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Stone Temple Gardening
Where Land Meets Sky
Landscape First, Monument Second
Stone Temple Gardening explores ancient monuments through the landscapes that shaped them.
Since my teenage years I have been drawn to prehistoric sites, from famous monuments such as Stonehenge and Avebury to obscure standing stones, hidden burial chambers, ridges, rivers, outcrops and forgotten paths. My work begins with a simple idea: the land comes first. Routes, horizons, natural features and movement through place often shaped how monuments were built, used and remembered.
I am a historian by training, not an archaeologist, which gives this project its particular voice. Stone Temple Gardening combines field observation, photography, archaeoastronomy, folklore, sensory experience and careful speculation to ask how ancient people may have encountered the living landscape before stone made those encounters permanent.
All My Stories
All My Stories
Unveiling Gunung Padang: Indonesia’s Ancient Stepped Pyramid and Sacred Sundanese Marvel
Nestled in the volcanic highlands of West Java, Indonesia, Gunung Padang is one of Southeast Asia's most fascinating archaeological sites. Rising 885 metres above sea level atop an extinct volcano, it is at the center of an acrimonious archaeological debate about hidden subterranean chambers and over its contested dates of construction, some as old as 27,000 to 14,000 years ago. Gunung Padang weaves together geology, culture, spirituality and controversy into an amazing story
May 27, 202522 min read
Unveiling the Cosmic Mysteries of Bryn Celli Ddu: Explore the Celestial Secrets of the Neolithic Solstice Sun
Exploration of Ancient astronomy at Bryn Celli Ddu, Anglesey, Wales, UK
Apr 4, 202531 min read
Stone, Sky, River and Mountain The Sacred Geography of Bryn Celli Ddu: Part Three.
Blueschist Rock in Central Chamber: Photo by Author The Sacred Heart of Anglesey Part Three: The Sanctified Rocks, Mountains and River at Bryn Celli Ddu Welcome back to Stone Temple Gardening, where we dig deep to unearth the mysteries of prehistory to cultivate new understandings of the past! All photos are my own, with permission, or creative commons. Before we embark, a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Mike Woods, whose groundbreaking PhD thesis, Dark Side of the Tomb, offers a
Mar 10, 202519 min read
Bryn Celli Ddu: Unearthing the Sacred Heart of Neolithic Anglesey Part 2:
Was the connection between builders and the ancestors facilitated by rituals bound to the sun, moon, and the flickering interplay of firelit shadows? We will consider how this place's optical and acoustic properties may have deepened these experiences of communion.
Mar 3, 202510 min read
Rivers of the Soul: The Sacred Springs and Waterways of Neolithic and Bronze Age Europe
For Neolithic societies, water was not merely functional; it was spiritual. Rivers and springs were gateways; places of ritual and worship.
Jan 12, 202526 min read
Poems of the Winter Solstice: Reflections on Renewal, Ancient Rituals, and the Spirit of the Season
Welcome to Stone Temple Gardening where we dig deep to cultivate new understandings of our past. Today is January 1st of 2025 and I wish all my readers a Happy New Year! As the year has turned towards its quietest moments and the world gathers itself in the arms of winter and the promise of a new year, I want to pause and thank each of you dear readers, for walking this literary journey with me. I embarked upon this blog as a humble dalliance, a vessel to navigate the vast, m
Jan 1, 202510 min read
Solstice Rites and Winter Lights: Myth and Magic From Stonehenge to Today.
The Winter Solstice, that fleeting hinge of the year when the night stretches longest and the sun lingers, pale and frail in its winter repose, has long captivated human imagination. Across ancient cultures, this moment marked a profound threshold—a time when the dominance of darkness gave way to rituals of hope, renewal, and the promise of light’s return. These sacred and celebratory traditions offer a glimpse into humanity’s enduring dialogue with the cosmos: between the ea
Dec 21, 202425 min read
Her Dreams Are Carved in Crystal: The Thirteen Moons of Callanish and the Sacred Echoes of the Sleeping Goddess
A New Theory of the Callainish Stones as a sacred landscape figure connected to the worship of the Moon Goddess.
