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SN 643 887  In a top paddock of Alltgoch Farm a 4 foot tall standing stone commands superb views over Cardigan Bay. This fine site is backmarked by a smoothed erratic with the appearance of a rude, but recognisable, tetrahedron. The tetrahedron is a four-sided 3D solid with all faces triangular. Here the presumed fourth side will be the base and is buried. Three planes can be identified each of which invite observation to a horizon feature. The azimuths of these three alignments was noted by magnetic compass sighting. For this place and year, (2005 AD), the correction for magnetic to true north is +4 degrees. |
| To the north west.
Good views of Bardsey Island and the Lleyn Peninsula can be seen to the north west. The azimuth of the setting summer solstice sun, (311 degrees circa 1800 BC), lies on the right flank of Mynedd Anelog- the final high ground at the tip of the Lleyn peninsula 40 miles distant. The compass is aligned along the stones's right side face. |
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| To the west.
The flat face on the stone's left indicates the hill intersection to the west. At both equinoxes the setting sun, at azimuth 272 degrees, will drop into this notch. | 
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| The meridion.
The third face of the stone, on the right side, aligns close to due south and another hill intersection. |
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| As with Lechwedd Penrhiwen and Four Stones, Alltgoch standing stone is a deceptively subtle achievement in astro-landscape design linking the dramatic summer solstice sunset on Mynydd Anelog with equinox sunsets and the meridion in three landscape features indicated by the faces of this smoothly worn glacial erratic.
Found monoliths. This is a fine example of a 'found' astronomical monolith and it's usage and it reminds us how carefully a suspected megalithic site must be examined both at the backsight and, in very clear weather, on the entire visible horizon. |
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