The Archaeology of Kirkmabreck parish by Joseph Proskauer (keeper of the stones)
Cairn Holy is integrally related to its surroundings, in material, form, and alignments – where nodal astronomical events (risings, settings, and culminations of Sun, Moon and prominent stars) coincide with natural and constructed horizon markers.
The dynamic architecture (rich in interweaving polarities, archetypal gestures, and harmonious counterpoint) resonantes with the dance of earth and cosmos – focusing it into receptive space (the cairns'... and ours). (What happens there is the heart of the story... culminating soon.)
Like other ancient sites, the setting is an inherent part of this extraordinary place. While I've documented this thoroughly at Cairn Holy, and made a start at some nearby sites (especially Claughreid and Tourhouskie circles – which involve related alignments), these and others (including those near Bagbie) merit further investigation. (Not least for undocumented archaeological remains. There are at least two significant elements on ridges overlooking Cairn Holy, threatened by existing and proposed afforestation.)
To conserve our rich heritage, and assure its future, areas around these sites – including horizon views – should be as free from large-scale commercial activity as possible.
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Global, national and local developments add urgency to our inner conviction: living and creating in concord with our fellows and environs is essential.
This no longer comes as intuitively as it did for our ancestors. (Much traditional building and agriculture, like the lives of its creators, is in resonance with the environment.) For us, it requires conscious, dedicated effort – inner and outer.
Galloway may be a fertile centre for this path to the future, with numerous initiatives in this direction.
Can we envision local projects which value truly holistic approaches – involving natural and human communities:
- Farms and forests which function as organic communities (rather than merely maximizing production and profits)?
- Turbine arrays designed in resonance with – even enhancing – the environment (rather than mass-occupation matrices)?
- Programmes encouraging appreciation of our rich natural and cultural heritage – including the holistic sensibility these embody, integrating practical, artistic, scientific, and other community activities?
Like the experience of Cairn Holy (its very name, like the Gaelic 'Cairnhuilleh', evokes wholeness), such endeavors may nurture the healing and development we need. They may also help unite polarized communities, provide employment opportunities, and draw interest from sponsors and grantors as well as tourists!
Could some of the newly sold farms be used for these?
Joseph Proskauer
