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Angell, Ian O. Megalithic mathematics, ancient almanacs or neolithic nonsense. Bull. Inst. Math. Appl. 14 (1978), no. 10, 253--258. (Reviewer: C. R. Fletcher.) SC: 01A10, MR: 80f:01002.
Discusses different explanations for the shapes of megalithic stone rings. The author briefly discusses some of the theories of Alexander Thom, which involve an astronomical calendar and an effort to make the circumference equal to 3 times the "diameter" rather than the irrational pi. He then discusses two new theories of his own. One explains the shapes of the stone rings as extensions of the ellipse, generated with three or four pegs and a string rather than with just the usual two. The other explains the shapes as an effort to store shadow lengths. Neither theory may be given entirely in earnest. A theme of the paper is how theories may start as intellectual games, go out of control, and be changed into pseudo-science. Closely related topics: The Stone Builders, Astronomy, The Calendar, Pseudoscience, and Alexander Thom.Modify notes on this entry Modify bibliography entry Make comment on this entry
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