PRESENTATION

As I have now been repeating in my work for a number of years, all of the Pyrenean stone circles represent stars.

While my thoughts on the subject haven't changed, I don't seem to be able to get the message over. Therefore, following a series of failed attempts at spreading my findings -it's not the same to research into a subject as it is to spread the results, particularly when the work is still underway- I will try to do so once again in this third part.

I am mainly targeting those who already have or would like to acquire knowledge of naked eye, classic and Mesopotamic astronomy, who wish to place doubt, as a working hypothesis, on the meaning commonly attributed to the stone circle, who are willing to circumstantially consider the subject from the astronomical point of view.

The astronomy decoded by the stone circle seems to be rooted, or vice-versa, in classical, Mesopotamic astronomy, both packed with sequential lists of stars, paths of the moon and the sun, with various synchronisms, the indication of seasons and a short etc., which any of today's half-way educated student only needs to want to read in order to understand.

Pyrenean stone circles represent stars, i.e. the diameter of each circle is proportionate to the brightness of the star symbolized by the circle and the main witnesses forming the circles are related to the astronomic ephemerid represented in each case. Generally speaking, the Pyrenean stone circle is found in groups with their own astronomical meaning which, in turn, are often related to those of other nearby or distant groups. As a result, when we come across a large group of stone circles, its layout reflects the characteristics of a stellar hieroglyph, the keys to which, as well as on the landscape, lie in the laws of classic, naked eye astronomy. While this in no way means that they are built like hieroglyphs, it does mean that, on employing the right keys, they can be decoded as such.

On this occasion I have studied two groups containing a large number of circles, in which it would be impossible to find an astronomical equivalent were it not for the intention of their builders to endow them with astronomical content. Both groups can therefore serve as an appropriate touchstone on the basis of which to confirm correctness of the stone circle = star theory.

The groups presented in this third part are those of Okabe and The Crowns of the Moon, with somewhere around 26 and 70 circles respectively. Personally, as I explain when describing these two groups, I find that they both demonstrate obvious astronomical coherence, as do all of the groups already explained on other occasions.

The Okabe stone circle site, consisting of around 26 stone circles, stands on the paradigmatic axes: Pico de Orhi, Okabe, Monte Auza, Peñas de Aia and the Bay of Biscay. The site contains two subgroups in good condition, the first of which is related to the seasons of the year in a comparison already seen in Eteneta II, Unamene and Lepoko Estua, and has a well-defined historical background appearing both in the Mul-Apin tablets and in some of Hesiod's verses in Work and Days. The second Okabe subgroup represents the two Souls' Doors, a frequently found representation in the Pyrenees, good examples of which are among others the Gerasuge, Agiña and Azpegi stone circle groups. We have several historical references to the said doors, one of the best know of which is that made by Macrobius in his Comments on Escipion's Dream by Cicero.

The Crowns of the Moon stone circles group -Valle de Hecho (Huesca) - has somewhere around seventy circles in varying condition, which would seem to represent the 'Path of the Moon' in a year divided into three seasons marked by the culminations of Fomalhaut, Sirius and Arcturus, according to an observation individually repeated in other sites such as Eteneta II, Etxelako Arritxuriak, Unamene and Hesiod's own subgroup of Okabe. Its historical background would seem to be connected to the Mul-Apin tablets and, above all, in a recent appreciation, to a replica of the Vedic Nakshatra -moon houses or mansions.

Okabe and The Crowns of the Moon, while a good example of astronomically comprehensible numerous groups, are not the only ones, as I already said in Del crónlech pirenaico, Editorial Txertoa 1998, on the subject of the group Erren kalko -replica of the scalene- a site located in the municipality of Arano -Navarre- with its forgotten 21 stone circles representing a complete Summer Triangle, and a double northern alignment indicating the Pole of the period, not far from Kochab and Drago Kappa.

To round off these over 15 years of work, I am initiating, in PDF format, the presentation of synopses for each group, in this particular case for The Crowns of the Moon and Okabe, starting with a general overview of the work carried out to date, on which I will elaborate on future instalments, adding the synopses of groups already discovered or studied but as yet unpublished. The purpose of this information is to summarize the objective aspect of the entire subject: the location of the group in question; drawings of the group and of the star charts which may help to understand them; their astronomic interpretation; meaning of the representation; other Pyrenean realizations similar to the group presented, and a brief note on toponymy.

