|
|
On the last terrace before the summit of this mountain there is a level place extensive enough for a vehicle park and temporary market.  On this terrace stands a magnificent menhir with it's attendant table, or cromlech at it's foot. In this image the menhir is located by the red awning near the centre. 
To the east-south-east.  This fine blade stone, (lechwedd), stands 4.5 metres, 14.6 feet, tall. It is orientated, along the flat faces to the east south-east and north west. The eastern azimuth is 117* Magnetic bearing which is, for this longitude, = 115.5* True geographic This might be intended as a winter solstice indicator. At this latitude the solstice sun rises at an azimuth of 118.5* on a flat horizon. |
 This invitation is for an azimuth of 282.5 magnetic, 281 True. On this bearing the setting sun attains declination of the mid-points between summer solstices and equinoxes- in Gregorian- 7th May and 6th August. This would suggest the use of an 8 or 16 epoch calendar in Khasi prehistory. These mid-points do not exist in a 12 month calendar. Further evidence for the 8/16 calendar may be the date of this sacred festival- 5th February- again the date of a mid-point in the swing of the sun between a solstice, (winter), and the spring equinox. |
Hard by this menhir and utilising the great slab of the cromlech for a work surface, a Khasi lady named Margaret had erected her temporary tea and food stall. |
|
|
| When this visitor, somewhat perplexed by what appeared to be irreverent use of this magnificent monument, enquired of Margaret- "Do you know that the wall of your tea-house may be 5000 years old?" she replied brightly- "Well- it still serves very well!" and dished up a delicious bowl of chick-pea soup with fresh raw vegetables. |
 |
 |
|
Cultural non sequitur.
Attempting to align Indo- European Aryan cultural values to a race with a totally separate historical heritage is not a reliable exercise. The lesson here took some time to establish. It was not until studies of the astonishing remains at Nartiang and Noncet and close attention paid to Khasi funerary rites and first- hand verbal accounts of Khasi traditions concerning the usages of their megaliths that some understanding of Margaret's perceived flippancy was gained. In the protracted Meghalayan funerary rituals up to nine days of feasting may be held at and upon the cromlech slab beneath which the remains of the deceased relative is interred. The belief being that the spirit of the dear departed may partake also of the food and drink enjoyed. Running a food- stall on a cromlech would appear to be a perfectly natural extension of Meghalayan beliefs concerning the requirements of discarnate relatives. Further use of the funerary monolith/ cromlech architecture may be as picnic tables and seating for Khasi families spectating at sports fields. Most villages still enjoy weekly archery contests. Monoliths may also be erected to commemorate non-ritual events such as a favoured meeting place for close friends or as commemoration of an important sports event. |
| More Meghalayan pages:
Lumsohpetbneng 1. Lumsohpetbneng 2. Noncet Market. Nartiang Market. Cherrapunjee. Laitkynsew. |
| <<Home |
with comments or queries- powys@megalithicsites.co.uk