Stonehenge’s Early History GEOFFREY WEBBER
Stonehenge’s Early History Stonehenge is one of the world’s best-known prehistoric monuments. With a long and rich history, it is part of a World Heritage Site with Avebury.
PITS AND TOTEM POLES The earliest known structures in the area are four or five pits that would have been built in the Mesolithic period, between 8500 and 7000 BC. Three of these pits appear to have held large pine posts, not dissimilar to totem-poles. It is not currently known if these posts bear any relation to Stonehenge.
AN EMPTY LANDSCAPE During this period, most of the south of
Timber structures
England
possibly sat inside the
Stonehenge
bank and ditch, and
chosen for the Neolithic monuments.
within the bank were 56 pits.
was
woodland,
but
the
chalk
downland in the area that would become may
have
been
an
open
landscape. This is possibly why the site was
EARLY MONUMENTS Some monuments such as the North Barrow and the Heel Stone may have been early parts of Stonehenge. The earliest major development, however, is believed to be a circular ditch with inner and outer banks that was constructed around 3000 BC. Timber structures possibly sat inside the bank and ditch, and within the bank were 56 pits. The purpose of these Aubrey Holes (as they are known) has been the subject of debate; the previous consensus was that they held timber posts. However, the theory that at least some of them may have held stones has recently re-emerged.
GEOFFREY WEBBER You can find out more about Stonehenge by visiting the blog of Geoffrey Webber.