NEWS

This page contains snippets of news from the Stonehenge and Salisbury area. For in depth news on archaeology from throughout the world go to http://archaeology.ws/ Written by Radio 5 broadcaster Win Scutt it has all the top stories from the world of archaeology.

26th April 2008

Three Men in a Float article.

To coincide with their book on travelling accross England in an electric milk float, there is an extract in the Daily Telegraph. You can view it at;

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2008/04/26/ftfront126.xml

Thew book goes on sale on May 1st 2008.

1st April 2008

The mysteries of Stonehenge to be solved?

A two week dig at Stonehenge is making some very extravagant claims on what it will achieve. Not only will it shed light on when the bluestones were erected, but answer the question why? The first may well, we hope, be achieved as it will be a matter of scientific fact. The second is a little more difficult as it will be based on conjecture around a few skeletons found in the area from the hundreds of thousands of people who lived during the period.The stones will only remain slightly less of a mystery at the end of the dig than at the beginning.

Daily video updates on this fascinating dig can be found on English Heritage's site at;

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.18770

26th March 2008

Stonehenge replica to be built in Australia
The Daily Telegraph reports on an entrepreneur who plans to construct an exact replica of Stonehenge in Australia.
Ross Smith, the former owner of a successful microbrewery business, hopes the monument will be ready in time for Australia's next summer solstice, on December 21.
"I'm doing it because I can," said Mr Smith, who plans to reconstruct the ancient monument on land he owns in the Margaret River region of Western Australia.

Nowhere in the world has a complete Stonehenge been built."The structure will be made with 2,500 tonnes of granite quarried from Esperance, on Western Australia's south coast.
The £700,000 project, to be called The Henge, will include 101 granite stones arranged in an inner and outer circle and a central altar.
Unlike the original Stonehenge, guests will be encouraged to play around the new monument, which will also have an interpretive centre and a children's playground.
Mr Smith said The Henge would be a business venture, to be hired out for weddings and other events.
A small team of quarry workers has spent the past five months drilling and blasting the stones into shape.

19th March 2008

Joining in the Celebrations: Salisbury Cathedral Celebrated, 20 March – 21 June

Upcoming exhibition at Salisbury Museum showcases rarely seen works of art and a new acquisition.

Salisbury Cathedral Celebrated displays artistic representations of the Cathedral from the 1600s to the present day. From painting to print to photograph and sculpture, each artist celebrates the Cathedral itself as the ultimate masterpiece. Particular aspects of the Cathedral such as the Bell Tower, the Spire and the Chapter House will enjoy especial focus.

Highlights include our newly acquired Albert Goodwin watercolour of the West front and a unique opportunity to view rarely seen treasures from the Cathedral’s collections. These include the casket said to have contained a piece of the Virgin’s robes, found in the Spire, and a stained glass panel incorporating a medley of glass smashed up by James Wyatt during his controversial renovations at the end of the 18th century.

The exhibition runs from Thursday 20 March to Saturday 21 June 2008.

15th March 2008

Mayor of Epsom and Ewell's Charity Coach Trip.

The Mayor of Epsom And Ewell held a charity coach trip in aid of the Stroke Association on Saturday 15th March 2008. The first stop was Durrington Walls.The party of 50 were told about when and how the henge was built with some practical demonstrations of the type of tools used by Phil Harding of the Time Team.

Pat Shelley & Phil Harding toasting the Mayor with the commemorative mugs she had presented to them.

The party went on to meet the Mayor's of both Salisbury and Bath during the rest of their days travel.

9th January 2008

£37.85 million cost of saying NO

It has been announced that the total cost of the enquiries into the Stonehenge improvement scheme which has been scrapped is £37.85 million. That's close on 8% of what it would have cost to have built the tunnel.

6th December 2007

Government scraps improvements to Stonehenge.

All those who visit Stonehenge are surprised (and appalled) at how close a major road - the A303 - is to the stones.There is a smaller road which actually passes within metres of the Heel Stone. All in all the setting is not worthy of one of the worlds most famous and iconic monuments.

Today the government announced that it is scrapping all the current proposals for diverting or tunnelling the roads around Stonehenge because '...this scheme cannot be justified and would not represent best use of taxpayers' money.' The cost of the tunnel was estimated to be £540 million. A proposed visitors centre was conditional upon the tunnel going ahead so that too is now scrapped.

