps archaeology had moved forward from “finds” to “man’s intellectual works” of mathematics and deliberate actions with metrology. It seems fourteen years on to have been a forlorn hope and I am not at all certain the world has moved on from the “pseudo” to “actual” in acknowledgement of measures.
However given the vestiges of ancient measures which still exist today, such as;
The League of Austria being exactly 4.714 English Miles
The standard measure of Teotihuacan city Mexico being 830mm, i.e, 2.722 feet (seMs5)
The Pyramid Temple of Kukulcan, Chichen Itza Mexico having 830mm in its construction
The baths at Mohenjo Daro being 471.4 inches long
British Rail gauge being 4 feet 8 ½ inches or 56.5 inches, when 4.714 feet is 56.568 inches.
Perhaps it is necessary at times to step back and consider the possibilities of the Megalithic.
But as this is a personal narrative it is pertinent to end on a word of caution;
Because it is possible to make calculations and end up with a decimal figure of 10 numerals because that is the size of your calculator, it does not mean you are accurate.
Ancient or Megalithic Man can only have used fractions, Ratios, to ascertain measurements which in all probability came from the human body in that, if “Vitruvian Man” as already discussed with, outstretched arms finger- tip to finger- tip is 1660mm or 2 x 830mm, 2.722 feet, the person is 65.35 inches or 5 feet 5.33 inches tall, a “standard height” for the age. From the centre of the body we have 830mm, 2.722 feet and then their obvious mathematics from a 30/60/90 triangle they gained 2.722 feet/ 4.714 feet/ 5.444 feet or 49/18 / 33/7 / 49/9 ratios which they found accorded with the circle, PI, and from a plain triangle 1:1 or 45 degrees, then to root 2 as 99/70.
Thus Megalithic Man determined a metrology system which could be used by “Builders”, no doubt from the “original metrology” of the Mesopotamian region, the Fertile Crescent and the Sumerian/Akkadian civilizations with the first cities, states and empires and mathematics and surveying as standard practice, with writing invented there to cope with it all. Text Ms5 has the complete storyline of this survey beginnings in Mesopotamia.
The texts Ms2-Ms7 on the website are complete records of metrological beginnings and findings and are our attempt to encourage metrology as a fixture of archaeological works.