Avebury Henge: One Of Britain's Largest Neolithic Henge Monuments
The ditch and bank formation that surrounds Avebury Henge in Wiltshire is one of the most amazing products of stone age engineering in the world.
Avebury henge and stone circles are one of the greatest marvels of prehistoric Britain.
Built and much altered during the Neolithic period, roughly between 2850 BC and 2200 BC, the henge survives as a huge circular bank and ditch, encircling an area that includes part of Avebury village.
Within the henge is the largest stone circle in Britain - originally of about 100 stones - which in turn encloses two smaller stone circles.
The intricate ditch and bank arrangement encircling the Avebury Henge, pictured at the top of this article, stands as a testament to the extraordinary feats of Stone Age engineering.
Early photographs captured during the excavation of the ditch near the south entrance reveal its original vastness - a monumental achievement considering it was crafted over 4,500 years ago.
However, erosion and sedimentation over millennia have diminished its depth to merely a third of its initial 30-foot depth.
The accompanying bank, believed to have soared between 20 to 25 feet high, further accentuated its grandeur.
At some points, the distance from the ditch bottom to the bank's crest could have reached an awe-inspiring 55 feet.
Spanning over a kilometre in length, it's astonishing to fathom that this entire structure was painstakingly carved out of solid chalk using rudimentary tools like antler picks and ox shoulder blade shovels.
This marvel underscores the significant labor force and adept organisation present at Avebury during ancient times.
The excavation of the ditch and bank took place in the early 20th century under the direction of Harold St. George Gray, curator of the Taunton Museum.
Gray's findings revealed a construction process occurring in two distinct phases.
Initially, around 2800 BC, a smaller bank was erected, mirroring the timeline of the enclosure discovered at the Longstones site.
There are indications that this early bank served as a preliminary outline for the final, much larger structure, which likely commenced about a century later.
However, due to the prolonged construction period and limited excavation of the present structure, precise dating remains challenging.
Consequently, uncertainties persist regarding whether this sequential development was indeed intentional.
While conducting excavations of the ditch, Gray uncovered the meticulously buried remains of a woman, encircled by more than 20 small sarsen stones.
This suggests she may have been held in some reverence by those who interred her.
Despite being of short stature, Gray labeled her a "dwarf," a description now questioned by more medically informed researchers.
Radiocarbon dating of materials linked to the burial suggests it occurred several centuries after the construction of the ditch and bank.
History of its construction
The precise order of construction for the banks, ditches, and stone circles at Avebury remains partially unresolved.
Limited excavations, coupled with recent aerial and geophysical surveys, suggest the presence of numerous additional features once situated within the enclosure.
It's plausible that, preceding the erection of the stone circles, timber circles and structures may have originally occupied the space enclosed by the bank and ditch, similar to other henges in the region.
At some point, two avenues of stones were also constructed, linking the Great Henge with neighboring ceremonial sites at Beckhampton and Overton Hill.
Nearby, the imposing man-made mound of Silbury Hill stands, roughly contemporaneous with these monuments.
According to English Heritage, who manage the site, the impression gained is of a landscape being shaped for rituals that involved inclusion, exclusion and procession.
If this is correct, then the various monuments may have been built as public ‘theatres’ for rites and ceremonies that gave physical expression to the community’s ideas of world order; the place of the people within that order; the relationship between the people and their gods; and the nature and transmission of authority, whether spiritual or political.
The length of time over which the Great Henge and its two avenues were built is so long that it suggests the community’s relationship with its environment may gradually have altered.
Changing rituals may have been the driving force for the building of new monuments and for their eventual abandonment around 1800 BC.
In the Middle Ages, the stones may have been associated with pagan and devil worship and many were either buried or destroyed.
Later building and agricultural improvements led to others being removed.
Records and maps made by early antiquarians such as John Aubrey and William Stukeley give us some clues as to its former layout.
The appearance of the site today, however, owes much to Alexander Keiller, heir to a fortune made from the famous Keiller marmalade, who bought the site and cleared away buildings and re-erected many stones in the late 1930s.
Today, Avebury (along with Stonehenge) is designated a World Heritage Site.
It’s also worth visiting The Red Lion Pub - the only pub in the world that stands inside an ancient stone circle.
The Red Lion is a beautiful, postcard-perfect thatched pub that dates back to 1802.
Known for its claim as one of the most haunted pubs in the country, the pub has an exceptional feature unlike any other pub.
This includes an indoor well, now converted into a spectacular table you can enjoy a drink at, which locals have some spooky theories about!
Apparently, at least five ghosts reside in the Red Lion pub in Avebury.
The pub is now Grade II listed, making it of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve it.
Someone who recently visited the historic site, said: “This is a very special place to behold. A very small village with these extraordinary ancient huge stones spread out over several acres.
”We loved Stonehenge, but this was perhaps a better experience because there were very few tourists here. We basically had the place to ourselves.
”And you can walk right up to them & touch them (respectfully - don't be stupid). The house & gardens are really sweet, too. Highly recommend.”
If you’d like to visit, the address is: Avebury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1RF.
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