What a mess! £540 m is a lot of money. We are,however, willing to spend 20 times that amount on the Olympic Games in 2012 which will last for 4 weeks and that's it. Stonehenge gets nearly a million visitors every year.

As all those who visit, know the facilities at Stonehenge are awful. They were designed (in the loosest sense of that word) for around 300,000 visitors each year and get around threee times that number. There are no artefacts on site; no decent cafe or restaurant; and the facilities for staff are inadequate - they must be devastated by the announcement.

To quote 'The Government remains committed to working with stakeholders in investigating options for improving the environment of Stonehenge,including new visitor facilities,and exploring possible small scale measures to improve traffic flows and safety along this section of the A303.' They're just words.

6th November 2007

Durrington Walls- report from the BBC

The Neolithic monument continues to fascinate Archaeologists working near Stonehenge have uncovered what they believe is the largest Neolithic settlement ever discovered in Northern Europe. Remains of an estimated 300 houses are thought to survive under earthworks 3km (2 miles) from the famous stone rings, and 10 have been excavated so far. But there could have been double that total according to the archaeologist leading the work. "What is really exciting is realising just how big the village for the Stonehenge builders was," says Professor Mike Parker Pearson of Sheffield University. Allowing four per house, he estimates there could have been room for more than 2,000 people. Join the party Analysis of the houses has also showed that some were higher status than others. This is the first evidence for social difference and hierarchy at the time of Stonehenge, indicating that the organisation of labour for moving and raising the stones was not egalitarian. The settlement is buried beneath the bank of Durrington Walls, a great circular ditched enclosure. Durrington Walls holds clues to the Stonehenge story Geophysical survey and excavation work have revealed that the ditch and bank had been constructed in large sections, probably by separate work gangs. A find of dozens of antler picks in one section of ditch gives some idea of the size of these work parties. "From the number of antler picks left in the bottom of one section - 57 - if you allow two people with one pick plus a team of basketeers carrying the rubble away and you've got to have the sandwich makers as well. "This suggests a minimum team size of 200. If the 22 sections of Durrington's ditch were all dug at the same time, that's a work force of thousands." Animal incomers The settlement beneath Durrington Walls dates from around the time of the construction of Stonehenge's sarsen stones, about 2600 to 2500 BC. For Mike Parker Pearson, the new evidence throws an important light on how Neolithic society worked - how people organised themselves to build mega-structures. Bone and other artefacts are being dug up Apply this to Stonehenge, and he believes there were groups of about 200-400 people working under a clan head, responsible for completing individual sections of the overall monument. "It's possible that most of Southern Britain may have been involved at one stage or another," Parker Pearson says. Other evidence from cow and pig bones found on the site suggests that people were coming into the area on a seasonal basis. "This was a temporary settlement," he says. "They were not doing basic daily chores, not grinding corn, not raising animals. There were no baby pigs and cows. It looks like the livestock had been brought in." Copper clue And there is also evidence of feasting at Durrington Neolithic village such as bones still connected together. "This is the sort of thing you are expecting at feasting occasions - discarded but still-edible joints of meat - when everyone has got enough to eat." So far, only a fraction of the area has been excavated The team has also found a tantalising artefact: a piece of chalk with cut marks that Parker Pearson believes was made by a copper axe. He is not surprised at the evidence - as copper working in neighbouring parts of mainland Europe dates back to 3000 BC - but it would be the first evidence from Britain before 2400 BC. The theory is also supported by the almost total absence of evidence of stone or flint axes in the village. The current excavations at Stonehenge began four years ago and are part of a 10-year project.

27th October 2007

Former Prime Minister's house in Salisbury Cathedral Close to open

As reported in the Wiltshire Times;

THE 18th century Salisbury Cathedral Close home of former Prime Minister Edward Heath is to open to the public.
Before his death in July 2005, Sir Edward indicated that he wanted his beloved Arundells home to be enjoyed by the nation not only so visitors can admire the Grade II* house but also his collection of art, mementos and gifts gathered during his long and distinguished political career.
An earlier attempt by the Trustees of the Sir Edward Heath Foundation to open Arundells was refused by Salisbury planners following a number of complaints from Sir Edward's former neighbours living in the Close.
They claimed opening the house would ruin the unspoiled and peaceful character of The Close.
But, a revised plan by the trustees to reduce the period of opening from five years to three years, remove from the application provisions for fire doors and a ticket booth and alterations to signage was sufficient for members of Salisbury District Council's city area planning committee to give their approval.
The approval has to be ratified by the Secretary of State because opening the listed house to the public is a change of use.
The foundation intends to open the ground floor of Arundells from Saturday to Tuesday between 1pm and 6pm from Easter until the end of September. There will not be any catering or retail facilities.

