Julian Cope presents Head Heritage | The Modern Antiquarian Forum

moss

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Re: What is a Henge?

Oct 26, 2003, 20:20

Burl - Stone Circles of the Britsh Isles.. First enclosures were the causewayed ones followed later by henges. Windmill hill is a causewayed enclosure followed later by Avebury - henge with stone circles inside (later?) standing alongside the Ridgeway, which is probably a trading route. He reckons that the henges were meeting places a place for instance, where axes could be traded. There are plenty of axes found at at Windmill, and think of recent Stonehenge axes in the news.
He reckons that henges had a more secular role, the foci of tribal areas, a place where many different things happened. Trading, religious, tribal meetings and moots (where everyone discusses everything under the sun, a bit like this forum!)
Figures;85 known henges;- 46 over 61 m., 6 of these large ones in Scotland or Ireland.
Others 13 to the east, 19 central zone, 10 in the west.
Interesting fact for those of us who live in the s.w., the Wessex henges were probably influenced by the Irish earlier ritual enclosures...

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Re: What is a Henge? (FourWinds)

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Re: What is a Henge? (hob3)

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