“Stone rows are a bit of a mystery and Dartmoor has the greatest concentration anywhere. There are over sixty of them dotted across the moor – and of such variety that they must have had many different functions.
I’m at Merrivale, right in the middle of Dartmoor and this site has a bit of everything: there are settlements all around – there’s hut circles over there – there’s a big stone circle with a huge standing stone over there – there’s cairns dotted all around – and these stone rows – right in the middle of it all.
And you want to see what’s in the middle of this row.
It’s only small, but this little funereal box, called a cist, does imply that this is the centre of a processionary pathway – so what do we have here?
A temple in the middle of a huge community?
Standing With Stones :
A Journey Through Megalithic Britain
Screening with the Director, Michael Bott in London
Hosted by Raga Woods.
Sunday 14 December 2008, 2-6 pm, at:
The Synergy Centre, 220 Farmers Road, off Camberwell New Road,
London SE5 0TW. www.thesynergycentre.org
2pm for delicious, healthy vegetarian food from Ollie and The Sattva Cafe
3pm Film + Q&A with Michael.
Shaun Kirwan (of ‘Megalithomania.com’) – geomancer, dowser and builder of stone circles hopes to be there to contribute and discuss meeting with stones.
Finish around 6.00pm.
A contribution of £3 on the door will be greatly appreciated,
“Beautiful…. the true stars of this film are the stones themselves.”
“A superb and wonderful film – you took us on a wondrous journey.”
How many Neolithic sites can you name? Stonehenge … Avebury … the Rollrights …?
Britain has tens of thousands of stone circles, henges, barrows and dolmens, each with its own fascinating story. Whether you’re familiar with most of them or have only a passing acquaintance with a few, STANDING WITH STONES was made for you.
Across the length and breadth of the British Isles lies a breathtaking richness of archaeological heritage. This is a new film made by two dedicated men who took years to plan and complete a journey through the British Isles and Ireland, starting at the tip of Cornwall and ending on the Scottish Isles, visiting over 100 Neolithic and Bronze age monuments en route.
Produced and directed by documentary film-maker Michael Bott and presented by naturalist and explorer Rupert Soskin (son of Henry Lincoln, one of the authors of Holy Blood and Holy Grail), the warmth and directness of his commentary leaves us with an increased respect for our ancient stone sites no matter how knowledgeable we might already be.
Beautiful to look at (the British Isles have seldom looked this good) and managing to be enlightening, entertaining and deeply moving, the film explores the diversity and wonder of these extraordinary enigmatic structures. It also looks at some of the theories and nonsenses which attach to them.
“Standing With Stones” is designed to encourage a culture of awakening to the connectedness of all life, all humanity. As we increase our awareness we also acknowledge that these stones are astounding indications of a great historical and archaeological heritage – as well as a profound mystery.
Please visit: www.standingwithstones.com/ www.standingstones.tv If really necessary contact Raga on 07886346223 or email: ragawoo@gmail.com
