Stonehenge a 'symbol of unification' at centre of Ancient Britain

Stonehenge was the centre of ancient Britain, according to a study which claims the monument symbolised the unification of eastern and western communities

Stonehenge was probably at the centre of the world for prehistoric Brits, archaeologists believe

Stonehenge was probably at the centre of the world for prehistoric Brits, archaeologists believe

Centuries of speculation have attributed countless functions to the famous Wiltshire landmark, describing it variously as a prehistoric observatory, a place of healing and a temple for ritual sacrifice.

But a new study by researchers from five British universities suggests Stonehenge may in fact have been built as a sign of peace between people from the east and west of the country after a period of conflict.
The stones, which come from different locations as far afield as southern England and west Wales, may have been used to represent the ancestors of some of Britain's earliest farming communities, researchers suggest.
Prof Mike Parker Pearson, of Sheffield University, said during Stonehenge's main period of construction from 3,000 to 2,500 BC there was a "growing island-wide culture" developin in Britain.

He added: "Stonehenge itself was a massive undertaking, requiring the labour 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."

The Stonehenge Riverside Project, which also included the universities of Manchester, Southampton, Bournemouth and UCL, suggests that the Stonehenge site may have been a place of special significance before the monument was built.
The solstice-aligned avenue between the stones sits on a series of natural landforms which mark out the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset, suggesting people may have seen the spot as the "centre of the world", prof Parker Pearson said.

By Nick Collins, Science Correspondent (Telegraph)

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Stonehenge revellers mark summer solstice

Thousands of people have gathered at Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice despite overcast skies.


Cloud cover meant pagans and druids were unable to witness the sunrise on the longest day of the year.
Wiltshire Police said despite the rain it had been a "positive experience" for most revellers.
Officers made 34 arrests for theft, drugs or alcohol-related offences and more than 100 people received cautions for cannabis use or possession.
A further three people were arrested at the stone circles at Avebury, which is about 22 miles (37km) away from Stonehenge.
A spokeswoman said: "As with every year, sadly there was a small minority who were determined to disregard the law. These people were dealt with robustly."

BBC reporter Will Walder said thousands of people had braved the overnight rain to gather at Stonehenge.

"It was wet, misty and muddy but there was an atmosphere that something really special was about to happen.

"People were whistling and cheering and then falling silent before starting again.

"Tambourines and drums were being played but then at 4:52 am people were looking from left to right to try to see the sun and had to resort to watches and mobile phones to mark the moment," he added.

One of the revellers, Dave, said he had been on site since 22:00 BST on Wednesday with his friends.

He said it was the first time he had been to Stonehenge.

"I'm really wet and I'm soaked to the bone but its magical - it's lovely."

English Heritage said the heavy overnight rain meant it was one of the lowest attendances in recent years.

"However the rain did stop in time for the sunrise ceremonies and although clouds obscured the sun, loud cheers and applause rang out amongst the ancient stones," a spokesman said.

"There was torrential rain at some points during the evening, but it stopped and although it was cloudy, it didn't rain for sunrise.

"It has been the wettest and dare I say the muddiest in recent years."

A 22ft (6.7m) figure, called Ancestor, was moved to the stones ahead of the solstice celebrations.

The seven tonne steel statue depicts a man with his "head thrown back and arms open wide".

After the solstice it will be dismantled and taken to Salisbury for the Olympic torch event.

As with previous years, there were amnesty bins available outside the event and drugs dogs were at both Stonehenge and Avebury.

Entry to the monument in Wiltshire will be closed until 09:00 BST on Friday.

Full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-18519636

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Stonehenge reveals its secrets

It's the most popular site to watch the sun rise on the summer solstice. Yet the latest research suggests that the ancient people who erected the massive stones, after hauling them 240km, were more interested in midwinter or even their healing properties, writes Robert Matthews

This week, crowds will gather at sites from New York to Norway to take part in one of the most ancient of all rituals: watching the sun rise on the summer solstice - the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The largest gathering will be at the most celebrated of these sites - Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, England. Each year, many thousands of people try to get close to the enigmatic stone circles in the (usually vain) hope of witnessing the rising of the solstice sun.
Yet new research suggests that this modern-day ritual has been misconceived, occurring at the wrong place at the wrong time - and with everyone looking in the wrong direction.
This is among a whole slew of insights emerging about Stonehenge following recent studies by archaeologists. Taken together, they point to a whole new conception of Stonehenge's origins, purpose and evolution.
What hasn't changed are the estimates of the astonishing antiquity of these sites. Dating of artefacts found around Stonehenge show that its construction began about 5,000 years ago.
To put that into context, when building began at the site, the Great Pyramids of Egypt were still 500 years in the future.
Most archaeologists agree that the first structures at the Wiltshire site took the form of a circular ditch with a bank - a "henge" - that had 56 pits, known as Aubrey Holes, arranged within it.
But while there is broad agreement on dates, archaeologists are now questioning the standard image of Stonehenge at these times. They believe that from the outset, the site featured "bluestones" made from a volcanic rock known as spotted dolerite.
And therein lies the first astonishing fact about Stonehenge. The source of these bluestones has been traced to an outcrop more than 240 kilometres away in the hills of Pembrokeshire, Wales. Exactly how scores of bluestones, some weighing more than four tonnes, were transported so far by Neolithic labourers has long been a mystery.
One theory is that nature did most of the heavy lifting during the last Ice Age, a glacier scooping up the rocks in Wales, and dumping them in central England when it melted about 10,000 years ago.
Recent research, however, has cast doubt on this. Analysis by researchers at the University of Wales has shown the bluestones were broken from their host outcrop and exposed to the air after the glaciers had vanished.
The idea that the stones were transported by human ingenuity has been revived following an experiment conducted in 2010 by Dr Andrew Young at the University of Exeter.
While working at a similar stone circle in Aberdeen, Scotland, archaeologists had found dozens of carved stone balls. Wondering if these might have acted as "ball bearings", Dr Young constructed a track capable of holding them in position as objects were rolled over them. Experiments showed that the technique allowed just half a dozen people to pull even the largest bluestones relatively easily.
But to what purpose - what was Stonehenge for? One of the most persistent theories is that it was some kind of giant astronomical observatory. More than 250 years ago, the English antiquarian William Stukeley pointed out that Stonehenge and the outlying "Heel Stone" - near which the sun will rise on Thursday - were orientated roughly towards the point of sunrise on the longest day of the year.
The National: Robert Matthews
Link Source: http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/science/stonehenge-reveals-its-secrets

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