The
Stonehenge, a monolithic structure in Wiltshire, England has been around for hundreds of years. No one knows the exact purpose, but there have been some theories. Some people believe that the Stonehenge was used as a Saxon execution site and cemetery, while others believe that it was used as site to celebrate the summer and winter solstice. There have been many excavations of the site and various archaeologists trying to figure out what it was used for, but no theories have been completely proven until now. For thousands of years, the mystery of the Stonehenge may have finally been solved. Archaeologists have believed that the Stonehenge was used as a burial site from between Ancient Studies: Individual Research Essay 2600BC – 2700BC. The rocks surrounding the burial site were said to be in place to make it a, „domain of the dead.‟ The earliest discovery of human remains which was discovered was a small pile of burnt bones and teeth found on the outside of the Stonehenge also known as the Aubrey Holes dating from around 3030BC – 2880BC. A second set of remains were also found around the Stonehenge. These remains were of a human adult. The burial of these remains was thought to be between 2930BC – 2870BC. The most recent discovery of human remains was of a 25 year old, which dates back to 2570BC – 2340BC. This was around the period when the Sarsen stones were thought to be arranged, which is now called The Stonehenge. These human remains were carbon dated to find out from which years they were buried in and are kept in the nearby Salisbury Museum.
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These archaeological discoveries have lead to more excavations of the Stonehenge. During these excavations in the 1920‟s, a further 49 remains were found. The remains which were found were put back into the ground to respect them. The archaeologists also said that they had no scientific value to their finds. Archaeologists estimated that about 240 people are buried within the Stonehenge. Parker Pearson, a student of Sheffield who specialises in ancient demography said,
“I don‟t think it was the common people getting buried at the Stonehenge – it was clearly a special place at the time. One has to assume anyone buried there had some good credentials.” (Pearson, 2008)
Mr Pearson‟s comment may not be completely true,
Druids doing a ritual inside the Stonehenge
seeing as that remains inside of the Stonehenge were of criminals and slaves that were stoned to death or beheaded. Alternatively, the Stonehenge was also said to be used as a Saxon Execution site, where they would burry the remains of the criminals and unfortunate people, such as slaves after Ancient Studies: Individual Research Essay executing them. They have discovered headless bodies and remains with broken necks buried within and around the Stonehenge. Philosophers say that criminals back in the Saxon days would‟ve either been hung or beheaded for their punishment for the crime which they committed. Slaves back in the Saxon times were also buried inside the Stonehenge. The slaves were said to be stoned to death once they were not needed or they weren‟t doing their job properly. People that were assumed to be affiliated with sorcery, such as witches, were also said to have been buried in the Stonehenge. These people would be buried face down in the dirt to prevent their ghosts re-emerging into the world of the living.
Above view of the Stonehenge and Heel Stone & Slaughter Stone placement
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Archaeologists have carbon dated a decapitated body found in the Stonehenge and found that he was aged in his thirties. The body body‟s fourth neck vertebra was damaged so much, that they believe that the tool of decapitation would have been a sword or a very sharp instrument, such as a sharpened rock. Archaeologists have also discovered that the body was kneeling at the time of their decapitation.
On the other hand, Philosophers believe that the Stonehenge was used as a ritual space, where the Druids would celebrate the summer and winter of solstice.
Above view of what the Stonehenge was thought to look like when it was first built
The ritual is based on the worship of the Sun when it‟s at the highest point in summer. The night before the ritual takes place, they have a silent vigil next to the Stonehenge . They go throughout the night, until the sun rises the next day. When this sun rises, it‟s the longest day of the year. In the book „Mystical Rites and Rituals and Lost Discoveries,‟ there is a diagram of the Stonehenge, which explains each specific rock‟s purpose. The rocks in the centre have their own story and purpose, such as the heel stone and the slaughter stone. When the summer solstice occurs, the sun is in a full round circle clearly visible just above the Stonehenge. The Stonehenge was thought to be built in a circle, to replicate the sun during the solstice periods of the year . They believe that the Stonehenge would deify cosmic forces then it would be concentrated and projected outwards. They thought that this ritual would enhance agricultural and hunting success after this ritual.
Druids celebrating Summer Solstice
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Ancient Studies: Individual Research Essay
Whilst standing in the centre of the Stonehenge, you could look though the Heel Stones, and see the northeast horizon, where the sun would rise . The Neolithic people did not see this as a scientific or astronomical event; they saw this as a mythic experience. The Neolithic people would be potentially terrified when the day would be shorter; this would also be when winter was approaching. They didn‟t know what was happening at this time, so they would hold a ritual for this ceremony. They thought that if the sun god never returned, that the earth would be left to freeze and stay in internal darkness forever . During the longest day of the summer solstice the Druids and Neolithic people would know to harvest their crops and for them to store food, so that they would not starve during this time of coldness and darkness. These rocks inside the Stonehenge have specific locations, such as the Sunrise Stone and Sunset Stone. These stones would face the sun at the specific time of day. The rock layouts were very well set out and near perfect for a period back then where they had no tools to line them up exactly. Ancient Studies: Individual Research Essay From vigorous examination of sources and researching the Stonehenge, the Stonehenge was most probably used as both of the statements made in the opening paragraph. The druids would probably sacrifice or execute criminals for their rituals to the sun and gods, with the summer or winter solstice approaching them. After the ritual, they would probably bury them within the Stonehenge as a mark of respect.
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REFERENCES
Stonehenge Used as a Cemetery: My Strange Blog 2008, viewed 27th May 2009,
SOURCES
BOOKS Mystical Rites and Rituals 291.3 MYS - Page 50 Cults 291.9 JOR – Page 53 Legends of the Lost 930 LEG – Page 45 Lost Discoveries 930 RON – Page 31 WEBSITES http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7322753.stm http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080604093049AA0uyPN http://space.about.com/od/astronomyhistory/a/stonehenge.htm http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080828194324AAuMH2v http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20000714/ai_n14329192/ http://mystrangeblog.com/2008/05/29/stonehenge-used-as-cemetery/ http://witcombe.sbc.edu/earthmysteries/EMStonehengeD.html www.ahrtp.com/ancienthistory/NeolithicBritainOnline/StonehengeMeaning.html www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/stonehenge-used-as-saxon-execution-site-706917.html PICTURES http://witcombe.sbc.edu/earthmysteries/EMStonehengeC.html http://witcombe.sbc.edu/earthmysteries/EMStonehengeB.html
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Ancient Studies: Individual Research Essay