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Henges:
(Form and function).
There are around 100 henges in The British Isles, dating from 3,200 BC.
(1)
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What is a Henge?
A Henge is defined
as... 'a circular earthen bank with an internal ditch
enclosing an area of varying diameter'
(3)
Henges are only known to occur in Britain
and Northern Ireland. They are commonly found in 'groups', each separated
by hundreds of miles. Most henges never originally contained stones.(1)
The classification of henges -
Burl (1), classifies them in the following fashion:
| Class |
Feature |
Distribution |
| I and II |
Single
internal ditch. |
Widespread in Britain |
| IA and IIA |
Two ditches |
Eastern
England |
| IB and IIB |
Single
external ditch |
Very rare |
| IC and IIC |
No ditch |
Western
Britain |
...but adds that 'There was no national blueprint for
the design of a henge'
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Henge facts:
The henge at Avebury was originally 17m (55ft) high
from ditch bottom to bank top with a perimeter of over 1km.
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What was the Function of a
Henge?
Burl is of the opinion that they were meeting places. He
says of them ' The width of the henge entrances argues against their
orientation being for astronomical observation unless there had been a
sighting post or stone outside them'. and then adds that 'such sighting
posts need not be for solar or lunar use. Instead they could have directed
the eye towards hills or mountains of special importance to the builders'.
(1)
There is little doubt that they served a ritualistic
purpose however. The gravel banks of the three henges at
Thornborough were all coated with
crystals of gypsum, rendering them white against the background. (1)
The outlying portal stones/posts found at such sites as
Priddy, Mayburgh, Maumberry, Milfield N, Yeavering, Woodhenge and
Stonehenge
are all evidence of specific orientation of the henges. At Stonehenge we
know that the four original sarsens (of which only the 'heel-stone'
remains), were originally placed to mark events on the lunar cycle.
Astronomy: It has long been suspected that
henges may have been constructed in order to create an artificial horizon
line. The idea is compelling but there are objections to the theory as an
absolute. At Arbor low for example, the henge is built on a slope, and the
height of the henge is constant, following the slope of the hill, giving it
no practical astronomical potential. At Avebury, even the largest henge in the
world cant hide the surrounding hills, and folds in the countryside, which
likewise make the building of a henge for astronomical purposes unlikely, to
say the least.
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When
were the first Henges constructed?
They were built as early as 3,200 BC (Llandegai
North) - (1), but the majority were made between 2,700 and 2,000 BC
Arbour Low Henge-circle, England.
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Examples of Henges.
 Avebury
(England)
- The largest henge in the World. Banks and ditch originally measuring over 15m
from bottom to top (right).
Balfarg -
Carbon dated at 2,900 BC. (1)
Bryn-Celli-Ddu
- Wales. (2)
Bryn-Gwyn - Wales. (2)
Castelruddery -
This small Irish circle has two 15-ton recumbent, quartz, portal stones.
Gorsey Bigbury -
The 'portal' posts at Gorsey-Bigbury were held in place with pieces of red
sandstone, which is not a local stone, evidence of the selectivity of
stone at an early stage of megalithic constructing. An interest in
colours, textures and minerals on the part of prehistoric people has been
noticed at other henges, including Stonehenge. (1) It is interesting that
the original 'Grooved ware' builders of the henge deserted it after just a
few years, following which it was occupied by the 'Beaker people' for
about 200-300 years. (1)
Lismullen henge
(Ireland) - Recently destroyed along with 41 other archaeological
sites in the Tara Skreen Valley, Ireland by the development of a double
tolled motorway through Irelands most sacred landscape?
(Click here for more about the
desecration of the Lismullen henge and the Tara Valley)
Llandegai North (Wales) -
With dates of 3,200 BC from
ditch material and 3,350 BC from a cremation outside the west entrance,
this may
have been the first henge ever erected. (1)
Monknewton
(Ireland)
-
2,350 BC (1)
Maumberry rings - Where forty-five
pits were sunk alongside each
other, each one 10 metres deep and with steps cut down the sides for
access, and from which 50 tons of chalk was removed from each. (1)
Stennes
- Scottish henge on the Orkneys, estimated 12,500 man-hours labour (1)
 Stonehenge -
The henge was the first structure built. At 3,200 BC 'The sun apparently didn't interest the
builders'. (1)
Thornborough - The Thornborough complex consists
of three aligned henges. (incidentally mirroring the common occurrence of
triple circles in
Britain). This same layout can also be seen at the Priddy henges.
Trelleborg
- A Danish henge on the island of Zealand, sited at the confluence of two
rivers. This henge has produced several Neolithic 'ritual objects' such as
polished axe heads, including one of Bluestone (The same stone used at
Stonehenge).
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