1st October 2007

Ghastly Book of Stonehenge.

Stonehenge is coming back to life for children across the country with the launch of 'The Ghastly Book of Stonehenge'. English Heritage has combined fascinating facts with gory stories to create a book that brings one of the world's most famous historic monuments into the vivid imaginations of children. The book, released at English Heritage sites and online from September, details the gruesome and grisly history of one of England's best-loved historic sites.

'The Ghastly Book of Stonehenge' takes children on a journey around the site, examining the mysteries of the stones and their colourful history. Kids will love the detailed illustrations and 'foul facts', covering everything from prehistoric fashions and food to mysterious Druids. As well as educational facts and figures, the book contains entertaining stories and anecdotes about Stonehenge, such as the ghosts of archaeologists who remain fascinated by the stones - even in death!

The book, aimed at children aged 10+, has been developed by English Heritage with the help of educational expert James Smith. He says: "'The Ghastly Book of Stonehenge' is a fabulous way of encouraging children to engage with their nation's heritage. As well as learning about the history of this amazing site, the book covers other areas of learning interest, such as archaeology and technology. An understanding of how historians piece together the stories of our past can really help children develop an appreciation of history. This book is an enchanting and fun educational tool for all learners - whether they are eight or 88."

The book includes fun puzzles and quizzes designed to help children retain both during a visit to Stonehenge, as well as at home, and enhances a child's experience of the site by encouraging exploration and discovery. One of the quizzes offers children the chance to win a badge of achievement by sending their answer to English Heritage.

Beck Ward Murphy, Publishing Manager for English Heritage's Education titles, commented: "We are really excited to be launching this title in the Ghastly Books series. We released the first title in the series - 'The Ghastly Book of Dover Castle' - last year, and are very pleased with sales so far. We appreciate that parents, teachers and children are keen to see more books of this type that introduce heritage sites in a fun, interactive way."

'The Ghastly Book of Stonehenge' is available from most major English Heritage sites or online from www.english-heritage.org.uk/shopping . It is priced at £3.99.

23rd August 2007

English Heritage press release on Durrington Walls dig.

Digs at Woodhenge, Durrington Walls and the Stonehenge Cursus open to the public -

Until 14 September the public will be able to get a taste of prehistoric life when they visit archaeological digs at three important Neolithic monuments situated around the Stonehenge World Heritage Site: Durrington Walls, Woodhenge and the Stonehenge Cursus.

The digs form part of the Riverside Project, being carried out by the Universities of Sheffield, Bristol, Manchester and Bournemouth as well as University College London and Wessex Archaeology. The teams are digging around Woodhenge, Durrington Walls and the Stonehenge Cursus to find out more about these sites and their link to Stonehenge.

The sites will be open to the public throughout the dig, with guided tours and children's activities available. In addition, English Heritage is holding special open days on 25, 26 and 27 August and as part of Heritage Open Days on 8 and 9 September, where people can come along and learn more about the sites and the lives of the people who built them. The activities on these open days will include demonstrations of prehistoric archery, pottery and cookery by re-enactors, plus there will be a demonstration on flint tool making by Phil Harding of Time Team on the afternoons of 26 August and 9 September.

The monuments form part of the larger complex of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site which covers 2,600 hectares and includes many outstanding prehistoric monuments, in addition to the famous Stone Circle.

The dig will include excavations of ancient buildings to the south of Woodhenge's timber circle and the mysterious Cuckoo Stone, a fallen standing stone. At Durrington Walls, the team will be excavating the houses of the builders of Stonehenge and looking for the ancient pathway which once linked Durrington Walls to Woodhenge. Meanwhile at the Stonehenge Cursus, they will be trying to discover when the earthwork was built by excavating parts of the ditch and its interior.

22nd August 2007

Stonehenge Riverside Project open days.

