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Stonehenge's Avenue and ‘Bluestonehenge’

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2016

Michael J. Allen ,
Ben Chan ,
Ros Cleal ,
Charles French ,
Peter Marshall ,
Joshua Pollard ,
Rebecca Pullen ,
Colin Richards ,
Clive Ruggles  and
David Robinson
...Show all authors
Michael J. Allen
Affiliation:
Allen Environmental Archaeology, Redroof, Green Road, Codford BA12 0NW, UK
Ben Chan
Affiliation:
Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Postbus 9514, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands
Ros Cleal
Affiliation:
Alexander Keiller Museum, High Street, Avebury SN8 1RF, UK
Charles French
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology & Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DZ, UK
Peter Marshall
Affiliation:
Chronologies, 25 Onslow Road, Sheffield S11 7AF, UK
Joshua Pollard
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Southampton, Avenue Campus, Southampton SO17 1BF, UK
Rebecca Pullen
Affiliation:
Historic England, 37 Tanner Row, York YO1 6WP, UK
Colin Richards
Affiliation:
School of Arts, Languages & Cultures, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Clive Ruggles
Affiliation:
School of Archaeology & Ancient History, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
David Robinson
Affiliation:
School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK
Jim Rylatt
Affiliation:
16 Carr Road, Sheffield S6 2WZ, UK
Julian Thomas
Affiliation:
School of Arts, Languages & Cultures, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Kate Welham
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, Anthropology & Forensic Science, Talbot Campus, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth BH12 5BB, UK
Mike Parker Pearson*
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31–34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY, UK
*
*Author for correspondence (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Stonehenge is a site that continues to yield surprises. Excavation in 2009 added a new and unexpected feature: a smaller, dismantled stone circle on the banks of the River Avon, connected to Stonehenge itself by the Avenue. This new structure has been labelled ‘Bluestonehenge’ from the evidence that it once held a circle of bluestones that were later removed to Stonehenge. Investigation of the Avenue closer to Stonehenge revealed deep periglacial fissures within it. Their alignment on Stonehenge's solstitial axis (midwinter sunset–midsummer sunrise) raises questions about the early origins of this ritual landscape.

Keywords

StonehengeBluestonehengeStonehenge AvenueWest AmesburyNeolithicBronze Agehengestone circle
Type
Research
Information
Antiquity , Volume 90 , Issue 352 , August 2016 , pp. 991 - 1008
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd, 2016 

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