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Stonehenge
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On the open downland of Salisbury Plain (about 80 miles west of London and two miles west of the town of Amesbury, Wiltshire) in Southern England stands the megalithic ruin known as Stonehenge. This single structure consists of a series of earth, timber, and stone structures which were revised and re-modelled over a 1400 year period.
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The earliest portion of Stonehenge dates back to 2950-2900 BCE, or Middle Neolithic. This portion of the complex is comprised of a circular bank, ditch, and counterscarp bank about 330 feet in diameter. And inside the earth bank are the 56 Aubrey holes that hold wooden posts.
After 2900 BCE, and for the next 500 years, Aubrey Holes no longer held posts but were partially filled by cremation deposits. The post holes show signs of timber structures but their patterns or positions do not indicate their shape, form, or function.
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The monument underwent a complicated sequence of settings of large stones during phase 3.
Bluestones were placed in what are known as the Q and R holes (sub-phase 3i), which were subsequently removed and replaced by a circle of Sarsens in sub-phase 3ii and a horseshoe-shape arrangement of Trilithons in sub-phase 3iii.
Also during phase 3, Stoneholes Y and Z were added surrounding the Bluestone arrangements but were never filled, and the D and E Holes were added, near what is regarded as the main entrance along with the Heel Stone. |
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More pictures:
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References:
Witcombe, Chris. Avebury. Earth Mysteries. http://witcombe.sbc.edu/earthmysteries/EMStonehenge.html. (26 July 2006)
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