A Spiral Stone Circle

jsalt · Mar 5, 2015

I am currently reading “The Way of Stars and Stones, Thoughts on a Pilgrimage” by Wilna Wilkinson. (Published in 2009.) On page 184 she writes:

“After leaving Atapuerca, with its remains of prehistoric man, there’s a steady climb for several kilometres over particularly stony ground. When you near the top of the hill . . . slightly to your left . . . is a very tall cross . . . When you continue up the hill, suddenly, without warning, a vast plateau opens in front of you . . . in the middle of this wide-open plateau on top of the world is a stone spiral; a spiral made of a single continuous line of stones, one against the other, that pilgrims have placed there over time. The spiral covers an enormous area . . . I calculated that the total length of the spiral must be more than a kilometre . . . And when I added my own stone at the end of the line I felt as if I was making my own contribution to a most hallowed place.”

I remember the cross, and the vast plateau at the top of the hill, but I only vaguely remember a line of stones. Does anyone know if the complete spiral is still there, and if anyone still adds another stone to the end of the spiral? If so, I must pay more attention to this place next time I’m wandering through. Jill

SYates · Mar 5, 2015

It was still there in 2014 as I walked past. Here a pic, SY

Rebekah Scott · Mar 5, 2015

spirals and labyrinths happen at places all along the caminos. Just keep your eyes open!

peregrina2000 · Mar 5, 2015

Here is one of my favorite peregrinas at a stone circle overlooking Peñalba de Santiago in the Valle del Silencio. Early morning light just added to the wonder.

Rebekah Scott · Mar 6, 2015

OMG, Laurie. That peregrina is wearing JEANS. And if I didn't know better, I would think she was using a mobile electronic device!

(good thing there's no telephone signal up there.)

Mark Lee · Mar 6, 2015

jsalt said:
I am currently reading “The Way of Stars and Stones, Thoughts on a Pilgrimage” by Wilna Wilkinson. (Published in 2009.) On page 184 she writes:

“After leaving Atapuerca, with its remains of prehistoric man, there’s a steady climb for several kilometres over particularly stony ground. When you near the top of the hill . . . slightly to your left . . . is a very tall cross . . . When you continue up the hill, suddenly, without warning, a vast plateau opens in front of you . . . in the middle of this wide-open plateau on top of the world is a stone spiral; a spiral made of a single continuous line of stones, one against the other, that pilgrims have placed there over time. The spiral covers an enormous area . . . I calculated that the total length of the spiral must be more than a kilometre . . . And when I added my own stone at the end of the line I felt as if I was making my own contribution to a most hallowed place.”

I remember the cross, and the vast plateau at the top of the hill, but I only vaguely remember a line of stones. Does anyone know if the complete spiral is still there, and if anyone still adds another stone to the end of the spiral? If so, I must pay more attention to this place next time I’m wandering through. Jill

Saw that circle of stones last summer, but no way did it look to be 1000 meters in length in any shape or form and didn't seem to be very "hallowed". Looks relatively new, and not ancient as one would associate "hallowed" with. Just looks like some inventive, imaginative peregrinos started a circular, spiraling, stone marked path.
Ms. Wilkinson sure has quite the imagination there.

scruffy1 · Mar 6, 2015

Shops from Belerado to Santiago to Sligo in Ireland will be happy to sell you genuine and authentic Celtic style/New Age spirals, concentric circles, interlocking geometric figures. Hey, people have to make a living! The only real Celtic culture easily found remains the gaita galega-the Galician bagpipes. Similar to the Scottish variety and used by the police in both countries to test sobriety of drivers. If you enjoy the music, you're drunk.

peregrina2000 · Mar 6, 2015

Rebekah Scott said:
OMG, Laurie. That peregrina is wearing JEANS. And if I didn't know better, I would think she was using a mobile electronic device!

(good thing there's no telephone signal up there.)

I view that as a breach of confidence to reveal the pilgrim´s attire and her gadget habits. Your secret WAS good with me, Reb.

Suzanne Edminster · Mar 6, 2015

It's small, but still a treasure to discover. Just outside Atapuerca. Take the little paths to the right of the main path in the meadow/oak territory.

jsalt · Mar 6, 2015

Rebekah Scott said:
spirals and labyrinths happen at places all along the caminos. Just keep your eyes open!

Where else are they on the Camino Frances? Just so I keep my eyes open next time I go past

Rebekah Scott · Mar 6, 2015

there's one between Terradillos and Moratinos. And one between Hospital de Orbigo and Astorga. And a couple on the Via de la Plata, too. But I am not listing them, or giving lots of detail, because they should be discovered individually.

jeffnd · Mar 6, 2015

Suzanne Edminster said:
It's small, but still a treasure to discover. Just outside Atapuerca. Take the little paths to the right of the main path in the meadow/oak territory.

I found this one just before Atapuerca. I added the last rock. It better still be there when I go back!