Dec 9, 202420 min read
Shapes of the Sacred: How Neolithic Long Barrows Evolved from Earthly Anchors Into Cosmic Circles
Knowth Passage Grave Ireland Have you ever felt the silent pull of ancient stones? Have you asked yourself what it means to walk through a place where time itself seems to echo from the past into the present? If so, welcome to Stone Temple Gardening where we dig deep to cultivate new understandings of the ancient past! My past few posts have been dealing chronologically with the progression of the Mesolithic era at Stonehenge through Neolithic monuments from the early causew
Nov 11, 202414 min read
Beyond Stonehenge: Uncovering the Forgotten World of Neolithic Henges and Their Cosmic Connections
Henge Rising Introduction A henge is a type of prehistoric earthwork structure from the Neolithic and early Bronze Age, dating back roughly 3000–2000 BC. It features a distinctive circular or oval earthen enclosure defined by an outer ring-shaped bank and an inner ditch, which enclose a central area. Although fewer than 100 surviving examples exist across Britain and Ireland today, it’s likely that many more henges were originally constructed. Typically, henges feature one or
Nov 4, 202412 min read
Ancient Axes in the Earth: A New Perspective on Neolithic Symbolism Connecting Polished Stone Axes and Long Barrows
In the undulating hills of Neolithic Britain, where the whispers of ancient souls mingle with the wind, the earth cradles the remains of the departed beneath grand earthen mounds. The long barrows, with their graceful, tapering forms reaching skyward like the outstretched hands of the living, are more than mere resting places; they are monumental testaments to the artistry, unity, and spiritual beliefs of early agrarian communities. Each mound, a silent custodian of history,
Oct 27, 20249 min read
At the Threshold of Eternity: A Journey into the Spirit World of the Neolithic Through West Kennet Long Barrow.
West Kennet Long Barrow: The Foundation of the Ceremonial Landscape of Neolithic Wiltshire Welcome back to Stone Temple Gardening where we are busy cultivating new ideas dug deep from the rich cool earth of the ancient past! My two previous posts were on Long Barrows, their forms and significance along with an introduction into their cultural and religious functions. Today, in order to draw all these threads into one, we are focusing on West Kennet Long Barrow. This post
Oct 21, 202416 min read
Tales of the Earth and Echoes From the Past: The Cultural Significance of Long Barrows in Neolithic Society
Ancient Ceremony at a Long Barrow What stories do ancient burial mounds whisper through the winds of time? As we continue our exploration of Neolithic Long Barrows, this second instalment builds upon our previous discussion in part 1, which examined their origins, construction, and cultural significance. Long Barrows, often perceived solely as burial sites, are much more than that; they represent a complex interplay of community, identity, and ritual that shaped the lives o
Oct 14, 202410 min read
Whispers of the Ancients: Exploring the Secrets of Neolithic Long Barrows in the UK
Imagined Neolithic Ritual at a Long Barrow Introduction Imagine a lush, verdant landscape at dusk, the sky painted with shades of deep purple and orange. In front of the West Kennet Long Barrow, a group of Neolithic people gathers, their figures cloaked in simple, earth-toned garments adorned with natural symbols and beads. They form a circle, holding hands, as flickering torches cast dancing shadows on the ancient stones. The air is thick with the scent of burning herbs, and
Oct 6, 202410 min read
Neolithic Cursi. The Forgotten Link Between The Earth, Sky and Stonehenge Ancient Geometry.
Neolithic Cursi in the UK: Linear Mysteries Dug Deep from the Distant Past. Hello everyone, and welcome to another deep dive into the Neolithic from the Stone Temple Garden, where we dig deep to cultivate fresh insights into the ancient past! In my previous posts, I’ve explored iconic sites like Stonehenge, Avebury, Glastonbury, and various captivating theories—ranging from Stonehenge’s geological roots to the astronomical mysteries of Avebury. Today, we’ll venture into l
Sep 29, 202418 min read
Solstices, Equinoxes, and the Ancient Wonders: How Our Ancestors Harnessed the Seasons at Stonehenge and Beyond
Welcome everybody to Stone Temple Gardening, cultivating new understandings of the ancient past today…and today is the Autumn Equinox! As the cool winds of autumn stir the amber leaves, and the days grow shorter, we find ourselves in a season of reflection and change. For our ancient ancestors, this was not just a time of harvest and preparation, but a sacred moment, deeply connected to the movements of the sun and the cycles of nature. In the shadows of towering megaliths li
Sep 21, 202413 min read
The Magic of Blick Mead Mesolithic Spring. The Reason Why Stonehenge Wiltshire is Where it is.
Introduction Blick Mead, is a collection of springs and an archaeological site near Stonehenge. The site has gained significant...
Sep 15, 202410 min read
The Glacial Striations Beneath the Stonehenge Avenue: A Hidden Tale of Earth's Ice Age Past and the Mesolithic Foundation of the Sacred Stonehenge Landscape.
When we think of Stonehenge, what usually comes to mind is its iconic stone circle, shrouded in mystery and speculation about its...
Sep 15, 20247 min read
Glastonbury Maker of Myths Part 2. King Arthur, The Holy Grail, Chalice Well, The Holy Thorn, Britain's first Christian Church, Glastonbury Tor, Bride's Mound and the Glastonbury Zodiac.
The Holy Thorn and Tor Glastonbury and the Quest for the Holy Grail Part 2. Welcome to part two of my guide to Glastonbury in Somerset...
Sep 8, 202412 min read
Glastonbury and the Quest for The Holy Grail. Part 1.
Opening: A memory, a dream, and an invocation…. I have been visiting the small Somerset town of Glastonbury since a blazing hot summer...
Sep 5, 20248 min read
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