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Astro-archaeology .. it’s still breathing, just

28 March 2012
Archaeology

At www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120327093532.htm … it seems researchers at Nottingham Trent University have been looking at the Gardom's Edge standing stone, a 4000 year old slab of stone in a triangular shape as if it is pointing at something. It is just a couple of metres tall but the monument's striking right angle slants up towards the geographic south. The orientation and inclination of the shape it aligned to the altitude of the Sun at mid-summer. Like all things nowadays modelling is part of the research effort and in this instance 3-D models were made and they showed that during the winter half year the slanted side of the stone remained in permanent shadow while during the summer half year it was illuminated during the morning and afternoons – close to mid summer all day long. It is hoped a wider archaeological survey of the area around Gardom's Edge will take place in the future to place the stone in greater context.

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