Abergavenny Stone Circle EarthCache
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After seeing Stone Circle Earthcaches at other places in Wales (Cardiff and Aberystwyth), I thought it would be good for Abergavenny's to join that list.
This Earthcache explores limestone as a building material for the stones in Abergavenny's Gorsedd Standing Stone Circle.
Abergavenny Standing Stones, arranged in a circle, are a prominent feature in Swan Meadows public park in Abergavenny. Gorsedd Stone Circles in Wales are usually erected in places that have importance in the Eisteddfod tradition, and this was the case for Abergavenny in 1913, and as a result these stones were erected the year before, in preparation.
The stones were originally on Monmouth Road, but were moved here in 2001, after the original location was converted into housing.
The stones are made of limestone and were quarried locally (more on this as you answer the questions).
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and arangonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Most limestone is composed of skeletal fragments of marine organisms (such as molluscs). Limestone makes up about 10% of the total volume of all sedimentary rocks. Limestone's strength and easy ability to carve make it a good building material and this, along with local availability, is most likely why limestone was chosen as the rock type to make these stones.
To 'find' this Earthcache, answer the questions below in an email or message via my profile, within a reasonable amount of time. Found logs that correspond with any unsent answers, or those that are incomplete or drastically wrong, will have to be deleted.
1) Estimate (or measure) the height of the tallest stone in the circle.
2) How many stones make up this stone circle? Exclude the 5 stones just outside the circle (that are in a sort of semicircle formation).
3) Describe the texture the stones.
4) Explain how the stone in the centre of the circle differs in shape, size and texture from the stones in the circle.
5) Very close by, find two stones next to each other that aren't part of the circle. One of these stones contains a plaque which answers this question: What is the name of the quarry that mined and donated the stones for this stone circle?
If you wish to post a photo, please do so of you/your GPS on or near the two stones, NOT at the stone circle (so the answers aren't given away). Any revealing photos will be removed.
As part of the 13th International Earthcache Day (October 2015) I challenged myself to place an Earthcache every month until Earthcache day 2016, kicking it off with GC62T8F. This Earthcache is number 4 in that challenge (January 2016, published very late).
Well done to Funk to Funky for FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur cyndhr vf ng gur obggbz bs gur fgbar ba gur evtug, jura snpvat njnl sebz gur fgbar pvepyr.