Dating a Giant: How Hard Can It Be?

Banner image description: A drone photograph of the Cerne Abbas Giant, a large chalk hill carving of a naked man holding a club in his left hand. Downloaded from Shutterstock, https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/aerial-drone-cerne-abbas-giant-dorset-2144197991

Picture the scene: you're walking along your regular route through the picturesque village of Cerne Abbas when you notice something has been carved into the chalk of a nearby hill overnight. Looking closer, it appears to be a giant, sporting an equally giant erection. Who did this? Why would someone do this? What century are you even in?

These questions have haunted Cerne Abbas residents and tourists alike for several centuries. The Cerne Abbas Giant stands at a staggering 180ft, making him rather hard to ignore. He is what is known as a geoglyph, or a hill figure, more specifically what Darryl Wilkinson refers to as 'figurative geoglyphs, meaning those that were intended to represent some kind of living being, such as a human or animal'. (1) The meaning and origin of these geoglyphs, which also include the Uffington White Horse in Oxfordshire, is often obscure, although this hasn't prevented people from speculating. According to an anonymous contributor to The Gentleman's Magazine in 1764:

'it (the Cerne Abbas giant) is supposed to be above a thousand years' standing, as there is a date between his legs, and the figures are not legible. It is plain there were but three figures, so that, supposing the first to be nine, it must have been formed a long while ago' (2)

As this date between the giant's legs is not visible today, it has not been easy to date the Cerne Abbas Giant. In the absence of such information, various theories have emerged, which might be roughly grouped into the following categories:

1) The giant is 'ancient', the creation of the Iron Age or even Bronze Age Britons. This theory is usually accompanied by the suggestion that the giant is a representation of a pagan deity.

2) The giant is medieval in origin, potentially created by monks from the nearby abbey.

3) The giant is a 17th-century creation, possibly a representation of Oliver Cromwell.

An Ancient God?

The theory that the giant is ancient or prehistoric is perhaps the oldest recorded. The contributor to The Gentleman's Magazine claims '(s)ome think it was cut by the ancient Britons, and that they worshipped it', (3) a suggestion echoed in by 18th-century antiquarian William Stuckeley, who further argued that the giant's club indicated he was a representation of the Roman demi-god Hercules. (4) There was some suggestion in the 1970s that the giant may have once been holding a lion's skin, which provided tentative support to this theory. (5) The existence of earthworks, often referred to as the Trendle, near the giant's head has been used in further defence of this argument, with Harold van Tromp arguing in 1925 that the discovery of sunken flint pits meant the giant must be at least Bronze Age in origin. (6) Even in recent years, several visitors writing on Tripadvisor referred to the monument as 'ancient' or 'Iron Age', with one user under the screenname 'Derek P' encouraging readers to 'get in touch with your inner pagan' and 'go say hello' to the 'Iron Age nudist'. (7)

A screenshot of a review title from a tripadvisor user with the screen name Eywena reading: THE IRON AGE CHALK FIGURE

Tripadvisor review of the Cerne Abbas Giant, published 30/4/2019

A screenshot of a review title from a tripadvisor user with the screen name Derek P titled: A GIANT experience. Dated March 2017, posted under the category 'couples'. The text review reads: We made the mistake of climbing up steep muddy paths to stand outside a protective fence and gaze at a grassy meadow. The Giant lays flat and is best seen from the lay-by on the A325. He's worth the effort. An imposing Iron Age nudist who obviously doesn't mind the cold and is happy to brandish his club. Get in touch with your inner pagan, go say hello.'

Tripadvisor review of the Cerne Abbas Giant, published 12/3/2017

17th Century Graffiti?

The other popular theory prior to 2021, when the giant was officially dated, was that he was created in the 17th century. The earliest documentation for the giant was in 1694 in a parish ledger book, recording payment for its rechalking, (8) which could mean he was a relatively recent creation, although Rebecca Mead suggests 'he might have been so familiar a presence as to be not worth mentioning'. (9) Regardless, this earliest reference has given rise to several theories regarding the giant's 17th-century origins.

Republican or Monarchist?

A popular theory is that the giant is Oliver Cromwell, who has occasionally been represented as Hercules, (10) although Brian Edwards puts forward another theory. He argues that as the first recorded renovation of the giant was in 1694, which was also the anniversary of William III's invasion of England, it is possible the giant is a representation of the king, particularly because William was frequently associated with Hercules. Edwards also suggests a possible connection with the Earl of Shaftesbury. (11) The truth is, however, this is all speculation, no matter how convincing it might be. With scant written evidence, the giant remains a mystery man.

