THE MYSTERY OF

STONEHENGE
SYMBOLISM AND CEREMONY
Eric Bradford
Joshua Higbee
and Whitney Seal
History and Construction

Construction started over 5,000

years ago
Structure and design have been
modified throughout its existence
Built from bluestones imported from Image credit to History.com
Wales
Each stone weighs up to 40 tons

(Scarre 2013, 416-417)

. . . But why was it buil

Contrasting Theories
Death/Ancestral Theory

Nearly 60 burials found in aubrey holes from

1921-1923, reburied in aubrey hole 7
Re Excavation and examination of the
cremated remains revealed mostly males 25-
40 years of age (Jqueline Mckinley & grad.
student Christie Cox)
Archaeologist Graham from Madagascar said
I believe this is a meeting place to connect
with the ancestors, I am utterly convinced the
stones are linked with the ancestors

Image credit to aboutbritain.com

A Place of Healing

Was Stonehenge a primeval Lourdes?

Prof. Timothy Darvill and Prof. Geoff Wainwright
Image credit to bshistorian.wordpress.com
claim Stonehenge was where people claim to be
made well.
The majority of excavated remains show
evidence of trauma.
Gathering and Sun Worship Theory

Rather than a place of death, this theory focuses on sun

worship and gathering with others around the summer
solstice. During this time, the sun would set in between
the rocks which also could correspond with a clock.
 Ancestral
Ceremonial Support

Image credit: http://heaven-light.de.tl/Stonehenge.htm

Durrington Walls less than two miles away with timber posts (living celebrations)
Digs between Durrington Walls and the river Avon revealed a path, temporary
houses, and large bone pits with connected (pig & cattle) bones (remaining soft
tissue evidence of feasting)
from the distance bluestones were moved, the size of the sarsen stones, to the
level of detail. Stonehenge must have a deeper meaning
Stonehenge and Durrington Walls connections (River Avon, and both summer and
winter solstice sun alignment)
 References

PBS. Secrets of Stonehenge. 2010. Film.

Scarre, Chris. 2013 The Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human
Societies. 3rd ed. Thames & Hudson Ltd, London.

Stone, E. Herbert. "The Purpose of Stonehenge." Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain
and Ireland (1925): 5.

TNT Magazine. "Stonehenge discovery points to ancient sun worship." 29 November

2011. http://www.tntmagazine.com/news/uk/stonehenge-discovery-points-to-ancient-
sun-worship. Photograph. 2017.
Wilson, Hugh. "The healing stones: why was Stonehenge built?" BBC (2011).