from The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, 1876 pg 156. While researching historical literature regarding the area around Stonehenge, I ran into this publication and again felt compelled to read through it even though there was no indication that I would find any reference to unusually tall skeletons. One page 156 I fortuitously encountered the following passage, Very different was the stature of some skeletons found at Lundy Island, in the Bristol Channel, a few years ago, of which the writer procured the following account for Dr. Thurnam from the son of Mr. Heaven, the chief resident on the island: The skeletons were found on the top of the island, about 2 feet underground, in digging foundations for a wall for farm buildings. The number of the more perfect skeletons was seven, lying in a row with the heads to the West. The first in the row, a male, measured 8 feet 5 inches ; by the head were placed two upright stones with the head lying in a little hollow, and protected by a third stone. None of the others had any appearance of coffins by them but great numbers of limpet shells. The one measured was measured by my father, by whose orders the remains were buried again, but I am afraid much injured by the workmen in doing so. Some pottery and some beads were found with them, Mr. Etheridge, then curator of the British Institution, showed some of the pottery to a friend of his, an antiquary, I believe, who said it was undoubtedly Ancient British. I believe a slight notice of the discovery appeared in a Bristol paper. The ground was not fully explored. The writer would have been glad, if he could have met with this newspaper notice. He was informed of the discovery by the late Commander R. W. Hardy, R.N., who was acquainted with Mr. Heaven, and wrote to him for the above information. This find was widely accepted and mentioned in literature spanning over 100 years. Some of the multiple sources that reported this story are as follows, The Living Age - Volume 134 - Page 703, 1877. The Wide World Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly of True Narrative, Volume 17, page 396, 1906. The Lost Science of Measuring the Earth By Robin Heath, John Michell page 47, 2006. Lundy Island: A Monograph, Descriptive and Historical By John Roberts Chanter pgs 50-51 , 1877. Chamberss Journal - Volume 55 - Page 251, 1878. Littells Living Age - Volume 134 - Page 703, 1877. Devonshire Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and Art - pg 568, 1871. The Age - Apr 18, 1952. Christian Science Monitor - Apr 8, 1975. Ellesmere Guardian - Jun 9, 1906. Christian Science Monitor - Jun 14, 1966. The Sun - Feb 15, 1931. Tuapeka Times - Aug 25, 1870 and the L.A. Times, April 27, 1980. A most interesting account comes from Coasts of Devon & Lundy Island By John Lloyd Warden Page 207, 1895. The smaller cist, which also contained a skeleton, was but 8 ft. long and differed from the other in having no head or foot rest. Mr. Heaven was sent for and the skeletons carefully measured. The larger had a stature of 8ft. 2in. Mr. Heaven was present the whole time and not only saw the measurement taken, but, as he himself told me, saw one of the men place the shin bone of the skeleton against his own, when it reached from his foot half-way up his thigh, while the giants jaw-bone covered not only his chin but his beard as well. Close by seven other skeletons were discovered but these were of ordinary stature, and buried without stone coverings. It looks like the largest skeleton was 8 ft. 2 and not 8 ft. 5. Nevertheless, two 8 foot skeletons buried in stone coffins and this last report reads like hundreds of similar accounts from the U.S. with the jawbone fitting over the face of the finder with ease. From Marthas Vineyard Massachusetts to Catalina Island California, historical literature such as town and county histories frequently describe this same anatomic anomaly. As noted, these remains were reburied by Mr. Heaven. Maybe he went to Heaven for being respectful.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 05:29:30 +0000
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