Foremost to do: ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’. References, read to get in shape:
For researchers, reading about Stonehenge just to the get the flavor of its long drawn history, helps a great deal. I recommend three publications, a small and 2 large volumes:
1- Stonehenge and Neighbouring Monuments. English Heritage, Edited by Ken Osborne, designed by Martin Atcherley and Associates and set in ITC Century Lights. ISBN 185074 172 7.
Although small but generous with key pictures, this book packs a punch and delivers the main points about Stonehenge, very well condensed and clear about the limitations about our present knowledge.
2- The Age of Stonehenge. Colin Burgess. Castle Books. 1980 ISBN: 0-7858-1593-7.
Mr. Burgess book should be considered the Orthodox scientific encapsulation of all to do about Stonehenge. In particular a masterful comprehensive attempt to characterize the people behind the stones. The book contains numerous facts and hypothesis. The author laments the new Archeology movement, as some sort of mistake. Although, compared to 100 years ago, almost everything written by Burgess is new.
3- Stonehenge Complete. Christopher Chippindale. Third Edition. ISBN 0-500-28467-9
Christopher’s book, is essential for researchers, especially about past portrayals, including maps and sketches about Stonehenge. There is much here showing that present day Stonehenge, its very look, is the product of many well intentioned makeovers. This is a very important fact to consider. As cited below, the book has a rare picture of the Wiltshire Sarsens in their natural state , not like more recent ones as found on super comprehensive Megalithic Portal.
If there was chance for me to write a peer reviewed paper on Stonehenge as an illusion machine, a mirage device of sorts when certain astronomical and atmospheric conditions occur, I would have given a submission. But it is a tall order when one lives in Canada, when the work required is in the UK, Ireland or Northern France. Research volunteers are needed. The pay is low (none), but the benefits are high provided that it may prove a vastly different theory, a paradigm in the understanding of Megaliths, which will eventually explain the reasoning behind Stonehenge’s architecture. If you are such a person, please contact Wayne for some complementary instructions, and for co-writing with the goal to publish in a journal. What is needed is photographic evidence of mirages created by stones. Pictures need be taken at sunrise (ouch its early!) or sunsets or at any other time when the angles are right between a Megalith, camera and sun (moon). There are other more expedient ways, such as using a powerful light to imitate the sun, or moon, moving it in front of the Sarsen lintels or Megaliths might do, but that will require authorization. Yet still the simplest way is just observing, its not expensive at all, what is needed is a little of your time.
As enticement through words you might want to consider this simple essay. The next step is of course up to you. The reasoning behind Stonehenge, is like a modern intellectual Excalibur, many scientists, writers and ordinary folk have tried to pull the mystery out of its rock base. True enough to Excalibur, you have to be there in the UK to pull it out, to prove Stonehenge is like being Arthur. The mystery world awaits their Arthur to simply capture a mirage and show it to all.
Other Megalith sites can also create mirages, Stonehenge may be the culmination of many years of experimenting with smaller stones, and others may still give similar visual effects.
Consider a modern equivalent to hot or cold lintels; modern road mirages:
http://www.weather-photography.com/Photos/gallery.php?cat=optics&subcat=mirages_inferior_road
It seems not a coincidence, Merlin’s student: Morgana, has a mirage named after her. It is called “Fata Morgana’s”
http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF2/261.html
I was told by Karen, that Morgan is Welsh for sea, this mirage name was extremely well chosen. But today’s mirage Merlin’s are scientists:
http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/mirages/mirintro.html
http://aolp.osa.org/abstract.cfm?id=71002
Remember Today’s Physicist would have been respected alchemists. Modern scientists speak their own language as well, but are capable of explaining to most people. If they were transposed back in time, our great scientists would have the King’s ear, however one would wish that today’s scientists would have the same chance with our politicians. But the science of mirages is not fully understood, although a fierce group of dedicated modern scientists are meeting this challenge with great results. Computer models of mirages have been created, and they almost imitate the real thing.
