The History Book Club discussion

This is a thread dedicated to any topics dealing with Stonehenge.

Stonehenge boy 'was from the Med'
By Paul Rincon
Science reporter, BBC News

Chemical tests on teeth from an ancient burial near Stonehenge indicate that the person in the grave grew up around the Mediterranean Sea.

The bones belong to a teenager who died 3,550 years ago and was buried with a distinctive amber necklace.

The position of his burial, the fact he's near Stonehenge, and the necklace all suggest he's of significant status”

Analysis on a previous skeleton found near Stonehenge showed that that person was also a migrant to the area.

The findings will be discussed at a science symposium in London to mark the 175th anniversary of the British Geological Survey (BGS).

Source: BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-env...

The article was very interesting. I visited Stonehenge many years ago, when you could actually go in among the stones. It was awe-inspiring. This new discovery shows how little we know about what was happening thousands of years ago.

Yes, it really is; I was there about two years ago and had the same feeling. I guess they stopped the closeness when folks were trying to chip away part of the stones to make their own personal souvenirs.

I guess this site for many was like going on a Pilgrimage like the Muslims do for Ramadan.

No time, the construction of Stonehenge was an impressive technological feat, requiring commitment, time and lots of labor. In its first phase, Stonehenge was an embankment based bank and ditch known Henge was built around 5,000 years ago. It is believed that the ditch was dug with tools made from deer antlers and, possibly, wood. The underlying chalk was loosened with picks and shovels on the shoulders of cattle. It was loaded then into baskets and carry. Modern experiments have shown that these tools are more than equal to the great task of digging and moving.
http://www.historicaltravelguide.com/

Yes, it was an impressive technological feat Rupesh and many wonder how the stones of that size were moved to that position.

I am not sure what you comment of no time means.

Also, Rupesh...Stonehenge is an atypical henge because Stonehenge is "composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones. It is at the centre of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds."[1]

Therefore, Stonehenge is not truly a henge site as its bank is inside its ditch.

See the Wikipedia article for some additional information and why it is an atypical henge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonehenge

Rupesh, you are correct in saying that the ditch was dug in the manner you described; however the stones themselves are massive and it is believed that they used rollers and sledges and that it would have taken over 500 men to move one of these stones. There is also conjecture that they did this sliding at the time of the year when the ground might have been covered with ice to make it easier to move these massive stones. Another theory is that it took 500 men to move one stone and that there had to be another 100 men in front to lay the heavy rollers. Whatever actually happened it took an incredible effort.

When we think of the mystical places in Britain, we usually think of Stonehenge but there are a wide variety of mystical sites from well known places of magic and intrigue to obscure caves and holy wells. This book is a guide to these sites and is a perfect companion for the traveler to the British Isles.

by Richard Jones

Thank you for the add Jill.

In Search of StonesM. Scott Peck

M.
Scott Peck

One man's journey of renewal through visiting ancient stone sites in the UK.

Thanks for the add, Scott..........but don't forget to add Dr. Peck's photo which is available.

by M. Scott Peck

The British Isles are so full of mystical places that it would take years to visit them all......especially in Ireland. where the "little people" reside!! (smile).

Mey, I have been to Stonehenge and it is very impressive even if you are on the perimeter of the stones - you can see plenty either way and in all cases - you cannot touch the stones.

They are massive.

You will be awestruck like I was.

As was I....a truly mystical place.

Britain's leading expert on stone circles, archaeologist Burl looks at every aspect of Stonehenge and questions some myths about that ring of stones that has fascinated people for centuries.

by Aubrey Burl

Stonehenge Complete


by Christopher Chippindale

Synopsis
Since its first and prize-winning edition of 1983, "Stonehenge Complete has established itself as the classic account of this most famous of ancient places. For this new edition, Christopher Chippindale has revised and updated the story to include the latest theories and discoveries. People have puzzled over Stonehenge for centuries, speculating and dreaming about it, drawing and painting it, trying to make sense of it. Here is the story of the one real Stonehenge, as well as the many unreal Stonehenges that archaeologists, tourists, mystics, astronomers, artists, poets, and visionaries have made out of it. New studies in the last decade have revolutionized our knowledge of the complex sequence of structures that make its celebrated profile; remarkably, these new discoveries have been made without new excavations. Stonehenge today is as lively as it ever was. After a period of dissent and confrontation, visitors are once again welcome to see the sun rise over the Heel stone on midsummer solstice day.

