[MR] History Blog: New Research May Prove Age of Cern Abbas Giant

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today the History Blog feature discusses the possible age of the
remarkable, and . . . uh . . .  remarkably well-endowed, Cern Abbas Giant,
an enormous chalk figure in Dorset.

Microscopic snail shells not native to Britain but thought to have been
established there by the middle ages may at last give a clue to the
figure's age. In addition tests underway for optically stimulated
luminescence may tell scientists when the earth below the Giant was last
exposed to sunlight.

The Giant first appeared in literature in 1694, in parish records speaking
of repairs to the figure. Some historians have tried to push the figure's
date back into the pre-Roman period, the general thinking is that the Giant
dates to the very early 17th century. We shall soon see if it actually is
medieval or even older.

The History Blog story is at http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/59062 .

More on the Cern Abbas Giant, including some very interesting photos, is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerne_Abbas_Giant .

More on British hill figures, both modern and ancient, is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_figure .

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