Snails to the Rescue!

At least one part of the puzzle, however, was uncovered in 2021 by some surprisingly helpful snails. Geoarchaeologist Mike Allen conducted a sediment analysis which revealed the presence of microscopic snail species which were only introduced to England during the medieval period. (12) A separate study, conducted by Phillip Toms, came to a similar conclusion, using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (a technique which examines light exposure of sediment) to conclude that the giant dates back to sometime between 700-1100 C.E. (13) Martin Papworth, National Trust archaeologist, theorises that the absence of earlier references to the giant, even in surveys of the local land, may suggest the giant became overgrown, only to be rediscovered in the 17th century (14) - as Mike Allen poetically states, '(h)e went to sleep'. (15)

Will this analysis finally put a stop to the many stories circulating around the giant? I doubt it. Part of his appeal seems to be his uncertain origins, and a 400-year dating range is hardly going to pin him down. For centuries, visitors have created their own folk narratives around the giant's origins, narratives which serve only to increase the giant's attraction. According to one Tripadvisor user, the giant is an 'iconic mystery', and another compares him to Stonehenge stating 'nobody knows who or even why they were created. That just builds the their mystery'. (16)

After all, who doesn't love a mystery man?

A Tripadvisor review from the user 'Theologator', published 30/10/2022, titled 'Definitely if you are in the area'. The body of the text reads: Oct 2022 • Couples The Giant is well worth a look is you are in the area - say witching an hour. The giant is an iconic mystery. It doesn’t take long to see and to wonder at its presence, but don’t miss the charming village of Cerne Abbas while you’re here. It is well worth a stop for a walk, plus lunch or tea.

Tripadvisor review of the Cerne Abbas giant, published 30/10/22

A Tripadvisor review from the user 'Dorest4Ever', published 13/7/2012, titled 'He's BIG'. The body of the text reads: Jul 2012 • Couples We love Dorset, and the Cerne Giant. The great thing about this, and the likes of Stonehenge, nobody knows who or even why they were created. That just builds the their mystery. Do go and see the Giant, there is nothing else like it in the world.

Tripadvisor review of the Cerne Abbas giant, published 13/7/2012

References:

Darryl Wilkinson, 'The Geoglyph as a Medium for Anarchist Ritual' in Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 31:1, (2021), p. 97.
George Laurence Gomme ed. The gentleman's magazine library: being a classified collection of the chief contents of The gentleman's magazine from 1731 to 1868. Romano-British remains, (London : Elliot Stock, 1887), p. 282.
Ibid.
Rebecca Mead, 'The Mysterious Origins of the Cerne Abbas Giant', in The New Yorker: Letter from England, (2021) https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/24/the-mysterious-origins-of-the-cerne-abbas-giant (accessed 15/11/2022).
Ibid.
Harold van Tromp (building on Sir Flinders Petrie's work) in J. A. Hammerton ed. Wonderful Britain: Its Highways, Byways & Historic Places, Volume 2, (1925), pp. N/A, see ch. XLIII.
'Cerne Abbas Giant' on Tripadvisor https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1604560-d210251-Reviews-Cerne_Abbas_Giant-Cerne_Abbas_Dorset_England.html (accessed 20/11/2022). For referencing of individual reviews, please see screenshots and associated captions/ alt text.
Rebecca Mead, 'The Mysterious Origins of the Cerne Abbas Giant'.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Brian Edwards, 'The Giant’s story revisited: identifying the Cerne Abbas hill figure as ‘The Choice of Hercules’, for the-past.com Current Archaeology (2020) https://the-past.com/feature/the-giants-story-revisited-identifying-the-cerne-abbas-hill-figure-as-the-choice-of-hercules/ (accessed 21/11/2022).
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/cerne-giant/history-of-the-cerne-giant
Rebecca Mead, 'The Mysterious Origins of the Cerne Abbas Giant'.
Anon, 'History of the Cerne Abbas Giant', The National Trust, https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/cerne-giant/history-of-the-cerne-giant (accessed 21/11/2022).
Rebecca Mead, 'The Mysterious Origins of the Cerne Abbas Giant'.
'Cerne Abbas Giant' on Tripadvisor https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1604560-d210251-Reviews-Cerne_Abbas_Giant-Cerne_Abbas_Dorset_England.html (accessed 20/11/2022)