Ley Hunter - 1976 no 70

Magazine Overview

This issue, No. 70, of THE LEY HUNTER is edited and published by Paul Screeton. It is available via subscription with options for 3 issues or a one-year subscription, with pricing also provided for U.S. subscribers. The publication address is 5 Egton Drive, Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, Cleveland, TS25 2AT.

Lead-in: Bronze Age Hoard and Journalistic Critique

The issue opens with a "LEAD-IN" section that references an article in THE DAILY TELEGRAPH by Arts Reporter Keith Nurse, titled "Bronze Age arms hoard found off Dover." The article described the discovery of 90 objects, possibly from a shipwreck, suggesting they belonged to a prehistoric 'arms dealer.' The editor, Paul Screeton, recounts writing a letter to THE DAILY TELEGRAPH's editor, William Deedees, rebuking the inference of an 'arms dealer,' arguing that the artifacts were likely for practical uses like hunting or building, and challenging the 'Darwinian mentality' that expects prehistoric man to be more barbaric. Screeton's letter was not published, with the editor citing unspecified reasons.

Wagtail in Town: A Reader's Observation

A short piece titled "Wagtail in town" by Cassandra Wise of London S.W.1. is included. It describes a pied wagtail that used to visit her garden, collect insects, and fly towards Eaton Mews South, presumably to a nest and family.

Sharpe's Network of Rectangles by Guy Ragland Phillips

This article critically examines Michael Burgess's "Objections and Obscurities" and the work of Alfred Watkins, suggesting that Watkins may have overlooked the contributions of Sir Montagu Sharpe. Sharpe's study, "Middlesex in British, Roman and Saxon Times," proposed that a network of rectangles in Middlesex, aligned with Roman roads, represented Roman "decuriation" or land measurement. Sharpe argued that many mother churches were built on ancient pagan sites, citing instructions from Pope Gregory and Emperor Theodosius regarding the use of pagan sites for churches. He also suggested that the precise layout of the countryside, including roads and boundaries, derived from Roman surveys, a comprehensive undertaking beyond the capabilities of Saxons or Normans. Sharpe's work is presented as evidence that even in areas like Ireland, where Romans were not present, extensive ley-like alignments exist.

The article also references Col. Sir H.G. Lyones FRS, who described Roman surveyors ('agrimensores' and 'gromatici') and their tools, such as the 'groma,' which is compared to Watkins' sighting stick.

The Roman Landmarks Listed by Sharpe

Phillips continues by detailing Sharpe's description of Roman landmarks, referred to as "botantini," which were mounds of earth often containing charcoal and broken pottery, marking territorial boundaries. These are compared to Watkins' concept of tumuli or tumps. The author notes Sharpe's lack of acknowledgment of Watkins' work and criticizes the bias shown by archaeologists like W.G. Hoskins, who dismissed Watkins' theories as "most dangerous" and lacking evidence, despite Hoskins himself producing evidence supporting Watkins' ideas.

The Walls of Feizor by Circumlibra

This piece recounts a visit to the Walls of Feizor in the Craven district of Yorkshire. The author describes the walls as being of unknown age, built of large stones, about six feet thick, and approximately five feet high in places, separated by a gap of about 20-30 yards. The author speculates that these walls might have served as a form of "battery" for capturing energy, possibly related to ley energies, rather than for defense. The author also describes feeling a distinct flow of energy and communicating with "other entities" during the visit, suggesting that human activities are often arranged without conscious awareness.

Contact Column

This section includes a notice from Jeff Howell seeking fellow ley hunters in his area and provides contact details for Diana T. Meekings. It also mentions a destroyed stone circle at Gingomyres, Banffshire, and an unrecorded dolmen in Wensleydale, Yorks, inviting readers' opinions.

Time Will Tell Who Has Fell, and Who's Been Left Behind

This editorial reflects on the changing landscape of occultism and related fields, noting the demise of the Esoteric Society and the emergence of new organizations. It mentions increased media interest in these topics. The editor, Paul Screeton, announces that THE LEY HUNTER will undergo a transition to a new editor and a more sophisticated publishing system. He explains that the current printing machine is beyond repair and that the workload has become too much for him personally, especially with his other writing commitments. He expresses that a new editor could bring a fresh vision to the magazine. Subscribers are asked to resubscribe via Screeton, while contributors should contact the new editor, Paul Devereux.

Letters

From Guy Ragland Philips, York

This letter discusses Robin Holtom's article "It Ain't No Coincidence" from TLH 67, relating synchronicity and "temporal alignment" to leys and P. Kammerer's "Law of Seriality." The author contrasts this law with the second law of thermodynamics, suggesting it brings order and coherence. The letter also touches upon the importance of these concepts in understanding life and cosmic influences, and how ley lines might relate to Kammerer's Law.

