Mosaic:
Hi ... Thanks / Diolch to Mosaic .
Declaring an interest!! - I'm Pembrokeshire born and bred, have just returned to Gods' County to retire. Am at present living some 15 miles South of the Preselau, and am a fluent Welsh Speaker.
I've always wanted the story of The Bluestones and the Preseli connection to be true, and its brought a lot of tourists to the North of the County, that said, I've always had doubts, enlightened as follows:
I do not claim the following, nearly all comes via 'The Bluestone Enigma' by Brian S John, a well known and respected Pembrokeshire Historian, published by Greencroft Books with isbn: 978-0-905559-89-6. I have however visited/walked/run these magical hills, for many, many years
My paraphrases are no more than sound bites, and not in any particular order:
1 ... Where from: Carn Meini is still an option, but of course from somewhere else in West Wales, and Carn Goedog has always been mentioned as a posssibilty locally, but also could well have come from 'the Brecon Beacons', but also from the environs of Stonehenge itself, see later.
2 ... The transp[ortaion theory / ies : - Redherrings surely. Firstly the sites in the Preselau, would involve an overland initial transportation of say 17 miles to 'water' at Blackpool Mill, then floated on barges/curraghs to say Milford Haven, then possibly barge boats up the Severn Estauary to say Avonmouth, and then overland via river/canal systems and finally overland to Stonehenge. It's been tried in modern times, notably 2000. and was a complete 'no,no'.
3 ... The stones were probably in the Stonhenge arena by say 2,300 B C , but there is evidence of Blue Stones in Wiltshire dating back to 3,500 BC.
Local peoples would far rather use local stones - to avoid the 'hassle' of transportation. Also, the 'Builders' must have been technically skilled, and 'could' have transfreed them from Pembs. BUT if as originally thought and accepted that there were 82 Bluestones on site, and now only 27 or 43 [depending on who you believe], where are the rest?
4 ... The Boscombe Bowman stones often come into play, and also try to create a Welsh Link. This again would appear to be a spurious media hype [perhaps!]. This also leads on to associated claims of Ritualistic / Healing sites linked to other stones containing 'spotted dolerite'. Locally, there is no claim / or even credance that these had 'healing powers' again would appear to be pure fantasy.
5 ... The glacial theory, does give an opening and a degree of credibility, and could have reached very close to The Stonehenge site. Thus, possibly a 'natural' transportation system for The Bluestones.
Now this really is a 'Legend/Truth' Story ... and I'd love to believe the Preseli, Pembs connection 'cos our last 3 houses have been called Cwmcerwyn, Carninlgi and Cleddau !! It's for another day, but I do disagree with Brian John on his interpretation of the say 2000 year meaning of 'Carn Ingli'.
As it is in the 'Public Domain' via the book mentioned above, which is a brilliant read; Brian lists his email as:
[email protected]
or can be contacted via it.
If my interpretations are incorrect, they are my own mis-understandings, and no fault should fall to 'The Author'.
But anyone with serious interest should read Brian's book with an open mind.
"Daw Beca eto"
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