Bluestonehenge
Alternative name | West Amesbury Henge |
---|---|
Location | Wiltshire, England |
Coordinates | 51°10′17″N 1°47′53″W / 51.1714°N 1.7980°W |
Bluestonehenge or Bluehenge (also known as West Amesbury Henge
Excavations
The site was excavated in August 2008 and again in August 2009; it is considered to be an important find by
The term “henge” is often incorrectly thought to mean a circular structure of stones.[6] In fact, henge in archaeology refers to an enclosed structure made of compressed earth, containing a ditch on the inside of the bank, giving the perception of keeping something inside the enclosure, rather than keeping out others. Stonehenge may be improperly named, according to the original archeological definition, as its ditch is located on the outside of the bank.[7]
Initial findings
The monument has been tentatively dated to between about 3000 and 2400 BC. Radiocarbon dating of antler tools found at the site has provided only an approximate date of 2469 to 2286 BC for the dismantling of the stones.[8] Tests on an antler pick found at the bottom of a stonehole have so far failed, due to inadequate collagen in the sample.[9][10]
Excavation revealed several stone settings that are thought to have been erected some time between 3400-2500 BC, due to two
The name "Bluestonehenge" is derived from the discovery of small stone chips in some of the stone settings. These
The stone circle settings were surrounded by a henge, comprising an 82-foot-wide (25 m) ditch and outer bank which appears to date from approximately 2400 BC.[10] Unlike Stonehenge, this monument does not appear to have any significant solar or lunar orientations.[11]
Context
The henge is located beside the
It is thought that it was a ceremonial route from an area of life at Durrington Walls, through Bluestonehenge and along the "Stonehenge Avenue", to arrive at the site of an individual's final resting place in Stonehenge. This theory can be supported by the numerous cremation burials (over 200)[12] that have been uncovered during excavation work around Stonehenge. Analysis of these remains also leads researchers to believe it was a ceremony for the wealthier in the region, or of royal lineage, or even for those who helped initiate construction of Stonehenge. This select group of individuals was believed to be male adults who were 25–40 years old and who seemed quite healthy.
Mike Parker Pearson’s past experience working with a colleague from Madagascar also helped to shape his theory. He believes that the choice of stone material for Stonehenge is significant. Past civilizations often reserved stone for construction of their ancestors’ tombs, while the perishable material, such as the wood used for the Durrington Walls timber circles, was reserved for the living. Parker Pearson believes that Durrington Walls may have been a "land of the living" while Stonehenge (which was Britain's largest known cemetery at the time[10]) was a "domain of the dead".[original research?]
See also
References
- ^ Historic England. "West Amesbury Henge (1580342)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ^ "'Second Stonehenge' discovered near original". The Guardian. 6 October 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "Mini-Stonehenge find 'important'". BBC. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
- ISSN 1357-4442
- ISBN 978 07141 2349 3.
- ^ Parker Pearson 2012, p. 4
- ^ See Henge § Etymology
- British Archaeology. Archived from the originalon 25 September 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ "Feature: British Archaeology 110, January / February 2010". Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ^ Sheffield University. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Mini-Stonehenge Found: Crematorium on Stonehenge Road?". National Geographic. 5 October 2009. Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
- ^ Pitts 2000, p. 121
- ISBN 9780857207302.
- ISBN 9780712679541.
External links
- Feature about the digital reconstruction of Bluestonehenge, Digital Digging
- Digital reconstruction of Bluestonehenge (downloadable), Digital Digging
- Interactive map of Stonehenge Landscape, English Heritage