During the time it has taken to put this information on the 'net', the moderator of the hallowed Valle de Ossau forum -www.ossau.net- has expressed interest in an opinion being given on the psc's in his region: " .... The purpose of this mail is to invite you to talk about your research, questioned by certain members of the Forum, particularly if you have information on the subject of the stone circles existing in Ossau."

I accept the invitation. My direct knowledge of the stone circles in the Valle de Ossau is poor and is the result of a visit made in August 1991 with Luis Millán. During the trip we made a thorough visit to the monuments of La Glère de Pombie and another somewhat shorter visit to Québes de Brousset and the 'Courraüs' d'Accaüs. I still have the sketch of the former, a series of notes and an old astronomic interpretation dated 21-10-2000, which I maintain, even though made in passing. The Accaüs circles made a strong impression on me, I wrote a number of notes about the landscape, its main circles and their witnesses. However, the undergrowth didn't do the group justice. I promised to return.

I have just finished reading the magnificent work of Georges Laplace: Sépultures et rites funéraires préhistoriques en vallée d'Ossau (Ursari), belonging to the studies presented at the international symposium on the discoid stele at the Musée Basque-Bayonne (8, 9, 10 July 1982), subsequently published by the said entity, and the likewise interesting articles, published in 'Cahiers du groupe archéologique des Pyrénées occidentales', from no. 1 onwards, June 1981, by Claude Blanc and Geneviève Marsan: Préhistoire et protohistoire de la Haute Vallée d'Ossau. Première partie: Relevé des ensembles de las Quebottes de Brousset, du Soussouéou et de La Glère de Pombie. Deuxième partie : Relevé de l'ensemble du Col long Magnabaigt, de la Glère de Pombie (fin), du val Brousset (suite). Troisième partie: Ensembles du cirque d'Aneou et du Val Brousset (suite). Quatrième partie : Ensemble d'Ayaous. The work of Claude Blanc: Nouvelles données sur les sites protohistoriques du plateau de Bénou and la Cinquième partie of the above-mentioned work, entitled: Données complémentaires sur la val de Bious, le val Brousset, Magnabaigt. All studies which, with L'ensemble mégalithique des couraus d'Accaoüs à Bilhères-en-Ossau by Patrice Dumontier, Michel Gallet and Geneviève Marsan and L'ensemble mégalithique de La Coud à Bilhère-en-Ossau by Claude Blanc and Geneviève Marsan -both works published in issue no. 2 dated 1982 of the Cahiers du groupe archéologique des Pyrénées occidentales'- give a good idea of the stone circles which seem to be under the domination of the emblematic Midi d'Ossau Peak.

I had several reasons for entering an area which I barely know:

· In the first place, in tribute to Geneviève Marsan, one of the few people of recognized academic solvency to have helped me with this subject and whom I have not yet had the chance to thank in public. On the other hand, having studied the works carried out in collaboration with Claude Blanc, on the circles of La Glère de Pombie and los Couraüs d'Accaüs, I must say that I find them frankly very good and meticulous. For all of these circles, in addition to Accaüs which I can visit in winter, I have enough data in order to give a coherent astronomic opinion -which does absolutely not mean that it is correct- and start the study ball rolling with these groups and guided by the said documents. I am going to try and create an interactive work, aiming to solve from zero as many technical questions as are asked by third parties, without unnecessary talk, with no other help than the said documents, the stone circles, the mountains, the stars, and a minimum amount of material which I will explain as used. And, don't let us forget, with an eye fixed on the tremendous form of the Midi d'Ossau, round the feet of which pilgrims followed/follow the road to Santiago, guided by the noble syncretism substituting the primitive Path of the stars.

· This will be another challenge, to demonstrate the theory: stone circle = star. It will take place in an area quite unknown to me, which I have not covered several times on foot as I have done the mountains in my nearby environment. We'll see.

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