 | | Avebury | |
Avebury stone circle, which dates from 2800 BC onwards, is designated a World Heritage Site and managed by The National Trust. The huge sarsen stones that make up Avebury's circle were dragged from the surrounding hills and placed around a ditch, within an external bank. Today, despite many of the stones having been broken up and used to build some of the houses in the village, Avebury's magic is a strong as ever. | | Thoughts and Theories | |
Avebury is 25 miles north of Stonehenge and is surrounded by several other important prehistoric sites. There were once over 500 stones making up the original stone circle and avenue of stones and the circle's circumference is almost a mile in length The stones are sarsen stones and most are enclosed by a steep bank and ditch and considering the weight of each stone, it is remarkable to think that people who built Avebury dragged the megaliths from the surrounding hills. As with Stonehenge, this massive monument leaves modern man with more questions than answers. It is thought however, that from the shape of the stones (the broader ones representing the female form and the narrower stones the male) to the layout of the entire henge, the significance of Avebury as a sacred site cannot be underestimated. Avebury was used as a religious site for over a thousand years - almost the same length of time as our current Norman churches. In the 1930's, the archaeologist, Alexander Keiller re-erected many of the stones and several buildings and trees were cleared to expose the stone circle. Nearby, The Avenue, The Sanctuary, West Kennett Long Barrow, Windmill Hill and Silbury Hill make Avebury's landscape some of the most archeologically rich in Europe. | | Multimedia | |
 VIDEO: Click here to see how one of the stones at Avebury caused much consternation for modern day archaeologists. (Courtesy of BBC Points West)
VIDEO: Click here to see how Avebury became an important place to celebrate the solstice, particularly for those who found access to Stonehenge restricted. (Courtesy of BBC Points West) VIDEO: Click here to see a report on the vandalism of stones at Avebury in June 1996. (Courtesy of BBC Points West) VIDEO: Click here to see why Avebury is considered an important tourist attraction - particularly for the American market. (Courtesy of BBC Points West) VIDEO: Click here to see how an exhibition at Avebury's Great Barn hopes to explain the story of the henge. (Courtesy of BBC Points West) VIDEO: Click here to see how, in 1994, the National Trust took over the management of Avebury from English Heritage. (Courtesy of BBC Points West)
VIDEO:Click hereto see how two ancient stones at Avebury, which are perilously close to collapse, were lifted into an upright position by specialist contractors. (Courtesy of BBC Points West)  AUDIO:Click here to listen to A SENSE OF PLACE, aspecial BBC Radio documentary exploring Wiltshire's obsession with circles - including Stonehenge. (Courtesy of BBC Radio Wiltshire)
AUDIO: Click hereto listen to farmer and local historian Malcolm Young talk about Avebury's other stone circle, close-by at Winterbourne Bassett. (Courtesy of BBC Radio Wiltshire) Streaming video/audio requires Real Player.
BBC download guide and seeFree Real player 360° GALLERY:
Click here to see a selection of 360° views showing Avebury, the stones and the stunning scenery nearby. GALLERY:
Click here for The Moonraking Gallery. | | Add Your View | |
alex kieler
this has helped me in gcse Cscoppe Coi
thanks this really helped with my homework Ben Price, Westbury
Cool i didn't know that mary
these are fabuous!!
| | How to find it | |
On the A4361 west of Marlborough, one mile north of Beckhampton, on the A4. Ordnance Survey: SU100700
Click here to see Multimap location
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