Stonehenge | World Heritage Site | Why was Stonehenge built? | 10-Minute Talks | The British Academy

Summary

Professor Mike Parker Pearson of University College London discusses his 20-year research on Stonehenge's origins. He reveals that the site was built in stages, starting around 3,000 BC during the Neolithic period. The first stage involved bluestones from the Preseli Hills, 140 miles away, suggesting a possible migration or unification of tribes. The second stage introduced the large sarsens stones from West Woods, 15 miles away. Pearson also explores the transportation methods and the ceremonial significance of the site, hinting at further studies to uncover the complete story.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Mike Parker Pearson is a Professor of Archaeology at University College London and a Fellow of the British Academy with 20 years of research on Stonehenge.
• 🏺 Stonehenge was built around 3000 BC during the Neolithic period, marking the transition from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age.
• 🏗 The construction of Stonehenge occurred in five stages, with the second stage involving the large sarsen stones, which were sourced from a location 15 miles away.
• 🗿 The first stage of Stonehenge intrigues researchers due to the use of bluestones, which are volcanic rocks with a unique origin far from the site.
• 📍 The bluestones were traced back to the Preseli Hills of west Wales, approximately 140 miles away as the crow flies, indicating a significant logistical effort.
• 🌋 The bluestones consist of various types of rocks, including dolerites and rhyolites, with some spotted with white specks.
• 🔍 Geologists have been able to pinpoint the exact sources of some of the bluestones, contributing to the understanding of Stonehenge's construction.
• 🏰 The Preseli Hills were not just a quarry site but also a ceremonial center with Neolithic tombs, enclosures, and the remains of a stone circle.
• 🌅 Waun Mawn, a stone circle in the Preseli Hills, was found to have the same diameter as Stonehenge and may have been the original site before stones were moved.
• 🚣 The method of transporting the bluestones to Stonehenge is still debated, with the possibility of overland transport followed by crossing water bodies.
• 🤔 The reasons behind moving the stones remain speculative, with theories suggesting a possible migration or an effort to unify different tribal groups in Britain.

Q & A

Who is Mike Parker Pearson?

Mike Parker Pearson is a Professor of Archaeology at University College London and a Fellow of the British Academy.

How long has Mike Parker Pearson been researching Stonehenge?

Mike Parker Pearson has been researching Stonehenge for the last 20 years.

What is the age of Stonehenge?

Stonehenge is 5,000 years old, built across the transition from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age.

What is the significance of the Neolithic period in relation to Stonehenge?

The Neolithic period, also known as the time of farming, is when the first stage of Stonehenge was built around 3,000 BC.

What are the two main stages of Stonehenge construction mentioned in the script?

The first stage of Stonehenge construction involved the bluestones, and the second stage involved the erection of the great sarsens with lintels on top.

Where are the sarsens, the large stones of Stonehenge, believed to originate from?

The sarsens are believed to come from West Woods, about 15 miles away from Stonehenge.

What are the bluestones and where are they thought to have originated?

The bluestones are a series of different types of rocks, including dolerites and rhyolites, which are types of volcanic rock, and they are thought to have originated from the Preseli Hills of west Wales.

How far away are the Preseli Hills from Stonehenge?

The Preseli Hills are approximately 140 miles away as the crow flies, but the actual route likely to be taken for transporting stones is at least 180 miles.

What was discovered about the Preseli Hills during the investigation?

The Preseli Hills were found to be a ceremonial center with Neolithic monumental tombs, dolmens, enclosures, and the remains of a former stone circle called Waun Mawn.

What was the diameter of the Waun Mawn stone circle and how does it compare to Stonehenge?

The diameter of the Waun Mawn stone circle was 110 meters, which is the same as Stonehenge's ditch, suggesting a connection between the two sites.

What is one of the proposed theories for the transportation of the bluestones to Stonehenge?

One theory suggests that the bluestones were transported over land as far as possible and then across water, possibly at the Severn Estuary or north of Gloucester.

What is one of the possible reasons for moving the stones from the Preseli Hills to Stonehenge?

One possibility is that people may have abandoned their homelands and moved eastwards, or it could have been an active unification effort to bring two different tribal groups within Britain together.