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'Beyond the Stones' : 35th Anniversary of the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site

wessexarchaeology・45 minutes read

Stonehenge is part of a larger sacred landscape with various prehistoric monuments, and recent excavations reveal connections to other sites like Bulford and Avery Henge. The Avery Stone Circles, connected to Stonehenge, are likely ceremonial spaces with no evidence of daily life, showcasing the significance of preserving and exploring these ancient monuments for future generations.

Insights

  • Stonehenge is part of a larger sacred landscape known as the Stonehenge Avery, a World Heritage Site with various prehistoric monuments, emphasizing the interconnectedness of Neolithic communities and their cultural exchanges.
  • The excavation and discoveries at sites like Bulford and the River Haven showcase the intricate network of relationships and exchanges between regions during the Neolithic period, underscoring the significance of Stonehenge as a focal point that attracted skilled individuals like the Amesbury Archer, shaping the cultural landscape of the time.

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Recent questions

  • What is the significance of Stonehenge Avery?

    Stonehenge Avery is a part of a larger sacred landscape that includes various prehistoric monuments within a World Heritage Site spanning over 26 square kilometers. It is a site of immense historical and cultural importance, showcasing the stories of ancient communities and their journeys through archaeological discoveries, reconstructions, and technological advancements. The Avery Stone Circles, the largest prehistoric stone circles globally, are believed to have been ceremonial or ritualistic spaces, emphasizing the spiritual and social significance of the site.

  • Who was the Amesbury Archer buried near Stonehenge?

    The Amesbury Archer was a man aged 35-45 buried near Stonehenge with significant wealth from the Beaker period, marking the transition from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age. Isotope analysis of his teeth indicated that he originated from the Alpine region, possibly central-northern Germany, Switzerland, or Austria. His grave contained over 150 objects, including Beaker pots, copper and flint knives, gold jewelry, and tools, suggesting he was a skilled metalworker possibly drawn to the region by Stonehenge's activities.

  • What is the connection between Avery Henge and Stonehenge?

    Avery Henge and Stonehenge are connected through their construction and use during the same period, with some stones at Avery being the same type as those at Stonehenge. This suggests a physical connection between the two sites, showcasing the intricate network of relationships and exchanges in the Neolithic world. Avery Henge, with its ceremonial and ritualistic nature, complements the significance of Stonehenge as a powerful and special space for ancient rituals and ceremonies.

  • Who contributed significantly to understanding Avery Henge?

    Alexander Keiller, an amateur archaeologist, significantly contributed to understanding Avery Henge through meticulous excavations and restoration work. He dedicated several years to exploring the site and its features, re-erecting stones, and documenting his work in diaries and letters. Keiller's dedication and attention to detail have provided valuable insights into the history and significance of Avery Henge, allowing visitors to connect with the lives and stories of ancient communities through the archaeological finds at the site.

  • What insights do the artifacts found at Bulford offer?

    The artifacts found at Bulford, including exceptional flint work, a discoidal knife, and pottery similar to that found in Orkney, showcase connections and exchanges between regions in the Neolithic era. The excavations at Bulford highlight the broader connections between different sites and regions, emphasizing the intricate network of relationships and exchanges in the Neolithic world. These findings demonstrate how people in the Neolithic era were interconnected, with sites like Bulford and the River Haven sharing cultural elements and links to Stonehenge.

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Summary

00:00

Stonehenge Avery: Uncovering Neolithic Connections

  • Stonehenge is part of a larger sacred landscape, the Stonehenge Avery, a World Heritage Site spanning over 26 square kilometers with various prehistoric monuments.
  • To celebrate the World Heritage Site's 35th anniversary, there is an invitation to explore lesser-known monuments like long barrows, avenues with huge stones, and gigantic earthworks.
  • Through archaeological discoveries, artifacts, reconstructions, and technology, the aim is to delve into the stories of ancient communities and their journeys.
  • Recent excavations by Wessex Archaeology at Lark Hill revealed a causeway enclosure from the early Neolithic period, indicating a gathering place for mobile pastoralist groups.
  • The causeway enclosure at Lark Hill was strategically positioned to align with the sunrise on mid-summer, similar to Stonehenge, suggesting a religious and social significance.
  • Bulford, a significant site in the wider heritage landscape, revealed late Neolithic henge monuments and early Neolithic burials, possibly connected to the construction of Stonehenge.
  • The excavation at Bulford uncovered 50 pits filled with late Neolithic artifacts, indicating a link to the construction phase of Stonehenge around 2950 BC.
  • The artifacts found at Bulford included exceptional flint work, a discoidal knife, and pottery similar to that found in Orkney, showcasing connections and exchanges between regions.
  • The sites at Bulford and the River Haven demonstrate how people in the Neolithic era were interconnected, with both sites having links to Stonehenge and sharing cultural elements.
  • The excavations at Bulford highlight the broader connections between different sites and regions, emphasizing the intricate network of relationships and exchanges in the Neolithic world.

