I found last night's programme very interesting, especially the finding of the avenue, and the reconstruction of the timber circles. It gives us a better idea of that feature's awesome-ness to the people who gathered there. Hearing different opinions on how the huge posts might have been decorated also brought it to life. Best of all is the modern technology that creates virtual reality re-construction of these places. If only we'd had this kind of history teaching when I was at school! (Left in '62).
I envied those guys travelling down the Avon in their barge, too - what a great way to explore the area. I don't recall them picking up the link with The Avenue that connects with Stonehenge by landing on the river bank further downstream, and walking up that way towards it. Though Professor Pearson was probably right in his theories, they seemed slightly disjointed when the ashes of the dead were tipped into the river near Durrington Walls to float down to Stonehenge, knowing they'd just sweep past it, at some distance away, after negotiating two large bends in the river.
Surely it would make more sense if they all went by boat down the Avon, after their Durrington Walls celebration, then disembarked close to the end of The Avenue, and walked up to Stonehenge, where they then dispersed the ashes in the circle? Or maybe there was just one boat, occupied by a priest and his assistants, who took this trip with the remains of the ancestors?
It's just occurred to me that if they were celebrating the Midwinter Solstice sunrise at Durrington Walls henge, it would be possible to see that there, then travel by boat downstream to finish the journey on foot up The Avenue to Stonehenge in plenty of time for the sunset the same evening. Many people think this was what Stonehenge was created for, and on that day, perhaps it was the 'grand final' of the ancestors' dedication ceremony??
Must visit next time I'm up that way, and maybe dowse the place for ritual movement.
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