SYates · Mar 7, 2015

scruffy1 said:
...The only real Celtic culture easily found remains the gaita galega-the Galician bagpipes. Similar to the Scottish variety and used by the police in both countries to test sobriety of drivers. If you enjoy the music, you're drunk.

Then I must be permanently drunk as I love gaita/bagpipe music! SY

Pelegrin · Mar 7, 2015

scruffy1 said:
Shops from Belerado to Santiago to Sligo in Ireland will be happy to sell you genuine and authentic Celtic style/New Age spirals, concentric circles, interlocking geometric figures. Hey, people have to make a living! The only real Celtic culture easily found remains the gaita galega-the Galician bagpipes. Similar to the Scottish variety and used by the police in both countries to test sobriety of drivers. If you enjoy the music, you're drunk.

I understand the joke. I wouldn´t go to a gaita galega concert, but the gaita galega is very important for us (Galegos) and most of us feel something inside when we hear its sound.

Kathy F. · Mar 7, 2015

Spotting the stone circles sometimes depends on where you are standing - the perspective you have is important. One one occasion, I didn't realize people were staring at a stone circle until I was practically on top of them.
People build lots of things out of stone along the Camino. Besides walls and houses, I mean.

anapavao · Mar 29, 2018

jsalt said:
I am currently reading “The Way of Stars and Stones, Thoughts on a Pilgrimage” by Wilna Wilkinson. (Published in 2009.) On page 184 she writes:

“After leaving Atapuerca, with its remains of prehistoric man, there’s a steady climb for several kilometres over particularly stony ground. When you near the top of the hill . . . slightly to your left . . . is a very tall cross . . . When you continue up the hill, suddenly, without warning, a vast plateau opens in front of you . . . in the middle of this wide-open plateau on top of the world is a stone spiral; a spiral made of a single continuous line of stones, one against the other, that pilgrims have placed there over time. The spiral covers an enormous area . . . I calculated that the total length of the spiral must be more than a kilometre . . . And when I added my own stone at the end of the line I felt as if I was making my own contribution to a most hallowed place.”

I remember the cross, and the vast plateau at the top of the hill, but I only vaguely remember a line of stones. Does anyone know if the complete spiral is still there, and if anyone still adds another stone to the end of the spiral? If so, I must pay more attention to this place next time I’m wandering through. Jill

I walked it 2 or 3 days ago. It is still there, and very visible. Walking it in and out = c. 1km. I didn't add a stone. Maybe next time!

There are other 2 (smaller) between San Juan de Ortega and Agés, near two big trees.

Rebekah Scott · Nov 19, 2021

Canadian pilgrimage legend Laurie Dennett keeps a spectacular full-scale Chartres labyrinth in her yard in Laguna de las Tablas, a hamlet just outside O Cebreiro. It is listed in the Quiet Gardens registry, and you can walk it if you behave yourself and don't go banging on the door. https://quietgarden.org/gardens/el-jardin-del-labirinto/ It's about a kilometer off the Camino.

mspath · Nov 20, 2021

Rebekah Scott said:
Canadian pilgrimage legend Laurie Dennett keeps a spectacular full-scale Chartres labyrinth in her yard in Laguna de las Tablas, a hamlet just outside O Cebreiro. It is listed in the Quiet Gardens registry, and you can walk it if you behave yourself and don't go banging on the door. https://quietgarden.org/gardens/el-jardin-del-labirinto/ It's about a kilometer off the Camino.

Rebekah Scott,
What a beautiful spot this appears to be in these link photos. Thank you for posting it!
Someday when I might travel easily again I should like to see this at Lagoa and also your hillscape at Moratinos.
Stay safe and Carpe diem

VNwalking · Nov 20, 2021

Rebekah Scott said:
It is listed in the Quiet Gardens registry, and you can walk it if you behave yourself and don't go banging on the door.

Silence is easy. If I ever get back in that neck of the woods, this will definitely be on my radar. Gracias, Reb!

LesBrass · Nov 20, 2021

I have walked by the stone circle at Atapuerca a few times and just looked at it ... but in September I decided to walk it. It did take me much longer than the few minutes I'd anticipated ( I was walking with a couple of other ladies who decided to jump in and walk it too as I was taking so long ) I felt strangely contented and satisfied once I completed it... and felt it was worth the wait

Do we know how long that circle has been there?

mspath · Nov 20, 2021

LesBrass said:
I have walked by the stone circle at Atapuerca a few times and just looked at it ... but in September I decided to walk it. It did take me much longer than the few minutes I'd anticipated ( I was walking with a couple of other ladies who decided to jump in and walk it too as I was taking so long ) I felt strangely contented and satisfied once I completed it... and felt it was worth the wait

Do we know how long that circle has been there?

LesBrass,
Is this the one you walked?

Check out this earlier thread
for varied relevant (?) data.

LesBrass · Nov 20, 2021

mspath said:
LesBrass,
Is this the one you walked?

It is indeed - my friends took a photo but I can't find it

Rebekah Scott · Nov 22, 2021

It was there in 2001, as I recall, but it was smaller then.

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A Spiral Stone Circle

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