(c) Clive Ruggles
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Sarsenstone is the name geologists give to the ancient sandstone used
to construct parts of ancient monuments of the British Isles. Stonehenge
is the best known of the monuments, but there are many others, such as the
one shown above. The monuments were created up to 5,500 years ago, probably
by the Beaker folk of prehistoric Britain.
People living in medieval England
a mere eight hundred or so years ago marvelled at the ancient stones. They
believed they must have been put there by "heathens." Since the only heathens
those medieval citizens were familiar with were the Saracens, whom they
fought during the Crusades, they began to call the stone monuments "Saracen
stones." In time, this was slurred to "sarsenstone."
Geologists liked the
local name for the stone and decided to make it the scientific name, as
well.
To us, "sarsenstone" is symbolic of something old, sometimes misunderstood,
but always magical and wonderful, like the (old-style) Siamese breed. That is why
we took it as our registered cattery name.
(c) Clive Ruggles
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