Full of photographs, this is a scholarly work on the circle of stones that continues to fascinate.


Stonehenge Revealed

by David Souden

Synopsis
From the construction of the site itself to the rituals of the prehistoric peoples who lived there, Stonehenge Revealed details the three consecutive stages of the monument and a history that stretches for over 2,000 years. Using the latest archaeological methods, this authoritative text, endorsed by English Heritage experts, places Stonehenge within its immediate landscape and within a broad cultural setting, reaching back to the ancient civilizations of Europe and beyond. Striking, full-color photographs reveal the collection of stones from various perspectives, allowing readers to sense the mysterious aura that surrounds this place. The book is further enhanced by specially commissioned, full-color artwork, maps, and timelines.

Fiction Stonehenge

Also Sarum: The Novel of Englandby Edward Rutherfurd

Thanks for the additions, Pradeep. Don't forget to add the citations of book cover, author's photo (if available) and authors link. The books you mentioned should look like this.

by Bernard Cornwell

by Edward Rutherfurd

New article regarding the background of Stonehenge and what scientists are saying now.


If the stones of Stonehenge could talk, they would tell the tale of the unity and peace that followed a long period of intense conflict between eastern and western Britain. At least, that’s what the research team behind the Stonehenge Riverside Project are saying after a decade-long archaeological investigation.

"When Stonehenge was built, there was a growing island-wide culture--the same styles of houses, pottery and other material forms were used from Orkney to the south coast. This was very different to the regionalism of previous centuries," Dr. Mike Parker Pearson, project leader and archaeology professor at the University of Sheffield, said in a written statement. "Stonehenge itself was a massive undertaking, requiring the labor of thousands to move stones from as far away as west Wales, shaping them and erecting them. Just the work itself, requiring everyone literally to pull together, would have been an act of unification.”

Is Pearson right? One thing's for sure: this isn't the first explanation for the strange circle of giant stones just north of Salisbury, England.

One theory holds that the monument was erected as an acoustic environment, designed in order to support certain sound illusions. Another holds that it was a place of healing, and other studies have questioned whether the monument was an ancient observatory or a place of sacrifice?

But the Stonehenge Riverside Project research team rejected these and other previous theories. As support for their "unification" theory, the researchers point to the social and economic climate in Britain between 3,000 B.C. and 2,500 B.C.--the period during which Stonehenge was erected. Plus, the monument is situated on a series of natural landforms, with the stones arranged so the land draws a line between the directions of the summer solstice sunrise and midwinter sunset. This alignment was meaningful to communities at that time, the researchers said.

"When we stumbled across this extraordinary natural arrangement of the sun’s path being marked in the land, we realized that prehistoric people selected this place to build Stonehenge because of its pre-ordained significance,” Pearson said in the statement. “Perhaps they saw this place as the center of the world."

Many people traveled to Stonehenge this month in celebration of the summer solstice

Source: Huffington Post

Stonehenge, from above. (source: National Geographic)

So beautiful. Having been there I can attest to its beauty first hand. But that is a lovely photo.

It is magical.

Yet another book that attempts to uncover the mystery surrounding this mystical circle of stones.

Stonehenge

by John North

Synopsis

Stonehenge has fascinated mankind for centuries, enveloping generation after generation in its haunting mystery. But while much has been learned about this ancient monument, the fundamental questions remain: Who built it? What was its purpose? How was it used?Drawing on more than 15 years of research, John North has at last succeeded where others have failed. He comprehensively examines Stonehenge from all available angles -- archeological, astronomical, and spiritual -- and considers relevant research from other prehistoric remains in Britain and Northern Europe. He shows, for the first time, that the stones were not so much sighting devices as maps of the heavens and that the design of the monument evolved over thousands of years rather than conforming to a single original blueprint. Such observations form the basis of deductions about prehistoric life and religion that will profoundly affect our understanding of who we are and where we came from.