16:50

"Archer's Grave Reveals Bronze Age Wealth"

  • The pottery collection in the sacred landscape attracted people from distant places, notably the Amesbury Archer burial near Stonehenge.
  • The burial site revealed a man aged 35-45 buried with significant wealth from the Beaker period, marking the transition from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age.
  • Isotope analysis of his teeth indicated the Archer originated from the Alpine region, possibly central-northern Germany, Switzerland, or Austria.
  • The Archer's grave contained over 150 objects, including five Beaker pots, copper and flint knives, gold jewelry, and tools like wrist guards and a mini anvil.
  • The Archer's belongings suggest he was a skilled metalworker, possibly from an area where copper production was early.
  • Stonehenge's activities likely drew the Archer to the region, showcasing the power and significance of the monuments during that period.
  • The Archer's grave goods offer insights into individual impact on communities, contrasting with Avebury's Neolithic tomb, the West Kennet Long Barrow.
  • The West Kennet Long Barrow, an early Neolithic tomb, housed 30-50 individuals, showcasing associations with the deceased and selective burial practices.
  • Silbury Hill, Europe's largest prehistoric man-made mound, reflects immense community effort and preservation of Neolithic landscapes.
  • A large flint found near West Kennet Long Barrow, likely from East Anglia, hints at mobile populations and reverence for significant objects in the landscape.

36:28

Avery Stone Circles: Ancient Ritual Monuments Explored

  • Avery Stone Circles are the largest prehistoric stone circles globally, consisting of a vast monument with two smaller stone circles inside, each with another stone setting, a deep ditch, and a large bank with four entrances.
  • Avery and Stonehenge are connected through their construction and use during the same period, with some stones at Avery being the same type as those at Stonehenge, suggesting a physical connection between the two sites.
  • The Cove at Avery Henge includes three stones forming an inner setting, with one stone weighing a minimum of 100 tons and being over two meters deep, possibly used for ceremonial or ritual purposes.
  • The Avery Stone Circles are likely ceremonial or ritualistic in nature, with no remains of everyday life found within them, indicating a special and powerful space for rituals and ceremonies.
  • World Heritage Sites like Avery Henge hold outstanding universal value, making them special to all people for all time, emphasizing the importance of preserving and exploring these monuments.
  • The Southern Inner Circle at Avery Henge was re-erected by Alexander Keiller in the 1930s, with some stones buried in the medieval period and later restored to their original positions to help visitors understand the site better.
  • The Portal Stones at Avery Henge serve as gateway stones into the henge bank and stone circles, with four original entrances, some stones fallen, and others re-erected by Keiller to guide visitors through the site.
  • Excavations at Avery Henge revealed an occupation site from the middle Neolithic period, indicating human activity before the stone circles were erected, with findings like a ceremonial mace head possibly used in mortuary contexts.
  • Alexander Keiller, an amateur archaeologist, significantly contributed to understanding Avery Henge through meticulous excavations and restoration work, dedicating several years to exploring the site and its features.
  • Avery Henge and its surrounding landscape offer a direct connection to the past through archaeological finds like the mace head, arrowheads, and the turf beneath our feet, allowing visitors to connect with the lives and stories of ancient communities.

51:56

Obsessive archaeologist restores Avery standing stones.

  • Avery, a site with standing stones, was restored by an obsessive archaeologist who meticulously recorded his work in diaries and letters, showing his dedication and attention to detail.
  • The archaeologist agonized over the placement of stones, using a dictating machine to document his thought process and ensure accuracy in positioning them.
  • A 4,000-year-old beaker pot found at Avery, associated with a child's grave, suggests beliefs in an afterlife, with intricate patterns likely made using a notched tool.
  • Avery's inclusion in the World Heritage Site in 1986 has led to extensive research and preservation efforts, highlighting the complexity of the Neolithic era and the ongoing importance of the site for future generations.
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