New-York tribune., 1901-07-21
THE AGE OF STONEHENGE.
NEW AND INGENIOUS ATTEMPT TO AS
CERTAIN IT
! TRYING TO READ A COLOSSAL ASTRONOMICAL
TlMEPIECE.

tracted more than usual attention within the last
six months, in consequence of the movement for
their better protection. Perhaps this fact may
account for interesting experiment which was
tried recently that historic spot. An astro-
nomcal observation was made there at the time
of the summer solstice, with the aim of obtain
ing a fresh clew, if possible to the age of the
structure.
The nature of this experiment will be better
understood after refreshes his memory
cerninS the general plan of Stonehenge. There
was central slab thought to be an altar. and
outside of this two concentric ellipses -
hOrseshoes formed by setting stones up end
The innermost was of comparatively small blocks
and the outer one was composed of much larger
masses. the top of being tied to the next by
huge crosspieces. Outside of the ellipses were
two more concentric rows of pillars these being
arranged in circular form. Finally. there was a
circular embankment, or mound completely in
closing the temple except the northeast
where gap was left and the earthen walls con-
tinued for distance either side of a broad
avenue leading outward. Just at the point
where the avenue energies from the circular
mound there stands single stone, now popu-
larIy known the "Friars Heel" And it was
long ago discovered that person standing
the central altar stone would the sun rise
almost directly the Friar's Heel on June II.
most northerly point of it's movement
The practice of ORIGINATING their temples with
reference to the sun or some star at particu-
lar season of the year was common among the
ancient Greeks and Egyptians Often those
edificcs were 50 constructed that beam Of light
would shine down long passageway upon the
altar on only n single day night in the whole
year. The priests could thus accomplish two
objects. They were able to construct their cal
cndar and report the years progress to the pub
lie and they also produced seemingly miracu-
| lous phenomena during religious celebrations.
and thereby strengthened their hold the
| masses. Precisely how far either of these prac-
| ticos was carried by the men who built and man
| aged Stonehenge it is impossible to say. But
II is evident that they had good understand
! ing of the practical meaning of the summer
| solstce. and were accustomed To note its
| turn.
| But astronomers say that the does not
| now rise at precisely the same point the
| horizon on June II two three thousand
years ago. Every child knows that the change
OF seasons is due to the inclination Of the earths
axis to the plane of it's orbit. The axis now
! slants over about 23i. degrees. But il is be-
| lieved that one time in the distant past the
| inclination amounted to nearly - degrees. 1t
is supposed To be diminishing very slowly. Sir
John Herschel estimated that in about II OUO
| years the amount would be scarcely more than
- degrees, and II has been computed tnat the
difference amounts to about half second of
are annually. If. then, as Flinders Petrie has
| suggested. Stonehenge dates back to 20UJ Il. c.
there has been a diminution in the inclination
of the earth's axis amounting 10 i;5 minutes
| or more than half degree in the mean time
Such a change would cause the sun To rise at a
point :G} minutes of further south the
horizon at the summer solstice now than 1000
years ago.
Howard Payn. of the Solar Physics Labora-
tory at South Kensington, London conceived
the idea few weeks ago that he would oh
serve the sun rise on June II this year with ref
! erence To this possibility, and he took with
him to Stonehengc surveyors instrument.
The result Of his experiment is not yet known.
The data which he obtained need further con-
sderation before conclusion can be reached.
Moreover il is by no means certain that his
venture will prove satisfactory. Had there been
on top of The Frar's Heel narrow peg like
that OF the further sight on gun barrel pre-
else observation could have been made. Be
sdes il is not safe TO assume that the slab has
not tilted over little from its original posi-
tion. Indeed, Mr. Payn could not be absolutely
certain that the altar stone (from which he
made his Observatory was in identically the sand
spot as when first planted there. Under these
circumstances only approximation can bG
made to the change in the location of sunrise,