The English Heritage Foundation is proposing certain environmentally friendly modifications to the area surrounding Stonehenge. Visit this link for more details.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/da...

I wonder after having visited the site. Quite impressive when you are there.

Fully researched book with photographs that posits answers to the secrets of Stonehenge

If Stones Could Speak: Unlocking the Secrets of Stonehenge

by Marc Aronson

Synopsis:

What are the secrets of the ancient stone circle? Were the carefully placed stones a burial site, an ancient calendar, a place of Druid worship...or even a site of sacrifice? World-renowned archaeologist Mike Parker-Pearson has spent the last seven years on a quest to answer these and many other questions. In If Stones Could Speak, award-winning author Marc Aronson joins the research crew and records their efforts to crack Stonehenge’s secrets. National Geographic helped sponsor the Riverside archeological team’s mission, and now readers can journey behind the scenes to experience this groundbreaking story first-hand, through the eyes of the experts.

Mike and his team have revolutionized our understanding of Stonehenge by exploring the surrounding landscape for clues about the stones -- an idea first suggested by a visitor from Madagascar. The results have been breathtaking: The team recently unearthed the largest Neolithic village ever found in England. Marc Aronson had total access to the site, the team, and their work over two seasons of digging and brings the inspirational story of the discoveries taking place at this World Historical Site. The informative and drama-driven text includes tales of dead bodies, cremations, feasting, and ancient rituals, as well as insights into the science of uncovering the ancien t past.

The expert text, stunning photography, and explanatory maps and illustrations will all help young readers see this ancient monument in totally new ways, and inspire future generations of archaeological explorers.

New Discovery at Stonehenge

Modern researchers have puzzled for centuries over the striking stone construction known as Stonehenge. But now researchers have discovered new aspects of the site, including a processional road, that may eventually help unravel some of its mysteries.

There are many theories about why ancient peoples constructed the prehistoric megalithic monument, which is estimated to have been built between 3000 and 1520 B.C. Located outside Salisbury, England, Stonehenge is the focus of ongoing research projects coordinated by English Heritage, a cultural preservation agency.

One of those projects recently uncovered previously hidden sections of an ancient pathway that researchers believe led directly to the site from the Avon River in the nearby town of Amesbury.

Known as the Avenue, the pathway is believed to have been built sometime between 2600 and 2200 B.C., according to English Heritage. Over time, parts of the road were obscured, and a modern road called A344 was built across it, reports LiveScience. The new road has made it almost impossible for researchers to confirm the purpose of the Avenue, according to LiveScience.

In an effort to answer some of these questions, researchers carefully began removing the paved A344. While the banks of the original path had long since eroded away, archaeologists were excited to find traces of two parallel ditches that once ran on either side of the path. These ditches connected segments of the Avenue bisected by A344.

“And here we have it –- the missing piece in the jigsaw," Heather Sebire, properties curator and archaeologist at English Heritage, said in an interview with BBC History Magazine. "It is very exciting to find a piece of physical evidence that officially makes the connection which we were hoping for."

While the purpose of the Avenue is not exactly clear, Sebire told LiveScience she believes it was involved in ancient processions to and from the site.

“It was constructed in 2300 BC so is a later addition to the stone circle, but people would have processed along it to the monument," Sebire told BBC Magazine. “It’s quite a dramatic finding.”

At least one researcher unaffiliated with English Heritage believes the excavation could help confirm a theory that the Avenue leading to Stonehenge was built along the solstice axis. As archaeologist Mike Parker Pearson told National Geographic, this means that the direction of the Avenue moving away from the monument points toward where the sun rises on the midsummer solstice, the longest day of the year. But if you turn, the path leading back toward Stonehenge points toward where the sun sets on the midwinter solstice, the shortest day of the year. (Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/)

Very interesting especially if you have visited Stonehedge.

Stonehenge is apparently part of a larger network:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/mo...

I wonder if we will ever know the secrets of that mystical place?