From Kate Riddleston, of Suffolk

This letter responds to an article on Lyonesse, questioning the origin of the word "Silly" in "Silly Suffolk" and suggesting it might derive from the Saxon word "Selig," meaning "holy," thus implying the Scilly Isles could be the "Holy Isles."

French and Belgian Literature on Sacred Geography by Eugène Zimmer

This article reviews several books on "Sacred Geography" published in French and Belgian literature. It highlights the work of Jean Richer, who proposed that Ancient Greece was divided into zodiacal zones centered on Delphes, Delos, and Sardes, with evidence found in coins and temple decorations. Richer also noted that temples are often astronomically oriented and found alignments connecting various ancient sites.

Louis Charpentier's works, including "Les Geants et les mysteres des origines" and "Les Jacques et le mystere de Compostelle," are discussed. Charpentier's contributions include linking Notre Dame Cathedrals to the Virgo constellation and identifying patterns of places dedicated to the Ligurian God Lug. His work also suggests that pilgrims' ways to Compostelle align on equinoxial leys.

The article also mentions Willy and Marcel Brou's "Le Secret des Druides" and "Ke, Secret d'Adam," and Alfred Weysen's "L'Ile des Veilleurs." While acknowledging the value of these works, Zimmer notes that many authors tend towards sensationalism and lack practical field substantiation, unlike Alfred Watkins. He praises Watkins' practical and scientific outlook, which has helped defend British cultural heritage, contrasting it with the situation in Belgium.

Notices

This section provides information on various publications and organizations:

• STONEHENGE VIEWPOINT: Lists contents of the first quarter 1976 issue, including articles on anti-metrication, Priddy Circles, and Glastonbury.
• QUEST: Describes itself as a magazine on witchcraft, magical techniques, and occultism, offering a sample issue and subscription details. It mentions an article on leys by Paul Screeton.
• THE ATLANTEANS: Seeks awareness of "Oneness" and offers details on healing and meditation courses.
• JOHN MASON: A dealer in second-hand, scarce, and out-of-print occult and folklore books.
• PHENOMENA OF EARTH AND SKY: Announces an exhibition of Peruvian ground drawings at the Dorman Museum, Middlesbrough, and a related seminar.
• THE NEWS: A bi-monthly review of "Fortean events," including strange phenomena and creatures.
• SPECTRUM: A quarterly occult magazine.
• GNOSTICA: Described as America's most respected occult journal, featuring articles on all aspects of the occult.
• SOCIETY FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES REVIEW: Lists contents of Vol.1, No.1, including "Myth and Method" and "Electricity in Astronomy."

The section concludes by listing bookshops where THE LEY HUNTER can be purchased and encourages readers to mention the magazine when responding to notices.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of THE LEY HUNTER revolve around the exploration of ancient landscapes, particularly through the lens of ley lines and "Sacred Geography." There is a strong emphasis on the work of Alfred Watkins and a critical examination of how his theories have been received and developed by others, both positively and negatively. The magazine appears to champion a more grounded, evidence-based approach to these subjects, as seen in Screeton's critique of the "arms dealer" inference and Zimmer's commentary on sensationalism in "Sacred Geography" literature. The editorial stance seems to be one of promoting serious research into ancient mysteries and cultural heritage, while also acknowledging the subjective and intuitive aspects of these investigations. There is a clear effort to connect historical research with contemporary theories and reader experiences, fostering a community of interest in these niche subjects.

This issue of 'Undercurrents' (Volume R1, Spring Equinox 1976) features a significant research paper titled "A COMPUTER STUDY OF THE MEGALITHIC ALIGNMENTS OF LAND'S END." The paper, prepared by Pat Gadsby and Chris Hutton Squire of the Undercurrents Alternative Science Research Unit, investigates the hypothesis that ancient British sites were deliberately aligned, a theory popularized by Alfred Watkins in "The Old Straight Track."

Introduction

The introduction highlights the historical neglect of ley line theories by orthodox scientists and archaeologists due to a lack of reliable evidence and the computational difficulty of testing such hypotheses. The advent of computers has now made it feasible to undertake such analyses. This study focuses on the alignments identified by John Michell in his book "The Old Stones of Land's End," which describes alignments between 53 standing stones in the Land's End peninsula, claiming 'rifle barrel' accuracy over distances up to ten kilometres. This research serves as the first independent test of Michell's claims.

The Undercurrents Alternative Science Research Unit is an offshoot of Undercurrents Ltd, a publisher of radical science and technology.

Object of the Study

The primary objectives were to check the accuracy of 22 alignments previously identified by John Michell between 53 sites, to tabulate all other possible alignments between these sites, and to compare these findings with alignments between a set of randomly placed sites.

