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Iron Age Britain, Barry Cunliffe

Iron Age Britain, Barry Cunliffe

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Re: The Great Stone Circles – How they Work Part 4 by Anonymous on Sunday, 26 February 2006

Just an idea about why Henge structures were built: If you build a stone or timber circle (timber circles were commonplace at the same time as the circles) with the intention of watching shadows, then a clear impression is essential. However, if there's vegetation around the circle, a clear first gleam impression is exactly what you won't get.

You effectively have three options for a good sighting:
firstly, clear vegetation that might interfere with the sun or build where there are few obstructions

secondly incorporate a height-dependent sighting system

thirdly either embank the circle or stick a mound round it to cut off sunlight until the sun is well up over the horizon.

All the upland circles are built using the first method. I do not know of any circles using the second method, and the great lowland henges (which presumably had timber uprights instead of stone) used the "elevate the horizon" method.

Building a henge also has a very important religious purpose; it stops people outside looking in, which makes maintaining an air of mystery much easier for priests, who would've rather liked the feeling of power that gave.

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