Stripple stones
Encyclopedia
The Stripple stones or Stripple stones circle is a stone circle
located on the south slope of Hawk's Tor
, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north northeast of Bodmin
on Bodmin Moor
in Cornwall
, UK
.
that forms a level platform 175 feet (53.3 m) in diameter. The circle is 145.5 feet (44.3 m) in diameter with four granite
standing stones and several fallen. In the centre is a giant fallen menhir
approximately 12 feet (3.7 m) long and 5 feet (1.5 m) at the widest point, split in three places. Lukis suggested that with an average spacing of 12 feet (3.7 m), there would have been thirty seven original stones, whilst Aubrey Burl
suggested only twenty eight.
bone and some charcoal and oak timbers in the surrounding ditch. He also detected an entrance from this facing southwest, directly towards the Trippet stones
. Gray noted that the stones had only been set approximately 1.5 foot (0.4572 m) deep into the ground. Four postholes were found surrounding the central stone which was discovered to have been offset from the centre of the circle by 14 feet (4.3 m) to the south southeast.
sunset, Equinox
sunrise and the major northern moonrise. He also suggested that the post holes may have been attempts to establish accurate backsights for alignments. Norman Lockyer suggested that sighted from the centre stone, the northeast projection would have aligned with Capella
in 1250 BC
.
Stone circle
A stone circle is a monument of standing stones arranged in a circle. Such monuments have been constructed across the world throughout history for many different reasons....
located on the south slope of Hawk's Tor
Hawk's Tor
Hawk's Tor is a hill and tor on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, England, UK. Its summit is above sea level.The tor, which is in the civil parish of Blisland, is located north east of the town of Bodmin. The slopes of the tor contain Hawkstor Downs, the Stripple stones, a stone circle and Hawkstor Pit,...
, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north northeast of Bodmin
Bodmin
Bodmin is a civil parish and major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the centre of the county southwest of Bodmin Moor.The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character...
on Bodmin Moor
Bodmin Moor
Bodmin Moor is a granite moorland in northeastern Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is in size, and originally dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history....
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Description
First recorded by this name during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I the circle has been described by William Lukis as "the most interesting and remarkable monument in the county". It is surrounded by a circular ditch and vallumVallum
Vallum is a term applied either to the whole or a portion of the fortifications of a Roman camp. The vallum usually comprised an earthen or turf rampart with a wooden palisade on top, with a deep outer ditch...
that forms a level platform 175 feet (53.3 m) in diameter. The circle is 145.5 feet (44.3 m) in diameter with four granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
standing stones and several fallen. In the centre is a giant fallen menhir
Menhir
A menhir is a large upright standing stone. Menhirs may be found singly as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones. Their size can vary considerably; but their shape is generally uneven and squared, often tapering towards the top...
approximately 12 feet (3.7 m) long and 5 feet (1.5 m) at the widest point, split in three places. Lukis suggested that with an average spacing of 12 feet (3.7 m), there would have been thirty seven original stones, whilst Aubrey Burl
Aubrey Burl
Harry Aubrey Woodruff Burl MA, DLitt, PhD, FSA, HonFSA Scot is a British archaeologist most well known for his studies into megalithic monuments and the nature of prehistoric rituals associated with them. Prior to retirement he was Principal Lecturer in Archaeology, Hull College, East Riding of...
suggested only twenty eight.
Archaeology
The Stripple stones were excavated in 1905 by H. St. George Gray who found a burnt flint, three flint flakes an oxOx
An ox , also known as a bullock in Australia, New Zealand and India, is a bovine trained as a draft animal. Oxen are commonly castrated adult male cattle; castration makes the animals more tractable...
bone and some charcoal and oak timbers in the surrounding ditch. He also detected an entrance from this facing southwest, directly towards the Trippet stones
Trippet stones
The Trippet stones or Trippet stones circle is a stone circle located on Manor Common in Blisland, north northeast of Bodmin on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, UK. The Stripple stones are nearby.-Description:...
. Gray noted that the stones had only been set approximately 1.5 foot (0.4572 m) deep into the ground. Four postholes were found surrounding the central stone which was discovered to have been offset from the centre of the circle by 14 feet (4.3 m) to the south southeast.
Alignments
The vallum surrounding the circle has three semi-lunar projections facing towards the northwest, northeast and east. It has been completely obliterated to the south. Aubrey Burl suggested that from the location of the central stone, when upright, alignments with these bulges in the outer bank mark MaydayMayday
Mayday is a distress signalMayday or May Day may also refer to:* May Day, a holiday on or around May 1** International Workers' Day* Mayday, Colorado- Music :* Mayday , an electronic music festival* Mayday...
sunset, Equinox
Equinox
An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator...
sunrise and the major northern moonrise. He also suggested that the post holes may have been attempts to establish accurate backsights for alignments. Norman Lockyer suggested that sighted from the centre stone, the northeast projection would have aligned with Capella
Capella (star)
Capella is the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, the sixth brightest star in the night sky and the third brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere, after Arcturus and Vega. Although it appears to be a single star to the naked eye, it is actually a star system of four stars in...
in 1250 BC
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
.