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Only about 400 of Scotland’s 4,000-year-old carved stone balls have been found. They are of fairly uniform size, with the diameters of most measuring around 2.75 inches.Fitting nicely within the cupped hand, they are made from a variety of stone -- from soft sandstones to hard granitics. The numbers of projections or knobs range from between three and 160, with six knobs being by far the most common. They display varying degrees of workmanship. A few, like the remarkable Towie Stone, display beautifully intricate carvings, while others are unadorned. All but five of the stones have been found in Scotland, with the majority discovered in the Aberdeenshire area. Along with its vitrified forts and Loch Ness Monster, these carved stone balls take their place as one of Scotland’s most enduring mysteries, and never fail to excite the inquisitive mind. Although many theories have been presented, no one is sure who made them or why.In her exhaustive study of the balls, published in the 1976-77 Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries in Scotland, Dorothy N. Marshall reports their distribution “is much the same as that of the Pictish symbol stones which led to the original idea that the balls were of Pictish origin,†but goes on to say that the small collection found while excavating Skara Brae, a stone-built settlement in the Orkney Islands, place them firmly in the later Neolithic or New Stone Age period, which is too early for the Iron-Age Picts. Marshall also says, however, that the area where the majority of the balls were found “is also the area of good land which today, as well as in antiquity, can support the largest population,†an observation we’ll get back to later....https://www.academia.edu/27318956/The_Carved_Stone_Balls_of_Scotland_Who_made_them_and_why
@RoosGirl, I was a bit concerned about you replying to this thread, but I find your post entirely appropriate and on the mark.
You're the one with a dominatrix for your avatar and you were concerned about *my* reply?
That's a rifle, I tell you.
I guess "rifle" means something else in Scottish.
I don't know how you knew, but you're right:
I'm Scottish on my Mother-in-Laws neighbors side.
Oh honey, you know that's not how that.... nevermind, it probably does for you.PS I'm pretty sure Sanguine is calling you a horse's ass.
She is? If that's the case I'm going to have to drop some insulting Tweets about her.
The question is - would the men here wear a kilt? I mean properly, sans underwear?
You're the last one I would expect to get in league with @RoosGirl and @Sanguine And to your question, no. I do wear Lederhosen sans underwear though.
Aye! https://www.511tactical.com/tactical-duty-kilt.html trouble is, it's tough on the knees for actual tactical use, as knee pads don't go with it.
Aye!
I worked for on assignment two weeks in Edinburgh. Saw quite a few men in kilts there. Alas, I did not see anything under the kilts. But I did eat haggis. Give it up for me! :) Anyway, I thought the Scottish men were very nice. And the country beautiful. My only regret is I didn't see Nessie.
WTH is this place coming to? I've been waiting ages for someone to make a joke about the cat in the codpiece.
@RoosGirl you've got to be kitten me.