Talk:The Merry Maidens

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		See drop down box for suggested article edit guidelines: Suggested article edit guidelines: Articles are written using a standard set of headings (see suggestions for article structure here. This is to maintain consistency between Cornwall articles and improve the quality of entries through a constant style of writing. These headings are, however, plastic and in state of flux and although we welcome suggestions or improvements, we would appreciate discussionbefore any major changes to the layout yourself. Be bold - if you know something about Penwith then put it in! We value your contributions and don't be afraid is your spelling isn't great as there are plenty of spelling and grammar experts on clean-up duty! At the the Penwith Wikiproject we subscribe to the policies laid down by Wikipedia - particularly civility and consensus building. We are aware that the wording on Cornish geography entries can sometimes be a contentious topic. You don't have to agree with everything but there is no excuse for rudeness and these things are best solved through consensus building and compromise. These are geography pages, and are not platforms for political discussion. if you want to talk about Cornish politics there are other pages who would value your expertise and contributions (Constitutional status of Cornwall, Cornish self-government movement). Most of all have fun editing - thats the reason we all do this right?!

[edit] Neolithic?

The article describes the circle as being neolithic. Citation for this? Just because it is made of stone doesn't make it "stone age". I don't have a citation dating this specific site, but it is likely to be contemporary with "early bronze age" stone circles (c.3500-2000 BC). JimChampion 00:28, 28 October 2006 (UTC)

The above made me go away and do some reading. Toni Maree Rowe in "Cornwall in Prehistory" (Tempus 2005) discusses the age of Cornish stone circles, and the various interpretations over the years. Summarises by saying that they are of a late neolithic/early bronze age transitional type. The division into stone/bronze/iron age is not rigid anyway. Aubrey Burl in "The Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany" (Yale University Press 2000) describes them as being late neolithic. This book is an authoritative tome on the stone circles, so I'll go with his dating. Thus there have been no relevant finds at Penwith circles that would enable a carbon-dating type approach (which has been so useful for dating e.g. burial monuments). JimChampion 09:36, 28 October 2006 (UTC)

So to summarise it is neolithic? add the citation if you think its necessary. take careMammal4 15:01, 29 October 2006 (UTC)

"Current opinion" is that its late neolithic (see any of the books in the References section) so I'd leave it as that. Its an "annoying" thing about stone circles that they're not really open to carbon-dating. The older long barrows and more recent round barrows are easier because they often contain human remains (or other organic material) from the original burials. Neolithic earthworks sometimes have antler picks and so on buried in their ditches. Plain stone circles, like the Merry Maidens, tend to have very little in the way of 'artefacts' so the dating is done using imprecise "old-fashioned" methods. I wouldn't worry about a citation, it could be made more vague (i.e. late neolithic/early bronze age) if anyone strongly objects. JimChampion 19:14, 29 October 2006 (UTC) Bold text

[edit] Template:Megalith

I've created a new template for megalithic sites, Template:Megalith, as used on Pikestones and Round Loaf. Some instructions on the template talk page, to show how to use it. Cheers! --PopUpPirate 13:29, 23 February 2007 (UTC)