Stonehenge and Nearby Prehistoric Sites

Sheep grazing amongst the stones at Avebury Stone Circle.
Copyright © Pam Brophy License: Creative Commons

Thought to be older than Stonehenge although still dating back some 5000 years, Avebury Stone Circles form one of the largest and oldest Neolithic standing stone monuments in Europe.

What I find so impressive and surprising about Avebury is that, over the centuries, the village has grown up among the stones. Here at Avebury you don't see the carefully cut stones used at Stonehenge. Instead these seem to keep their original quarried uneven shapes. Experts on Avebury point out that there are two types of stone. One is tall and thin, the other short and wide. One theory is that the different shapes represent men and women.

It has a huge bank (henge) and dyke structure, about 421 metres (1,381 ft) in diameter and 1.35 kilometres (0.84 mi) in circumference. Within these earthworks there is a large outer circle of stones. Inside this circle, there were two more smaller ones: the Northern Inner Circle and the Southern Inner Circle. Unfortunately these two have lost stones, and part of the Southern one has been lost under village buildings and other stones have been lost too so now only one remains.

As well as the circles, there were also two avenues of stones standing in pairs. One leads from the south-east side of the outer henge and can still be seen. The other, on the western side, has largely disappeared.

Over the centuries, stones have been lost. Some have been taken for building while others were removed because they were in the way. Superstition and fear also contributed to their destruction. In the 1930s archaeologist, Alexander Keiller, erected fallen stones he found in position in the outer circle. Throughout the monument, missing stones have been replaced by concrete markers so visitors can get an idea of the original appearance.

In spite of much speculation and work by archaeologists, there are no firm conclusions on the purpose of Avebury's circles. Human bones have been found so could it have been an elaborate grave or cemetery? Another credible theory is that it's a site for religious ritual particularly with the avenues connecting to other monuments in the area, including West Kennet Long Barrow.

Part of Avebury's the inner South Circle
Copyright © Jim Champion License: Creative Commons