The Stonehenge Riverside Project dig for 2007 started in earnest on the 19th August with the arrival of over 100 student archaeologists. Before they even started some interesting discoveries had already been made during the geophysical survey of the area. There is an open weekend on the 225th-27th August when you can learn more about the dig, the recent finds,and see some re-enactors showing what life may have been like during the neolithic period. Salisbury & Stonehenge Guided Tours will be there providing free guided tours of the site and up to date information about the recent finds.

17th August 2007

Stonehenge voted a disappointing attraction.

A report in the Guardian newspaper reports on a travel insurance company's poll of visitors to 24 sites in the world as follows;

"Stonehenge, which topped the table of the most disappointing attractions in Britain, has long suffered complaints about its position wedged at the junction of the busy A303 and A344.

Planning permission has been granted for a £67m visitor centre that has been in the pipeline for years, but English Heritage is still awaiting a decision from the government on whether the A303 can be rerouted into a tunnel. The centre cannot go ahead without it. Stonehenge director Peter Carson said: "Stonehenge is a must-see attraction even though the current visitor facilities are inadequate for the number of people who visit each year."

The prehistoric monument's latest critics, who must pay £6.30 to walk around the stone circle, noted that the "road does seem to detract from the spectacle". One, with disregard for the mystery of the monument which dates to around 3,100 BC, complained it was "just a pile of rocks" and even sniped: "It's dull." Those polled for Virgin Travel Insurance chose their most underwhelming sights from a list of 24 possibilities in the UK and 25 overseas."

If you visit on a coach with less than 45 minutes to see the stones or more importantly learn something about the wider landscape in which it sits you may well be disappointed. Stonehenge is visited by nearly a million people each year and for many it will be their only trip here. Those who take the time ( like our clients) certainly find it a moving and uplifting sight.

13th August 2007

Stonehenge Riverside Project 2007

Final preparations are being made for the Stonehenge Riverside Project dig which runs from the 19th August until the 14th September. Led by Professor Mike Parker-Pearson of Sheffield University, it will also involve staff and students from Manchester, Bristol, Bournemouth, and London University's along with support from Wessex Archaeology.

This year there will be 9 trenches at 5 locations. Three of the neolithic houses uncovered last year will be excavated again and this may be the last time these will be seen. Further investigations will take place on the Cursus, just to the north of Stonehenge.

Guided tours will take place evry day (except Fridays and Saqturday 1st September) and there are 2 open weekends with displays and demonstrations on neolithic life. Tours will start from a visitors centre which will be located at Woodhenge.

23rd July 2007

Government allegedly set to reject Stonehenge road improvements.

According to the Times newspaper the Government is considering rejecting the proposed tunnel taking a major trunk road away from Stonehenge.

A tunnel more than a mile long would have taken the A303 trunk road under the extensive prehistoric landscape in which the stone circle of Stonehenge stands. A new visitor centre had also been planned.

Despite 20 years of work by English Heritage, which manages Stonehenge, and several planning inquiries costing £25m, a senior government source said last week that the scheme was “simply far too expensive”.

Instead, the culture and transport departments are planning a far cheaper scheme for a new bypass road for Stonehenge.

The decision will be a blow to Sir Neil Cossons, the outgoing chairman of English Heritage which manages Stonehenge. He said in a valedictory interview this weekend: “If this road project fails we shall have to wait many more years before there is another solution.”

Cossons, who has spent seven years in the job, added: “The new tunnel, the closure of other roads in the area around Stonehenge and the visitor centre should have been ready for 2012. It was timed for the Olympics. After all, an image of Stonehenge was used in the video that in 2005 helped us to win the Games.

“Stonehenge is international currency, known throughout the world.”

The tunnel to carry the A303 and the visitor centre might have put an end to one of the most spectacular views from any road in England, but for tourists it would have made access easier to Stonehenge, which attracts about 1 million visitors a year. It would also have returned the 5,000-year-old monument to a peaceful grassland setting.

Rejection means that the planned £67m visitor centre, from which mini-buses would have taken visitors to Stonehenge, will be shelved, as its location was dependent on the tunnel.

It could also jeopardise the status of Stonehenge as a World Heritage site, awarded by Unesco in 1986. At the time, the United Nations cultural body told the government that it must improve access and take nearby roads away from the site. Unesco will consider delisting Stonehenge at its next meeting in February.

The government’s preferred solution now is for the stretch of the A303 that at present passes close to the south of Stonehenge to be diverted well to the north. This would be a much cheaper option as no tunnel would be needed. However, it would need the permission of the Ministry of Defence to take the road, which would then become a dual carriage-way, through an army area.

