Britain's Ancient Marvels - Stonehenge and more

Britain's Ancient Marvels

Alright, adventure-seeker, you've landed in England! Look around; it's not just tea and rain here. You're surrounded by centuries-old mysteries, tales of yore, and quite a few rocks. ...Let's decipher this ancient jigsaw together!
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- Causewayed Camps ...(Not Actual Camps): Dating back to 3500 B.C., ...these are like ancient amphitheatres with fancy entryways. ...Think of them as multipurpose meetups - a blend of livestock marts, ancient trading hubs, and party zones. Top spot? Windmill Hill, near Avebury.
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- Long Barrows (Communal Tombs): - Here's where the Neolithic folks chilled... in the afterlife. - Some are made of earth, others with stone chambers. Inside? - Bones, but not much bling. The direction? - Facing the morning sun. A morning cuppa tea, anyone?
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- Passage Graves: - Imagine a stone tunnel leading to a burial chamber. - It's like the Neolithic version of a mausoleum, ... but more mysterious. Head to Bryn Celli Ddu in Gwynedd; it's ancient Airbnb gold!
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- Stone Circles: - Picture this: massive stones arranged in circles dating back to 3300 B.C. - UFO landing sites or rock concerts? We don't know. Stonehenge is the superstar, but Avebury's a close second!
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- Hill Figures: - Enormous chalky sketches on hills that might make you ponder, "Who drew that?" ...Check out Cerne Abbas's Giant and Wilmington's Long Man; - they're like the ancient British emojis.
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- Henges: - Not to be confused with "henges" in Stonehenge! ... They're circles made of banks and ditches. - Imagine them as the earlier versions of amphitheatres or perhaps mega barbecues?
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- Barrow Mounds - (Ancestor of Bumps): These are like pudding-shaped hills, mostly graves from 2200 B.C. - Some had goodies inside; others were merely to show off. ... "Look Ma, I've got the biggest mound in the neighbourhood!"
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- Hill Forts: - The Iron Age's version of fortresses on hills. ... Defensive, majestic, and Instagrammable! If you're into epic fort vibes, Maiden Castle in Dorset is a must-visit.
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There you have it! An ancient world of stones, mounds, and mysteries, all with a sprinkle of British charm. - So, before you dive into that cup of Earl Grey, take a moment to embrace the land of the ancients. ... And remember, always respect the stones; they're older than your grandad's grandad!

Let's now talk about henges, my folks. Trust me, your life will never be the same again. - Namely,

A henge is an antiquated structure dating back to between 3000 and 2000 BC during the New Stone Age and the beginning of the Bronze Age. These structures, which number less than 100 in remaining existence across Britain and Ireland, are characterized by a distinct architecture. Each henge displays a circular or oval-shaped formation, demarcated by a ringed ditch on the inside and a corresponding bank on the outside, forming a defined central area. Many henges house additional structures like standing stones or timber posts within the enclosure.

These henges range in size, typically falling between 20 and 100 meters in diameter. But there are several notable exceptions to this norm, like the so-called 'superhenges' - Durrington Walls and Avebury in Wiltshire, for instance, which greatly exceed the usual size. An important feature of henges are their causeways, or entrances, that penetrate the ringed formations and provide access to the central area. Often, these causeways, if there are two, face each other across the central circle.

The term 'henge' is thought to have originated from the Stonehenge, the most famous prehistoric monument in Wiltshire. The name possibly stems from the Old English word for 'hanging' or 'suspended', drawing attention to the massive horizontal lintel stones precariously positioned atop pairs of vertical stones, creating a structure known as trilithons. Hence, 'henge' can be interpreted as 'the Hanging Stones'.

[Kevin-mxvi]

I've visited a few stone circles, many sited on higher ground, and noticed that the alignments from each standing stone across the centre to the stone on the opposite side always seems to line up with a prominent feature in the landscape. This seems to contradict the theory that they're some kind of astronomical "clock" or observatory.
Mitchell's Fold (in Shropshire) also has a ditch which encloses a large irregularly shaped area surrounding the stone circle which has its own circular ditch, suggesting that the stone circle was contained within something like a hill fort, though the ditch and circle may not be contemporary.

[naradaian]

Whimsy if you wish but Silbury Hill is the largest man made hill in Europe rather than ‘the neighborhood’

[simotec]

Where is that henge you showed when you said (stonehenge is the superstar? ) is that real.?