As read in Welshtone resurrection, a Megalith capstone was hot enough to project a rectangular sun on top of it, this means that the capstone warmed up the air immediately above. From this unique observation, one can transpose this sighting to Stonehenge. The nature of the lintels, locked together smoothly, can only remind me of smooth pavements. Remains to be seen, literally, whether this theory stands up to reality, and this requires a rigorous application of the scientific method. For this, repetition must be achieved. Anyone interested please let me know.
Consider a mirage in midair as explained on Revive the Circles. They happen naturally, but Lintels or Capstones, even Dolmens may cause them as well, by temperature differences between the rock and air alone, stone can cause warmer or colder air just above their surfaces, creating a similar thing as on road mirages. To find out if this is still happening at Stonehenge or at any other Megalith site, one must observe. At Stonehenge, the lucky observer having permission, usually stands at the center of the circle, which is not necessarily the only location to watch sunrise or sunset effects. Although upon closer look, top of the lintels seem to be bent towards an observer at center, but all this is marred by previous reconstructions.
The idea that Stonehenge was designed as a sacrosanct place, strictly from the precincts of a sacred center of a relatively small construction with stones, was not at all the universal practice. All ancient important temples of prominence were meant to be massive, from Ziggurats to the Parthenon , with those ancient pyramids spanning from Egypt, the Sudan and Central America , all appearing with greater than human qualities by design. They were dedications to their God, exalted respect from whoever looked at them. But little in scale Stonehenge had apparently no such design in grandeur. But being a mirage machine would make it superior to all these other ancient constructions, there are no other which bent light. Although Ancient Egyptians, had a good understanding of astronomy, such as at the sun aligning with Pharaoh’s Ramses II statue at Abu Simbel, Stonehenge surpasses and creates light out of stone. Therefore, it merited awe and attention throughout the rumor mill of the ancient world. Having missed being one of the seven wonders, only because it was a bit out of the way, and also, it was the stuff of magic, it made impressions, but one had to be there to see it. Remoteness stopped its real fame from spreading. Not so at home in Northwestern Europe. Stonehenge was really more like Delphi, the ancient place for oracles on the Isle of Patmos. However, Stonehenge had greater orators, Omens came directly from the sun or moon , these were perennial deities from the beginning of human consciousness. On Delphi, it was the miracle of prophecies, some where apparently accurate. At Stonehenge it was the miracle of light, caused by mere rocks, devoid of a reflective metal surface…
Now reconsider the possibility of a hot highway mirage. You see the water like mirage pond, but instead of having a car in the mirage, you see instead a mirage of the sun, given a clear sky, the brilliance would be many times stronger than an average car light, it would be blinding in some instances … This new image is caused by heat from a smoothly paved road, its brightness would not be appreciated. But a similar mirage can seem absolutely mystical during ancient times. There were no paved roads then, mirages would not be very rare but uncommon in the country side, but there would be large stones, or rocky hill plateaus which would have appeared magical, like the story of the lady of the lake, which may not have been a lake at all. If Megalith stones can provide enough heat to warm up a shallow portion of air, or be cold enough to cool down the air right above, then mirages are possible. Whereas two images or more of the sun would be created. The one above flat stones would be not as round, it would appear to skim, horizontally while the sun is going up or down in the sky. A fact learned by probably observing past natural locations for mirages such as Fyfield at Marlborough Downs (Stonehenge Complete page 39). The original Sarsens were likely to have been found flat on the ground, some quite polished, quite capable of mirages, like on modern roads. Its natural to say, go to the Downs and see if one large flat Sarsen could still give a mirage today. But from the information available the chances are slim given that there are only a few large Sarsens left in their natural state, even if there are, it is worth to take a look. Greater studies of heat properties on Sarsen rock are possible and needed, in this case again at Marlborough Downs, true Sarsen samples or lintel replicas from the original stone may provide some answers.
The purpose of the Stonehenge’s smooth lintels seemed explained, the illusion can occur any given day, provided that several conditions are met. When they occur, the lintels would be seen to light up, or also cause a projection unto the Trilithons, which can’t be seen from the center but rather the perimeter more at the bluestones circle, which stand like sentinels. Ok then, why didn’t anyone report these mirage effects? Stonehenge was very much looked at over many Centuries. For the time being, here are a few easy explanations:
#1- It is highly likely that the weather and air pollution at Stonehenge is not at all conducive for refracted light projections when the sun is low above the horizon. If the sun is not bright enough due to smog or fog, the projections are impossible. Pollution is the most likely recent past history reason for not sighting mirages at Stonehenge.