I took my daughter there when she was ten years old. We visited it on the day of the Winter Solstice. As Jill explained above, the slabs are positioned to take advantage of the changing sunsets and sunrises. As an engineer, I was fascinated by the construction of the site knowing how impossible it had to have been to transport the rock. Bernard Cornwall did a great job of bringing it to life in his book named after the site. The day we visited the ruins was cold and dreary, as many are in England. Still, it was quite magical.

It is a magical place, Barbara. I thought that I could feel an almost magnetic draw. It was rather eerie.

Maybe Stonehenge was constructed like this :

http://www.rense.com/general10/geo.htm

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_...

http://skeptoid.com/mobile/4149

Coral Castle: The Mystery of Ed Leedskalnin and His American Stonehenge

by Rusty McClure

Synopsis :

Coral Castle is the first book to take a journalistic look at one of America's most intriguing places—Coral Castle, located in Homestead, Florida. Working alone with primitive tools, a Latvian immigrant named Edward Leedskalnin quarried, carved, and set in place more than 1,100 tons of coral rock, creating what is commonly known as the American Stonehenge. How he accomplished this amazing feat remains a mystery. Many believe he harnessed anti-gravity powers, which allowed him to lift and move the stones as if by magic. Leedskalnin, who built the castle to woo back the fiancé who had jilted him, said he had mastered the "secret of the Pyramids." In Coral Castle, Rusty McClure and Jack Heffron survey the theories and tell the story, interviewing experts on all sides of the argument and bringing this fascinating tale to a mass audience for the first time.

Awesome citation, Lakshmi, perfect. I visited Coral Castle; it is pretty amazing.

Bryan wrote: "Awesome citation, Lakshmi, perfect. I visited Coral Castle; it is pretty amazing."

Thank you, Bryan :) I would like to know whether all ancient monuments used a simple "block-and-tackle" method that Leedskalnin allegedly used. The terrain in certain places in the world ( Andes mountain range ) wouldn't have supported it. Wonder what they used over there ! Why not post some snaps of your Coral Castle trip here ..

Lol, I would love to, Lakshmi, but I took that trip over thirty years ago, and I fear, the pictures are lost.

Here are some online photos:





More:
http://coralcastle.com/

Bryan wrote: "Lol, I would love to, Lakshmi, but I took that trip over thirty years ago, and I fear, the pictures are lost.

Here are some online photos:



More:
http://coralcastle.com/"

Nice ! Here's one for AUTOCAD enthusiasts :

Solving Stonehenge: The New Key to an Ancient Enigma

by Anthony Johnson (no photo)

Synopsis :

Using his own experience as a professional archaeological surveyor and after five years patient computer-reanalysis of the earthwork and stone circle, the author reveals how he solved the key mystery of Stonehenge.

The article at this link to the Smithsonian web site is worth reading as it explores what lies beneath Stonehenge.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history...

Thanks all.

New Discovery at Stonehenge is Most Important in 60 Years

Archaeologists studying Stonehenge and its environs say they've unearthed the remnants of an untouched, ancient encampment that dates back 6,000 years--a find that could rewrite British prehistory.

“This is the most important discovery at Stonehenge in over 60 years,” Professor Tim Darvill, a Bournemouth University archaeologist and a Stonehenge expert who was not involved in the new discovery, told the Telegraph. And as he told The Huffington Post in an email, the discovery overturns previous theories that "Stonehenge was built in a landscape that was not heavily used before about 3000 B.C."

But if scientists are buzzing about the discovery, they're also bummed about a new government plan calling for the construction of a new tunnel underneath Stonehenge.

The discovery was made during a dig at Blick Mead, a site about 1.5 miles from Stonehenge. Researchers found charcoal dating back to 4,000 B.C. and evidence of "possible structures," according to a statement released by the university. They also unearthed burnt flint and tools, as well as the remains of aurochs--ancient cattle that served as food for ancient hunter-gatherers.

The researchers plan further analysis on the artifacts but say they're worried the tunnel construction could damage the site and get in the way of their work.

"Blick Mead could explain what archaeologists have been searching for for centuries--an answer to the story of Stonehenge’s past," David Jaques, the University of Buckingham archaeologist who discovered the encampment, told The Guardian. "But our only chance to find out about the earliest chapter of Britain’s history could be wrecked if the tunnel goes ahead.”

Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument consisting of a ring of standing stones, is located eight miles north of Salisbury, England in Wiltshire. It has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1986.

When I was at Stonehenge I was so moved by the place. Amazing an encampment 6000 years old.

It certainly is.

Year at Stonehenge

by James Davies (no photo)

Synopsis:

More than 4000 years old, the true meaning of this ancient, awe-inspiring creation and the secrets of its construction have been lost in the mists of time. Surrounded by mystery, Stonehenge never fails to impress. Over the last five years James Davies has been photographing Stonehenge at all times of the day and night, and all through the seasons. With privileged access to the stone circle he has built up a unique portfolio. A Year at Stonehenge brings together the best of his work, while a short expert text summarizes our current understandings of this stone formation. Published to coincide with the opening of a new environmentally sensitive visitor center and the restoration of the surrounding ceremonial landscape, this is the most visually stunning book available on this most fascinating world heritage site.

The authors explores the mystery of Stonehenge and other megaliths around the world.

Standing Stones: Stonehenge, Carnac and the World of Megaliths

by Jean-Pierre Mohem (no photo)

Synopsis:

Who built the megaliths, those massive stone structures ranging from tombs to standing stones that date back to over 4000 BC? Why were they built? How were the enormous stones transported and erected? Were these strange, sacred stones used as temples or tombs, sculptures or houses? Covering the best-known sites - Avebury and Stonehenge in England, Carnac in France and Knowth in Ireland - and also less famous examples in Scandinavia, Malta, Egypt and Spain, this book considers the special significance - architectural, scientific, religious and cultural - of these enigmatic Neolithic stone structures.

All you ever wanted to know about this mystical place.

History's Greatest Mysteries: Stonehenge

by Jesse Harasta (no photo)

Synopsis:

For centuries, professional historians have labored through the painstaking task of documenting history as accurately as possible, but even with modern technology, archaeology, and records, some questions have eluded attempts to answer them. From the origins of Atlantis to the Lost Colony of Roanoke, the mysteries behind some of history’s most famous people and events have fascinated countless generations. In Charles River Editors’ History’s Greatest Mysteries series, readers can discover the known, the unknown, and the possible answers to history’s most enduring questions in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.

On the Salisbury Plain, only a few hours from the hustle and bustle of Central London lies one of the greatest surviving relics of humanity's ancient past: the mighty stone circle of Stonehenge. Stonehenge is one of the most well-known ancient sites in the world, and an image of it raises numerous associations and emotional responses. Its impressiveness comes not only from its size and remarkable level of preservation, but moreso because of the incredible precision with which it was constructed during an era of simple technology and social organization. Obviously, it is a place of great importance—then and now.

Despite its placid, changeless appearance, Stonehenge has been a place of political, ideological and religious struggle for centuries. From the vigorous debates of 19th century theorists to the all-night dance parties of the 1980s, the history and legacy of Stonehenge is as much about the desires and fears of the people of modern Britain as it is about the ancients. Stonehenge has belonged to all of Britain's people since its construction began roughly 5,000 years ago, and they have all added to its unfolding story.

Of course, Stonehenge has long fascinated the rest of the world too, as people continue to try to understand every aspect of the site and the underlying purpose of it. This involves an understanding of why Stonehenge is located where it is, what the materials consist of, and what archaeology has uncovered about the people who built it. On top of that, Stonehenge is a center of mythology and folklore that has evolved over time, establishing the foundation for a unique spiritual belief system that both celebrates Stonehenge as a “living temple” and challenges the official guardians of the place.

History’s Greatest Mysteries: Stonehenge comprehensively covers the facts, mysteries, and theories surrounding the ancient megalith. Readers will understand Stonehenge from all dimensions: as a physical place, an object of scholarly study, a site of ecstatic worship, a “must see” world-class tourist destination and a simultaneous icon of both history and counterculture. Along with pictures and a bibliography, you will learn about Stonehenge like you never have before, in no time at all.

A recent issue of Discover Magazine had an article about using ground-penetrating radar and 3D laser mapping to see ancient structures buried near Stonehenge. Here's a link to the article.

Thanks for the addition, Vicki.