A brief history of Stonehenge : a complete history and archaeology of the world's most enigmatic stone circle / Aubrey Burl.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Burl, Aubrey.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Stonehenge (England).

Wiltshire (England)--Antiquities.

Wiltshire (England).

Megalithic monuments--England--Wiltshire.

Megalithic monuments.

England--Wiltshire.

Physical Description:

xvi, 368 pages : illustrations, maps, plans ; 20 cm

Edition:

First Carroll and Graf edition.

Other Title:

Stonehenge : a complete history and archaeology of the world's most enigmatic stone circle

Place of Publication:

New York : Carroll & Graf Publishers, [2007]

Summary:

Archaeologist Aubrey Burl is recognized as Britain's leading expert on stone circles. Here he tells anew the story of England's most enigmatic ancient site, Stonehenge, and why it continues to fascinate historians, archaeologists and others. Each successive generation has developed its own reading of the stones.

Piece by piece Burl comprehensively debunks long-held myths and mystical notions with meticulous research and cutting-edge science-as he does so, far from stripping the stones of their magic he opens our eyes to a greater understanding and admiration for them. Key revelations concern: how the Heel Stone pre-dates the monument itself, how the Welsh bluestones arrived at the site, the true astronomical meaning of the setting of the stones, the relationship between the monument and the burial grounds that surround it.

Contents:

Note on Measurements ix

Preface: The challenge 1

Introduction: Some questions 7

1 Antiquarians; recovering Stonehenge; to AD 1900 24

2 Excavations and repairs from Tudor times to AD 1949 55

3 Tombs in an empty land, 4200-3500 BC 82

4 The Cursus - racecourse or funeral path? c.3500-3000 BC 110

5 The beginnings of Stonehenge, c.3000 BC 132

6 Aubrey Holes and Grooved Ware, c.2800 BC and beyond 156

7 Bluestones and questions of the unlikely, c.2550 BC 181

8 The Four Stations stones - symbolism, not science, c.2500 BC 203

9 The Great Circle, c.2450 BC 222

10 The Avenue, portals, carvings and death, c.2400 BC 252

11 The Altar Stone, c.2400 BC onwards 278

12 The Archer and beyond, c.2300 BC 295

Appendix 1 Ancient words along the Atlantic Fringe 307

Appendix 2 Breton megalithic settings in Britain and Ireland 311

Appendix 3 Alien carved motifs in Britain and Ireland 313.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [341]-349) and index.

First published in hardback by Constable, 2006.

ISBN:

0786719648

9780786719648

OCLC:

145338437