Many visitors who have visited Stonehenge will know how the current road spoils their visit because of the noise it creates. We're happy to spend 20 times the amount of money on the Olympics which will last for a few weeks, but not on an ancient monument which attracts around a million tourists each year.

10th July 2007

Pugin in Salisbury.

A special plaque has been unveiled at Salisbury's St Osmund's Church to commemorates the architect and Gothic revivalist Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, who designed St Osmund's and the Houses of Parliament. Pugin lived in Aderbury, just outside Salisbury for many years and was involved in 'improvements' to other buildings in the City.

Pugin was received into the Catholic Church in Salisbury in 1835 and designed St Osmund's in 1847 and 1848 while simultaneously working on the Houses of Parliament.

The Mayor of Salisbury and other civic dignitaries attended a special thanksgiving service prior to the unveiling of the plaque.

7th July 2007

Stonehenge fails to make the new 7 wonders list.

The new 7 wonders of the world were announced in Portugal today following a worldwide vote. It is estimated that 100 million people voted in the poll.Sadly Stonehenge did not make the final list. The new 7 wonders are: Chichen Itza, Mexico; Christ Redeeemer, Brazil; Great Wall of China; Machu Picchu, Peru; Petra, Jordan; Colloseum, Rome; Taj Mahal, India.

Though not a new 7 wonder, Stonehenge still attracts nearly 1 million visitors each year and will remain an enigmatic icon recognised throughout the world.

3rd July 2007

Launch of new book on Stonehenge by Julian Richards.

Today saw the official launch of a new book by archaeologist and broadcaster Julian Richards - STONEHENGE. THE STORY SO FAR. Launched with a lecture on Stonehenge at Salisbury Museum, Julian explained that the book attempts to answer all the questions that he has been asked over the 27 years that he has been studying and lecturing on the iconic monument. No-one will ever write the definitive story of Stonehenge, but this book 'draws together all the evidence, from antiquarian observations to the latest radiocarbon datesand investigations in the surrounding landscape, in a single narrative. Firmly based on archaeological facts, this story is an attempt to bring to life the Age of Stonehenge.'

With 85,000 words over 12 chapters the books is richly illustrated with diagrams and some superb photographs of Stonehenge, many not published before.

The book is published by English Heritage and priced at £36. For a copy please click on the Amazon box on our Stonehenge page.

29th June 2007

Report from the BBC on modern day druids support for Stonehnege's bid to become a new 7 wonder of the world.

Winners will be announced on 7 July in Portugal Druids have performed a drumming ceremony to support a bid by Stonehenge to become one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. The ceremony at the stone circle was performed by 30 Druids in 10 minute cycles between 0800 and 0900 BST. It is a traditionally-based Druid rite, adapted for the occasion, which honours the spirits of nature. The earth is also blessed with drumming and the blowing of trumpets. Winners will be announced on 7 July. Stonehenge is one of 21 finalists in the race to become one of the New 7 Wonders. Stonehenge is a symbol of hope and inspiration for the whole world Frank Somers, Stonehenge Druid Frank Somers, Stonehenge Druid and member of the Council of British Druid Orders, said: "Stonehenge is a creation of great beauty, mystery, and human achievement and we hope that it will inspire people in the ages to come as it always has in the past. "Its designers had vision of a sacred place that perfectly reflects the movements of earth sun and moon, that which sustain life. "They built with perfect proportion and geometry a structure that for all its apparent simplicity is still totally beautiful." 'Symbol of hope' A variety of 'wonders' from around the world including The Acropolis, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu are in the running and votes can be cast right up until midnight of 6 July 2007 - the night before the winners are announced. The New7Wonders World Tour visited Stonehenge last October as part of its global tour to highlight the 21 finalists. Stonehenge director Peter Carson said: "Stonehenge is an invaluable part of our heritage and draws visitors from all over the world. "It truly deserves to become a New 7 Wonder in recognition of its historical and cultural importance and I urge people to make their votes count before it is too late." Stonehenge Druid Frank Somers added: "Stonehenge is a symbol of hope and inspiration for the whole world. If you do nothing else this year, please vote for Stonehenge, it will make a difference."

26th June 2007

Unusual crop circle

Wiltshire is famed for its very arty crop circles, but this was from the Netherlands won't win any prizes.

