Alan Smith
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The Stones



“If one is aware of a civilization whose concepts were, in a contemporary sense, totally abstract and in complete accordance with the phenomena and patterns within nature, then a new vision of the understanding of our culture and ourselves becomes possible.

“Thirty years ago Professor Alexander Thom – a Scottish engineer who, at that time, was Professor of Aeronautical Engineering at Oxford University – began a series of surveys of the Megalithic stone circles and ellipses in Scotland. To date Professor Thom has surveyed over 500 stone circles in Britain and Northern France. The conclusion of his researches shows astronomically that a sophisticated solar calendar was in use as long as 6000 years ago, predating the Egyptian Pyramids.

“The stone circles use outlying mountains as [their] points of reference, and in every way integrate with their landscapes. . . demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of mathematics as well as an understanding of the patterns and meaning within nature.”
Extract from a proposal submitted by Alan Smith to the Scottish International Education Trust in October 1972.

Footnote to the above/

“This extract concluded that (at that time – 1972) ‘this’ Scottish artist saw his historical lineage as one which bypassed the ancient classical world, passing through the European Renaissance, and stepped back to a ‘less visual’ and          ‘more conceptual’ alternative line running directly to the present from Megalithic Europe”                                                               Alan Smith, March 2015    
 ©Alan Smith 1963 onwards, except where otherwise stated.       Site built by Chloe Rosser.