Henge Monuments of the British IslesThe later Neolithic henges are a distinctive yet enigmatic class of monument. Taken as indicative of the emerging social complexity of the third millennium BC, they are often seen as the culmination of cultural achievement during this period. Yet little is actually known about these monuments -- their origins, the meanings behind their distinctive layout, the activities undertaken within their perimeters, or indeed their significance to later Neolithic society. Drawing on the full range of data available across the British Isles and on anthropological parallels, the author addresses these questions in a book that will be of interest to anyone wishing to understand Neolithic society. |
Contents
Introduction | 6 |
Architectures of meaning | 35 |
Experiencing henge monuments | 59 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
associated Aubrey Holes Avebury Balfarg Beaker beliefs and practices British Isles built causewayed enclosures centre chapter circular classic colour plate communities complex Coneybury construction Copyright courtesy cremations cult cursus deposition Devil's Quoits ditch and bank ditch fills Dorset Durrington Walls early Neolithic earthworks enclosed English Heritage English Heritage Archaeological entrance evidence feet flint fourth millennium Grooved Ware henge enclosures henge monuments Heritage Archaeological Report human bone inner ditch large number later Neolithic layout Llandegai located massive Maumbury Rings miles Milfield Milfield North mini-henges mounds Mount Pleasant Orkney outer bank outer ditch Oxfordshire Pennines perhaps pits placed postholes radiocarbon dates religion religious ring ditches River Ure role round barrows routeway segmentary single-grave site's small number social society standing stones stone circle Stonehenge Stones of Stenness suggests surrounding landscape symbols third millennium BC Thornborough henge timber circles tradition Wainwright 1971 Wessex chalkland whilst Wiltshire Woodhenge worship