Standing Stones of Wiltshire

Mysterious and magnificent. The legendary standing stone circles or henges of Avebury and Stonehenge are hugely popular as historic and tourist attractions. Both henges are found in the beautiful, rural countryside of Wiltshire in south west England. Coincidently Wiltshire is also central to the crop circle phenomenon.

The silent stones of these henges hold many secrets and give these up only very reluctantly. There are lots of varied theories concerning the reason these stone circles were built. Yet despite the archaeological weight behind many of these theories we are still sadly unlikely to really learn why our distant ancestors built the circles. This mystery is possibly one reason why so many people are drawn to visit these stones.

The most commonly accepted theory concerning the purpose of the circles which were built at approximately the same time (circa 2400 BC) is that they were used for sun worship or ancestor worship or both. Both circles are in the vicinity of other Neolithic monuments. Stonehenge is located within site of a Neolithic cursus (purpose unkown). Both Woodhenge and Vespasian's Camp are also located nearby. It is now also theorised that Woodhenge was a "city of the living" while Stonehenge was the "city of the ancestors". Stonehenge expert, Dennis Price, has also linked nearby Kings Barrow Ridge with the legendary lost city of Apollo.

The circles of standing stones are a silent tribute to the resolve and ingenuity of an ancient people. The stones of Stonehenge weigh up to 40 tons each and the effort of moving these from the Marlborough Downs some 45 miles away must have been enormous. Prior to this these Neolithic peoples collected bluestones, weighing up to 4 tons apiece, from possibly as far away as the mountains of Wales some 160 miles away.

Stonehenge, near the cathedral city of Salisbury, is awe inspiring for its sheer size, geometry and astrological alignment. Stonehenge was built in stages over generations and is approximately 5000 years old. Sadly many of these stones have collapsed over time and been destroyed and lost. The summer solstice is now celebrated at Stonehenge by modern druids, pagans and others. Nearly 30,000 people attended the 2008 summer solstice.

Access to Stonehenge is controlled by English Heritage and the National Trust and there is a charge to access the site, but you are not able to actually enter the circle.

Avebury henge, located in and around the small village of Avebury, 32 miles north of Stonehenge, is in contrast and expansive circle of undressed standing stones. An avenue of standing stones leads from the south east to the circle proper. This is dubbed the West Kennet Avenue. Regrettably, as with Stonehenge, many of the stones have been destroyed and are missing. I suggest visiting the site at dawn, in part to avoid crowds, but especially to soak up the atmosphere. On mornings when fog obscures surrounding modern structures and sounds it is possible to let yourself imagine the land and circle as it was some 5000 years past in a time when we lived by different values.

Avebury henge is National Trust property, but access is free although you are charges a nominal fee for parking. Access into the circle is free and you are able to wander at leisure among the rocks themselves.