Archaeology trail examines mysteries (From Ilkley Gazette)
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Archaeology trail examines mysteries
7:00pm Friday 17th August 2012 in Local news
Walkers on the archaeology trail examine the Twelve Apostles stones (Picture by Barry Wilkinson, Friends of Ilkley Moor)
Ancient carvings and a stone circle were the mysterious objects viewed during an archaeology trail organised by the Friends of Ilkley Moor.
The walk started in hazy, but warm weather from White Wells car park, but by the time the group reached The Twelve Apostles stone circle, the temperature had dropped dramatically.
Friends always advise walkers to take extra clothing, regardless of the weather, and it was a good job they heeded their own advice on this occasion.
The group stopped to exam-ine the stones that make up the Twelve Apostles. Although the site is commonly known as being on Ilkley Moor, it is in fact on neighbouring Burley Moor.
The circle is set in a spectacular location, and has been restored in recent years as old guide books refer to it as being badly damaged.
It now has 12 stones, but there is evidence there were 20 in the circle with a diameter of 16 meters. Theories suggest the stones were used for obser-vation of the movement of the moon – it was once known as a ‘druidical dial circle’.
The group returned to the path back to Ilkley, but took an easterly route past several old lime kilns, then on to The Idle Stone cup marked rock, ending at the Hay Stack cup and ring stone.
