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Prehistoric child is discovered buried with 'toy hedgehog' at Stonehenge England

Submitted by coldrum on Friday, 17 October 2008  Page Views: 5878

Stonehenge

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Country: England This toy hedgehog, found in a child's grave at Stonehenge, is proof of what we have always known - children have always loved to play. The chalk figurine was probably a favourite possession of the three year old, and placed next to the child when they died in the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age, around 3,000 years ago.

Archaeologists who discovered the grave, where the child was laying on his or her side, believe the toy - perhaps placed there by a doting father - is the earliest known depiction of a hedgehog in British history.

The diggers were working to the west of Stonehenge in what is known as the Palisade Ditch when they made the remarkable discovery last month in the top of the pit in which the child was buried.

Archaeologist Dennis Price said: 'It is not difficult to envisage the raw emotion and harrowing grief that would have accompanied the death of this child.

'Amid the aura of gloom that surrounds Stonehenge, it comes as a beam of light to find a child's toy lovingly placed with the tiny corpse to keep him or her company through eternity.

'I'm not aware of hedgehogs having any significance in pagan tradition so the discovery must rank as yet another unique and baffling aspect of one of the most famous and instantly recognisable prehistoric monuments on Earth. To my mind, the hedgehog possesses a real charm and an innocent beauty. '

Dr Joshua Pollard, of the Stonehenge Riverside Project, said: 'Representational art from this period is very rare and so far as I'm aware, if the identification is correct, it's the only known prehistoric depiction of a hedgehog from Britain.'

More at the Daily Mail.
Contributor Bio for coldrum: Based in Milkyway, contributing since 2002. Favourite site: Avebury.

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"Prehistoric child is discovered buried with 'toy hedgehog' at Stonehenge" | Login/Create an Account | 5 News and Comments
  
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Re: Prehistoric child is discovered buried with 'toy hedgehog' at Stonehenge by Anonymous on Wednesday, 07 October 2009
I too have a prehistoric Childs Toy of my own,I think...It's the size of a 2 pence piece ,is made of stone is almost flat ,has axle points in the centre of each side ,marked with a small Cross indent .The stone and has a very worn outside edge suggesting the edge has been in contact with a hard surface ie. rolled along.If anyone has any other ideas please let me know
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Re: Prehistoric child is discovered buried with 'toy hedgehog' at Stonehenge by Anonymous on Saturday, 25 October 2008
On page 179, 180, 181 of the late Marija Gimbutas's book The Gods and Goddesses of Old Europe 6500-3500BC Thames and Hudson.we see possible explanations. The uterine celebration is one and another is the healing nature of hedgehog fat.
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Re: Prehistoric child is discovered buried with 'toy hedgehog' at Stonehenge by seo1000 on Saturday, 25 October 2008
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I wonder why this charming toy would necessarily be a hedgehog. Of course, it would be almost impossible to show some spikes (at least I don't see any). However, imo the short "legs" are not conclusive ( or are they indeed?). As far as I'm concerned, the figurine might as well be a lamb, even a dog but I'm saying this without having had the opportunity to study it!
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Re: Prehistoric child is discovered buried with 'toy hedgehog' at Stonehenge by AngieLake on Saturday, 18 October 2008
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It's worth keeping an eye on the website Eternal Idol, where Dennis Price is constantly adding interesting info about Stonehenge. I read this around the time he posted it, on 28th September.
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    Re: Prehistoric child is discovered buried with 'toy hedgehog' at Stonehenge by Runemage on Sunday, 19 October 2008
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    Wise words Angie. there's an update on Eternal Idol from one of the archaeologists which rather changes the opinions expressed by the Daily Mail.

    "we’ve also had some more information from one of the Stonehenge Riverside Project archaeologists who excavated this strange creature, so rather than paraphrase what Chris had to say, I’ll reproduce his message in its entirety:

    The “hedge-pig” was actually found near the top of the pit in which the infant was buried. Actually it was almost directly above the complete pot and associated animal (unknown what kind of animal in the range of a pig or sheep) burial within the pit. It was a rather stratigraphically complex pit. It seems plausible that the “hedge-pig” may have been place on the top of the burial pit. This may have been an offering or some sort of protective iconography, or possibly just some sort of grave marker. I’m sure eventually there will be some thoroughly thought out theories of its purpose, but for now as I know you understand much of it is just speculation. I don’t think this information changes your blog too much, but small details can sometimes be rather important. Anyways, hope this helps you out."
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