Megalithic Yard
Encyclopedia
A Megalithic Yard is a unit of measurement, about 2.72 foot (0.829056 m), that some researchers believe was used in the construction of megalithic structures. The proposal was made by Alexander Thom
as a result of his surveys of 600 megalithic sites in England
, Scotland
, Wales
and Britanny. Thom additionally proposed the Megalithic Rod of 2.5 MY and suggested the Megalithic Rod could be divided into one hundred and the Meglithic Yard divided into forty, which he called the Megalithic Inch of 2.073 centimetre (0.816141732283465 in). Thom applied the statistical lumped variance test of J.R. Broadbent on this quantum and found the results significant while others have challenged his statistical analysis and suggested that Thom's evidence can be explained in other ways, for instance the average length of a pace.
Margaret Ponting has suggested that artefacts such as a marked bone found during excavations at Dail Mòr
near Callanish
, the Patrickholme bone bead
from Lanarkshire
and Dalgety bone bead
from Fife
in Scotland
have shown some evidence of being measuring rod
s based on the Megalithic Yard in Britain
. An Oak
rod from the Iron Age
fortified settlement at Borre Fen mearured 53.15 inches (135 cm) with marks dividing it up into eight parts of 6.64 inches (16.9 cm). Euan Mackie referred to five eights of this rod 33.2 inches (84.3 cm) as "very close to a megalithic yard". A Hazel
measuring rod recovered from a Bronze Age
burial mound in Borum Eshøj, East Jutland by P. V. Glob in 1875 mearured 30.9 inches (78.5 cm). Keith Critchlow suggested this may have shrunk 0.63 inches (1.6 cm) from the Megalithic Yard over 3000 years.
Thom made a comparison of his Megalithic Yard with the Spanish vara, the pre-metric measurement of Iberia, its value 2.7425 feet. Archaeologist Euan Mackie
noticed similarities between the MY and a unit of measurement extrapolated from a long, marked shell from Mohenjo Daro and ancient measuring rods used in mining in the Austria
n Tyrol. He suggested similarities with other measurements such as the ancient Indian gaz
and the Sumerian šu-du3-a
. Along with John Michell
, Mackie also noted that it is the diagonal of a rectangle measuring 2 by 1 Egyptian remen
s. Jay Kappraff
has noted similarity between the Megalithic Yard and the ancient Indus short yard of 33 inch (0.8382 m). Anne Macaulay
reported that the Megalithic Rod is equal in length to the Greek
fathom of (2.072 metres (6.8 ft)) from studies by Eric Fernie of the Metrological Relief
in the Ashmolean Museum
, Oxford
.
Clive Ruggles has said that both classical and Bayesian statistical reassessments of Thom's date "reached the conclusion that the evidence in favour of the MY was at best marginal, and that even if it does exist the uncertainty in our knowledge of its value is of the order of centimetres, far greater than the 1mm precision claimed by Thom. In other words, the evidence presented by Thom could be
adequately explained by, say, monuments being set out by pacing, with the 'unit' reflecting an average length of pace." David George Kendall
had previously argued that pacing would have created a greater difference in measurements between sites, he concluded after investigation for the Royal Academy
, that "The hypothesis of a smooth, non-quantal distribution of circle diameters (for Scottish, English and Welsh true circles) is thus rejected at the 1% level."
Douglas Heggie casts doubt on Thom's suggestion as well, stating that his careful analysis uncovered "little evidence for a highly accurate unit" and "little justification for the claim that a highly accurate unit was in use".
In his book Rings of Stone: The Prehistoric Stone Circles of Britain and Ireland. Aubrey Burl
calls the megalithic yard "a chimera, a grotesque statistical misconception."
Alexander Thom
Alexander "Sandy" Thom was a Scottish engineer most famous for his theory of the Megalithic yard, categorization of stone circles and his studies of Stonehenge and other archaeological sites.- Life and work :...
as a result of his surveys of 600 megalithic sites in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Britanny. Thom additionally proposed the Megalithic Rod of 2.5 MY and suggested the Megalithic Rod could be divided into one hundred and the Meglithic Yard divided into forty, which he called the Megalithic Inch of 2.073 centimetre (0.816141732283465 in). Thom applied the statistical lumped variance test of J.R. Broadbent on this quantum and found the results significant while others have challenged his statistical analysis and suggested that Thom's evidence can be explained in other ways, for instance the average length of a pace.
Other units
Thom suggested that "There must have been a headquarters from which standard rods were sent out but whether this was in these islands or on the Continent the present investigation cannot determine."Margaret Ponting has suggested that artefacts such as a marked bone found during excavations at Dail Mòr
Dail Mòr
Dail Mòr is a hamlet situated in the Northside of Carloway, a major village on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. The hamlet has a beach and a cemetery. A small well kept car park is available for visitors as are picnic & public BBQ facilities. The beach is a known surf destination mentioned in...
near Callanish
Callanish
Callanish is a village on the West Side of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides , Scotland. A linear settlement with a jetty, it is situated on a headland jutting into Loch Roag, a sea loch...
