Podcast: History Fuzz: Episode 04: Dr. Kenneth Brophy. Scotland Pt 1. Neolithic astronomy and Glasgow's lost alignments

In this engaging episode, we delve into the world of Neolithic and early Bronze Age Scotland through the insights of Dr. Kenneth Brophy, a distinguished senior lecturer in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Glasgow. With a remarkable 25 years of experience excavating and interpreting Scotland's monumental landscapes, Dr. Brophy has become a leading authority on the region’s ancient history. Our conversation takes us through lunar alignments, and the ritualistic functions of Neolithic monuments, but also into his innovative approach to longstanding archaeological debates, particularly focusing on the controversial “leyline” maps of Harry Bell.

Dr. Brophy and I first crossed paths in 2002, when he was a burgeoning archaeology student meticulously excavating standing stones in Caithness, a region on Scotland's northeast coast. At the time, I was engaged in field walking, searching for flint arrowheads alongside one of his colleagues. Our shared passion for uncovering the secrets of Scotland’s ancient past set the stage for our deepening exploration of the country’s enigmatic landscapes.

Figure 01. The Grey Cairns of Camster, two ancient Neolithic chambered cairns in Caithness, Scotland, feature complex architecture with central burial chambers accessed via narrow passages. (David Shand / CC BY-SA 2.0)

In this episode, Dr. Brophy sheds light on his fresh academic perspective regarding the 1970s maps created by Harry Bell, a Glaswegian lay-hunter who proposed a network of geodetic alignments connecting prehistoric sites across Glasgow and central Scotland. Inspired by Alfred Watkins' concept of ley lines, Bell’s idea has sparked considerable debate within the archaeological community. Dr. Brophy’s approach critically reassesses Bell’s maps, offering new interpretations based on recent research and fieldwork. Additionally, having reviewed the Bell archives myself, I present Dr. Brophy with new alignments that further challenge existing notions about the spatial relationships between ancient sites, suggesting alternative explanations for their alignment and significance.