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Taken with identical optical equipment, the picture to the left shows the sun’s brightness dimmed, almost extinguished by smog, as to compared with a clearer sky taken at the same place and sun position a few days before (right). Haze and pollution literally kills any chance of mirages when the sun is low on the horizon. |
#2- Orientation of the lintels are no longer lined up with the intended projection spots.
#3- The projection was meant for a more distant location, like a Chieftain Barrow or the main ancient village by Stonehenge.
#4- Nobody is looking for these mirages, all people do, is try to get a nice picture of the henge, some scientists studied sound acoustics, shadows, or Stonehenge as a large house and many other aspects, none as a static mirage machine.
#5- The position of the observers are just plain off the right location, the center of the henge is closed most times and no one often goes on the original locations of the old village, a key distant projection spot, road mirages can be seen much more than 60 meters or so away.
The heat difference between the Sarsen stones and the air must be very significant. A small air layer caused by heat transference is capable of bending light waves of the incoming image, which would be the horizon including the sun and the moon. Greater studies of heat properties on the Sarsen rock are needed. At Marlborough Downs, Sarsen samples can be mined or perhaps provide on site observations, if any large natural Sarsen stones are still exposed above ground.
One thing is certain, hard Sandstone, does not transfer heat quickly, and this can be seen on a website picture from Toronto Canada:
http://www.civ.utoronto.ca/sect/buisci/tour/6.htm
Equally so, Stonehenge Sarsens, are apparently incredibly hard. And this would mean that they would retain heat, or cold, while air temperatures may be completely different. Then a mirage projection is likely, especially at extreme swift temperature transitions. These mirages by design were to give a warning or even better to start an event. They could be repeatable many times a year, but especially at certain crucial occasions. Climate is again at issue. Mirages were created, during very cold or very warm conditions, there is no contradiction. If the weather is hot, a sudden flow of air from the North would theoretically cool things down quickly except for the Sarsens. They would retain a heat strongly only to cool down very slowly. Then the circle would appear to shine when the sun or moon would hit the Sarsens at certain critical angles. Likewise, a cold winter day changing suddenly warm would make the lintels shine. Is this today’s climate in the UK or Ireland? If it is, then the best times to try to capture this effect is to go when a sudden shift in temperature occurs, especially say, after the passage of a cold front during a very hot summer day.
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An otherwise plain street with a speed bump in yellow. Notice the very small solitary mirage, captured about 70 meters away mimicking the speed bump on the second and third pictures . The camera is more at level with the bump located at a point where the road is lower. This proves that mirages can be very small, and require very little surface. Now imagine the sun replacing the speed bump, a double sun would be seen. |
Then it comes down to why? Why creating a mirage machine? The following can’t do justice:
The genius of pillars eclipsing the sun to make it rise above.
Mirages convey an overwhelming impression of magic, which overtakes anyone even those with strong notions of physics. In those days, science and magic were mixed as one within the majority of the population, but there seems to have been a group of scientists, or a loosely structured school approaching modern scientific practices, already strong and influential, capable of understanding complex subjects, enough to build from their understanding. It was a crucial step in a nascent civilization, a start for a people having a great potential to go much further, having to date forgotten some of its past achievements.
Stonehenge superseded every other known temple during ancient times, its greatest achievement was to bring the Gods to life, not strictly at unique days of the year, but likely almost any other day, only as the gods wished. This also explains the lack of religious icons or statues associated with Stonehenge and sister Megaliths, none were necessary. Stonehenge was a gateway giving messages from God. But Stonehenge’s God was for all, anyone could have seen mere rocks lighting up during the times of omens. No human interlocutors were absolutely necessary, it was a place which showed off its power and the great prowess of those who created it.
Altar Stone - Horizon Megaliths - Vision Reconstructions