What does the name Stonehenge mean?
stone hanging
The name of the monument probably derives from the Saxon stan-hengen, meaning “stone hanging” or “gallows.” Along with more than 350 nearby monuments and henges (ancient earthworks consisting of a circular bank and ditch), including the kindred temple complex at Avebury, Stonehenge was designated a UNESCO World …
Why is Stonehenge called a henge?
The term ‘henge’ actually derives from Britain’s most famous prehistoric monument, Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, where lintel stones balance across pairs of verticals, forming what are known as trilithons (tri- three, lith- stone). It has to make do with being a ‘proto-henge’.
What was the purpose of Stonehenge?
There is strong archaeological evidence that Stonehenge was used as a burial site, at least for part of its long history, but most scholars believe it served other functions as well—either as a ceremonial site, a religious pilgrimage destination, a final resting place for royalty or a memorial erected to honor and …
What was the purpose of Avebury?
Its original purpose is unknown, although archaeologists believe that it was most likely used for some form of ritual or ceremony. The Avebury monument is a part of a larger prehistoric landscape containing several older monuments nearby, including West Kennet Long Barrow, Windmill Hill and Silbury Hill.
What exactly is a henge?
Henge (> 20 m). The word henge refers to a particular type of earthwork of the Neolithic period, typically consisting of a roughly circular or oval-shaped bank with an internal ditch surrounding a central flat area of more than 20 m (66 ft) in diameter. Henge monument is sometimes used as a synonym for henge.
How many Henges are there in the world?
8 little-known prehistoric sites in Britain Stone circles number 1,000 across the country, while there are around 120 henges known.
What is the difference between Stonehenge and Avebury?
Stonehenge is the most architecturally sophisticated prehistoric stone circle in the world, while Avebury is the largest. Each area contains a focal stone circle and henge and many other major monuments.