, the Patrickholme bone bead
Patrickholme bone bead
The Patrickholme bone bead is a square sectioned bone fragment with a perforated hollow through the middleIt was found during archaeological excavations in Patrickholme sand quarry in Lanarkshire, Scotland by J. H. Maxwell in 1949. It has been suggested to form part of a prehistoric measuring rod...
from Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
and Dalgety bone bead
Dalgety bone bead
The Dalgety bone bead is a square sectioned, burnt bone fragment with a perforated hollow through the middle.It was found during archaeological excavations near Barn Farm in Dalgety, Fife, Scotland by Trevor Watkins. It has been suggested to form part of a prehistoric measuring rod and tangible...
from Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
have shown some evidence of being measuring rod
Measuring rod
A measuring rod is a tool used to physically measure lengths and survey areas of various sizes. Most measuring rods are round or square sectioned, however they can be flat boards. Some have markings at regular intervals...
s based on the Megalithic Yard in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. An Oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
rod from the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
fortified settlement at Borre Fen mearured 53.15 inches (135 cm) with marks dividing it up into eight parts of 6.64 inches (16.9 cm). Euan Mackie referred to five eights of this rod 33.2 inches (84.3 cm) as "very close to a megalithic yard". A Hazel
Hazel
The hazels are a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate northern hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae, though some botanists split the hazels into a separate family Corylaceae.They have simple, rounded leaves with double-serrate margins...
measuring rod recovered from a Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
burial mound in Borum Eshøj, East Jutland by P. V. Glob in 1875 mearured 30.9 inches (78.5 cm). Keith Critchlow suggested this may have shrunk 0.63 inches (1.6 cm) from the Megalithic Yard over 3000 years.
Thom made a comparison of his Megalithic Yard with the Spanish vara, the pre-metric measurement of Iberia, its value 2.7425 feet. Archaeologist Euan Mackie
Euan MacKie
Euan Wallace MacKie is a British archaeologist and anthropologist. He is a prominent figure in the field of Archaeoastronomy.-Biography:...
noticed similarities between the MY and a unit of measurement extrapolated from a long, marked shell from Mohenjo Daro and ancient measuring rods used in mining in the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n Tyrol. He suggested similarities with other measurements such as the ancient Indian gaz
History of measurement systems in India
The history of measurement systems in India begins in early Indus Valley Civilization with the earliest surviving samples dated to the 5th millennium BCE. Since early times the adoption of standard weights and measures has reflected in the country's architectural, folk, and metallurgical artifacts...
and the Sumerian šu-du3-a
Ancient Mesopotamian units of measurement
Ancient Mesopotamian units of measurement originated in the loosely organized city-states of Early Dynastic Sumer. The units themselves grew out of the tradition of counting tokens used by the Neolithic cultural complex of the Near East. The counting tokens were used to keep accounts of personal...
. Along with John Michell
John Michell
John Michell was an English natural philosopher and geologist whose work spanned a wide range of subjects from astronomy to geology, optics, and gravitation. He was both a theorist and an experimenter....
, Mackie also noted that it is the diagonal of a rectangle measuring 2 by 1 Egyptian remen
Ancient Egyptian units of measurement
-Length:Units of length date back to at least the early dynastic period. In the Palermo stone for instance the level of the Nile river is recorded. During the reign of Pharaoh Djer the height of the river Nile was given as measuring 6 cubits and 1 palm...
s. Jay Kappraff
Jay Kappraff
Jay Kappraff is a American professor of mathematics at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and author.-Biography:Kappraff was trained in engineering, physical sciences and mathematics, earning a B.Ch.E. in Chemical Engineering at New York Polytechnic in 1958. He went on to be awarded a Ph.D...
has noted similarity between the Megalithic Yard and the ancient Indus short yard of 33 inch (0.8382 m). Anne Macaulay
Anne Macaulay
Anne Macaulay was a British musicologist, archaeologist, author and lecturer.-Biography:Anne was born in Aithernie, Fife in Scotland near Lundin standing stones, the youngest child of Sir. David and Alison Russell...
reported that the Megalithic Rod is equal in length to the Greek
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
fathom of (2.072 metres (6.8 ft)) from studies by Eric Fernie of the Metrological Relief
Metrological Relief
The Metrological Relief is an Ancient Greek relief of a man with arms outstretched, cut with hammer and chisel on a triangular, marble slab between 460 to 430 BC. It was found in Turkey or the Greek Islands in 1625–26 AD by a chaplain called William Petty collecting sculptures for Thomas Howard,...
in the Ashmolean Museum
Ashmolean Museum
The Ashmolean Museum on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England, is the world's first university museum...
, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
Reception
Thom's claim was initially ignored or regarded as unbelievable by traditional archaeologists. Colin Renfrew reviewed Thom's work and observed arrangements of megaliths in full integers or exact halves of the megalithic yard.Clive Ruggles has said that both classical and Bayesian statistical reassessments of Thom's date "reached the conclusion that the evidence in favour of the MY was at best marginal, and that even if it does exist the uncertainty in our knowledge of its value is of the order of centimetres, far greater than the 1mm precision claimed by Thom. In other words, the evidence presented by Thom could be
adequately explained by, say, monuments being set out by pacing, with the 'unit' reflecting an average length of pace." David George Kendall
David George Kendall
David George Kendall FRS was an English statistician, who spent much of his academic life in the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. He worked with M. S...
had previously argued that pacing would have created a greater difference in measurements between sites, he concluded after investigation for the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
, that "The hypothesis of a smooth, non-quantal distribution of circle diameters (for Scottish, English and Welsh true circles) is thus rejected at the 1% level."
Douglas Heggie casts doubt on Thom's suggestion as well, stating that his careful analysis uncovered "little evidence for a highly accurate unit" and "little justification for the claim that a highly accurate unit was in use".
In his book Rings of Stone: The Prehistoric Stone Circles of Britain and Ireland. Aubrey Burl
Aubrey Burl
Harry Aubrey Woodruff Burl MA, DLitt, PhD, FSA, HonFSA Scot is a British archaeologist most well known for his studies into megalithic monuments and the nature of prehistoric rituals associated with them. Prior to retirement he was Principal Lecturer in Archaeology, Hull College, East Riding of...
calls the megalithic yard "a chimera, a grotesque statistical misconception."