goaten Wrote:

> But would not it be feasible that from this widely
> ditributed measure of Megalithic Britain some of
> its structure might find its way into the
> formation of a later metrological system, for inst
> the Imperial, in which case some compatibility
> between the two might be observed.

Errr ... well, that seems to assume that there WAS a standard system of metrology in use in prehistoric Britain - and, as we've seen, there's a significant school of thought that's very sceptical about this theory. Even if one did accept it, it's very difficult to buy into Alexander Thom's suggestion that there was a kind of central area - Avebury IIRC - from which standards were sent out; it's like something that you might find in "Asterix". E.C. Fernie ("Anglo-Saxon Lengths: The 'Northern' System, the Perch and the Foot", Archaeological Journal 142 (1985), 246-254) suggests that a twelve-inch foot (30.48 cms.) could have existed even in the late Anglo-Saxon era; but this theory doesn't seem to form part of Kidson's argument. (Kidson does discuss how various Imperial units such as the perch, the yard and the acre came into existence; this is part of his general argument about architectural ratios being applied to Classical Roman units. He maintains that, where mediaeval metrology is concerned, at any rate, England should not be considered in isolation from the rest of Europe.)


Hermione
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