More stone

There’s no end of stone up here. Neolithic and bronze age but also in churches, housing and more modern buildings, hotels, offices and the like. Anything pre-C20th. I remember feeling surprisingly at home when I first walked down the main street of Edinburgh thinking it reminded me of Adelaide (my home town). Not surprising. Adelaide was established by a private company with Scottish connections. In fact, one thing we are doing here is exploring an ancestor of Megan’s who came to Adelaide in 1837 from around this area. He died in Strathalbyn, outside Adelaide. All local, there and here. So, there are stone buildings in classical styles in Australia but not castles which are quintessential sites of interest for new worlders here in Scotland. More rocks.

Mary Baker led an Archaeotour for Norman, Megan and Eric.

Art of other eras

Not all we are doing here is music. We are away from cities now and the interest is more dated. First up, archaeology, neolithic times, uncertain purposes, simple techniques, stone carvings, standing stones, funerary monuments, perhaps representations of reproduction (think standing stones and rock circles and shadows cast). And these techniques and technologies that passed into more modern times, not least mediaeval stone crosses. We are just north of Glasgow visiting such matters, avoiding rain, enjoying occasional sunshine. Not that it’s cold. This summer has been climate-changed bliss in Europe, all sunshine and heat with no less than 24degC predicted in western Scotland in a few days time (in mid-October). When the rain isn’t heavier than usual and flooding inner Oban. Such is our future, but we are looking at our past in standing stones and cup and ring carvings in Argyleshire.



Mary Baker led an Archaeotour for Norman, Megan and Eric.