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RT: New theory ‘rewrites’ Stonehenge history
Posted on March 10, 2013 by Jean
Published time: March 10, 2013 04:31
Edited time: March 10, 2013 06:31
The prehistoric monument of Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, in central southern England (AFP
Photo / Andrew Cowie)
New research has shed fresh light on Stonehenge’s past, suggesting
that it was originally a graveyard and then a venue for mass
celebrations that unified the whole of pre-historic Britain.
According to the team of researchers led by archeologist Professor
Mike Parker Pearson of University College London, the historic site was
in fact older than previously thought and had different functions.
“In many ways our findings are rewriting the established story of Stonehenge,” Parker Pearson said.
Centuries before the iconic stone mega structure was erected, the
site on Salisbury Plain may have served as a giant burial ground for
important families. The archeologists excavated more than 50,000
cremated bone fragments belonging to over 60 people throughout a decade
of research. The remains of many cremated bodies were marked by the
bluestones of Stonehenge, Parker Pearson said. “Clearly these were special people in some way,” he added.
The archeologists claim that the graveyard was built around 3,000 BC –
500 years earlier than the massive rock structure we see today.
Most interestingly the archeologists claim that the original site was
part of an annual winter solstice ritual that gathered as many as 4,000
people, at a time when the entire population numbered only tens of
thousands. The analysis of cattle teeth from 80,000 animal bones
excavated from the site suggests that around 2500 BC, Stonehenge was the
site of vast communal feasts that brought people from all around
Britain. It is these people who are thought to have constructed the
Stonehenge we know today.
“Stonehenge was a monument that brought ancient Britain together,” Parker Parson said. “What
we’ve found is that people came with their animals to feast at
Stonehenge from all corners of Britain – as far afield as Scotland.”
It appeared to be the “only time in prehistory that the people of Britain were unified,” according to the archeologist.
Parker Pearson explained: “What we have discovered is it’s in the
building the thing that’s important. It’s not that they’re coming to
worship, they’re coming to construct it.
“It is not so much a temple, it is a monument and it seems the big
theme is unification … Stonehenge gets visited at certain points,
people build and then go away.
It’s something that’s like Glastonbury Festival and a motorway
building scheme at the same time. It’s not all fun, there’s work too.”
Parker Pearson and other scientists now reckon that with that many
people, Stonehenge, in its current form, took the temporary workers
about a decade to build, about 4,500 years ago.
He claims active use of the monument may have ended after just
several hundreds of years, when “Beaker People” arrived from mainland
Europe, bringing new technologies, and destroying the culture of
pan-British worship.
Thanks to: http://jhaines6.wordpress.com
Posted on March 10, 2013 by Jean
Published time: March 10, 2013 04:31
Edited time: March 10, 2013 06:31
The prehistoric monument of Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, in central southern England (AFP
Photo / Andrew Cowie)
New research has shed fresh light on Stonehenge’s past, suggesting
that it was originally a graveyard and then a venue for mass
celebrations that unified the whole of pre-historic Britain.
According to the team of researchers led by archeologist Professor
Mike Parker Pearson of University College London, the historic site was
in fact older than previously thought and had different functions.
“In many ways our findings are rewriting the established story of Stonehenge,” Parker Pearson said.
Centuries before the iconic stone mega structure was erected, the
site on Salisbury Plain may have served as a giant burial ground for
important families. The archeologists excavated more than 50,000
cremated bone fragments belonging to over 60 people throughout a decade
of research. The remains of many cremated bodies were marked by the
bluestones of Stonehenge, Parker Pearson said. “Clearly these were special people in some way,” he added.
The archeologists claim that the graveyard was built around 3,000 BC –
500 years earlier than the massive rock structure we see today.
Most interestingly the archeologists claim that the original site was
part of an annual winter solstice ritual that gathered as many as 4,000
people, at a time when the entire population numbered only tens of
thousands. The analysis of cattle teeth from 80,000 animal bones
excavated from the site suggests that around 2500 BC, Stonehenge was the
site of vast communal feasts that brought people from all around
Britain. It is these people who are thought to have constructed the
Stonehenge we know today.
“Stonehenge was a monument that brought ancient Britain together,” Parker Parson said. “What
we’ve found is that people came with their animals to feast at
Stonehenge from all corners of Britain – as far afield as Scotland.”
It appeared to be the “only time in prehistory that the people of Britain were unified,” according to the archeologist.
Parker Pearson explained: “What we have discovered is it’s in the
building the thing that’s important. It’s not that they’re coming to
worship, they’re coming to construct it.
“It is not so much a temple, it is a monument and it seems the big
theme is unification … Stonehenge gets visited at certain points,
people build and then go away.
It’s something that’s like Glastonbury Festival and a motorway
building scheme at the same time. It’s not all fun, there’s work too.”
Parker Pearson and other scientists now reckon that with that many
people, Stonehenge, in its current form, took the temporary workers
about a decade to build, about 4,500 years ago.
He claims active use of the monument may have ended after just
several hundreds of years, when “Beaker People” arrived from mainland
Europe, bringing new technologies, and destroying the culture of
pan-British worship.
Thanks to: http://jhaines6.wordpress.com