Methodology

The study employed computer programs to analyze the data. Specifically, linear regression was used to calculate the best-fitting straight line through every possible triad (set of three points) of sites. Two standards of accuracy were applied: a maximum width of 10 metres to encompass all three points, and a ratio of width to length less than 1:100 (1 metre per kilometre). These standards were determined from preliminary runs. The same method was used for potential high-order alignments and for simulated data.

Data

The dataset comprised 53 sites in the Land's End peninsula, including stone circles, quoits, crosses, standing stones, and one holed stone ('Men an Tol'). National Grid references for 45 of these sites were re-estimated to ten figures using 6-inch Ordnance Survey maps and a plan-digitiser. Some remaining stones were identified by John Michell, with their locations either accurately surveyed or estimated. Grid references for seven key stones in the Boscawen-un Circle were taken from a 1:2500 Ordnance Survey plan. Simulated data was generated using random number tables, ensuring the imaginary points lay within the same kilometre squares as their real counterparts to preserve non-random clustering while destroying deliberate alignment.

Results

Of the 22 alignments identified by John Michell, 20 matched the study's standards. The two that failed were both related to site 28 (Merry Maidens stone circle), with one being 12 metres wide and the other 2 metres wide but only 1 kilometre long. The average width of the 20 confirmed lines was 1 metre, with a maximum of 7 metres, and 7 alignments were exact fits. The study also confirmed all 7 alignments on the stones of the Boscawen-un Circle as listed by John Michell, noting that they regarded two lines (I and II) as a single five-point line, contrary to Michell's view.

Further analysis revealed that 5 of the 53 real sites had 7 alignments running through them, while simulated sites averaged only two lines each. Site 17, for example, had 7 alignments in the real data but only one in the simulated data, suggesting deliberate alignment. Conversely, low-scoring real sites had fewer alignments than their simulated counterparts, indicating deliberate non-alignment.

The average width of Michell's 20 alignments was 1 metre, while new triads between real sites averaged 4 metres. The combined average width was 3 metres, matching the average width of triads between simulated sites.

Statistical Remarks

The study references Robert Forrest's work on Poisson distribution to assess the probability of alignments occurring by chance. With 53 sites and a width allowance of 10 metres, the expected number of triads (k) was calculated as 0.025, suggesting only one line in forty would have a third site by chance. The simulated data yielded 36 triads, close to the expected 34. For the real sites, the results were 1 pentad, 5 tetrads, and 51 triads, which are significantly above chance. The odds against getting 51 triads by chance were estimated at 160 to 1, and the expected number of pentads was only 0.004.

Discussion

The study acknowledges that while the results are striking, they do not definitively reject the 'Null Hypothesis' (that alignments are chance effects) without more conventional statistical significance levels. However, the clear clustering of sites means a straightforward statistical approach is insufficient. The simulation experiments suggest the observed alignments are unlikely to be random. The results justify further research, including re-surveying sites with more accurate equipment and a multi-disciplinary approach involving statisticians, computer scientists, geologists, and surveyors. A parallel investigation by an American team, including a white magician and mind-control expert, will also compare their findings with those of the study.

Reviews

The latter part of the issue contains several reviews of books related to ancient wisdom, megalithic studies, and ufology:

• Nigel Pennick's Megalithic Visions Series: Reviews of several booklets including "Runic," "Caerdroia," "Holy Sepulchre," "European Metrology," "Leys and Zodiacs," "Lost Towns and Sunken Lands," and "Madagascar Divination." Pennick is praised for his visual presentation and ability to communicate complex subjects without being pedantic or simplistic.
• "Passport to Magonia" by Jaques Vallee: Described as a serious book that connects folklore, magic, and religion to modern flying saucers, suggesting a continuum from primitive magic to UFO phenomena. The reviewer highly recommends it as one of the best books on the UFO phenomenon.
• "The Landscape Geometry of Southern Britain" by Michael Behrend: This occasional paper from the Institute of Geomantic Research examines the distribution of stone circles and postulates significant correspondences in England, suggesting intentional arrangements by competent mathematicians and surveyors.
• "Dene-Holes" by Ann Pennick: A review of a work on subterranean prehistoric edifices, including Scottish souterrains and a passage in Wensleydale.
• "East Anglian Geomancy" by Heinsch/Behrend: This review discusses the application of a metrological system to produce terrestrial geometry, with speculation on geomantic matters and Alfred Watkins's Cambridge leys.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue strongly supports the idea that ancient sites possess deliberate alignments, challenging conventional archaeological views. The use of computer analysis and statistical methods to validate these theories is a central theme. The editorial stance appears open to unconventional theories, as evidenced by the inclusion of reviews on ufology and geomancy, and the mention of a parallel investigation by a team including a 'white magician and mind-control expert.' There is an emphasis on the importance of visual presentation and individual initiative in publishing, as seen in the praise for Nigel Pennick's work.