Desert Megalith

Caption This sculpture employs material from the area that, on a smaller scale could be assembled by anyone, but in this setting proves that an intelligent, and creative entity, was present, with sufficient strength or equipment to arrange the stones. The location chosen by David Fein on the rim of the canyon encourages visitors to appreciate not only the stacked stones, big versions of the material they had been walking on, or stumbling over, but the view beyond, both are wonderful and inspiring. 

One can only guess whether this sculpture is a recent project or an ancient artifact, because, unfortunately there is no information about the it, or the artist, available at the site or at the nearby Tourism Office. No one seems to be taking care of Desert Sculpture Park, despite it being an Israeli National Treasure.

Stacked stones are often used to mark paths, or graves. There is a long tradition of stacked stone walls that are functional, delineating property lines, and stacked stones can also be non-functional, that is artistic, done for pleasure or creative purposes. There are, around the world, amazing stone structures that are the result of erosion or other environmental processes. Natural bridges and Roman aquaducts are popular tourist attractions because they both encourage appreciation of the natural world or human achievement that - if they no longer existed - could not be imagined. That is what makes them so inspiring. They demonstrate that exceptions to the prevailing laws of nature, or common wisdon, exist.

There are artists who recognize the potential of stone projects, either temporary or (fairly) permanent - John Shaw-Rimmington who works in the Canadian Thousand Islands, comes to mind. Look at [Jwww.http://dswa.ca]

Gravity connects us, human beings, to the Earth and keeps us from drifting away - which is good, but it also limits our range of activity. Birds do a better job of defying gravity, with more effort than we are able to muster. We do manage to remain upright, vertical, for much of our productive life, but we rest horizontally at regular intervals, and then at the end of our lives we are often placed horizontally in the ground, as though finally drawn toward the center by the force of gravity that we had resisted since we learned to walk at the beginning of our lives.           (RM 12/9/10)
 

Identification of the sculpture was provided by 
Negev Jeep Tours
http://www.negevjeep.co.il/
Phone:  052 8813112  
They provide tours of Ramon Crater and Desert Sculpture Park