It was formed by a man alledgedly on drugs desperately trying to escape from the Police.

3rd June 2007

THREE MEN IN A FLOAT visit Salisbury

It's not every Sunday that you cycle through the central car park in Salisbury and find a milk float. This is no ordinary milk float though. Dan, Ian and Prasanth are driving their milk float named 'The Mighty One' from the mostly easterly point in England, Lowestoft, to the most westerly one at Lands End at the sedate speed of 15 miles per hour. In need of some fuel we were happy to provide them with our cooker point so that they could recharge their motor batteries before continuing their journey.

From left to right: Ruth,Cassie,Ben,Pat and Phil

During their stopover we were joined by our great friend and neighbour Phil Harding from Time Team. Phil was able to provide a photo of Keith Moon on his milk float (yes he really did own one) which now adorns the side window of our visitors float.

Why are they doing it? It's not a charity stunt. They are taking a slow route through England to get to know the countryside and the people which all too often we speed through without ever getting to know ,or even care, about either. They'll probably learn a lot about themselves in the process.Their adventures will eventually end up in a book detailing their journey. Without any support crew they are relying on assistance from people they meet for the power to keep going and accommodation. You can follow their progress by pasting in the following link

http://web.mac.com/ianvince/iWeb/Three%20Men%20in%20a%20Float/Home/Home.html

We all have a lesson to learn from their adventure. Tourism seems to be about seeing the site, ticking it off and on to the next one. What this fails to do is learn about the heart and soul of a place. Today I read the blog of a tourist who said that they went to Stonehenge and there wasn't much there. I think our most recent visitors Dixie, Shannon, Tom, Peter, Mary, Sarah, Marie, David, Natasha, Malcolm, Keltie, Geri, Laura, Linda, Michael..... might disagree with that statement. They took the time.

Good luck to the Three men in a Float and all the other intrepid adventurers who may come this way. You are welcome.

17th May 2007

Free Access to Stonehenge for the summer solstice

English Heritage, the quango which manages Stonehenge on behalf of the nation, has announced the arrangements for the suummer solstice 2007. They say;

10th May 2007

Stonehenge currently in 9th place.

You can vote for the new 7 wonders of the world at www.new7wonders.com Stonehenge is currently in 9th place. The new 7 wonders will be announced on the 7th July 2007. If you haven't voted for Stonehenge yet you still have time.

5th May 2007

US born President of the CPRE

The Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) has appointed US born writer and author Bill Bryson as it new president. Born in Des Moines, Iowa is a self confessed anglophile who lives in Norfolk. He has written extensively on Britain often highlighting the whimsy of what he sees and the people he meets. He is currently a commissioner with English Heritage ( a government quango responsible for the management of state owned monuments), but is likely to give up that role as the CPRE disagrees with the formers proposals for improvements to Stonehenge. He will be a great asset and ambassador for the CPRE.

25th April 2007

Professor Timothy Darvill, Head of the Archaeology Group at Bournemouth University, has breathed new life into the controversy surrounding the origins of Stonehenge by publishing a theory which suggests that the ancient monument was a source and centre for healing and not a place for the dead as believed by many previous scholars.
After publication of his new book on the subject - Stonehenge: The Biography of a Landscape (Tempus Publishing) - Professor Darvill also makes a case for revellers who travel to be near the ancient monument for the summer solstice in June to reconsider. Instead, Professor Darvill believes that those seeking to tap into the monument’s powers at its most potent time of the year should do so in December during the winter solstice when our ancestors believed that the henge was ‘occupied’ by a prehistoric god - the equivalent of the Roman and Greek god of healing, Apollo – who ‘chose’ to reside in winter with the Hyborians, long believed to be the ancient Britons.

The basis for Professor Darvill’s findings lies in the Preseli Mountains in west Wales where he and colleague Professor Geoffrey Wainwright have located an exact origin for the bluestones used in the construction of Stonehenge some 250 km away.

“The questions most people ask when they consider Stonehenge is ‘why was it built?’ and ‘how was it was used?’” says Professor Darvill. “Our work has taken us to the Preseli Mountains to provide a robust context for the source of the bluestones and to explore various ideas about why those mountains were so special to prehistoric people”.
“We have several strands of evidence to consider. First, there have folklore in the form of accounts written in the 14th century which refer to a magician bringing the stones from the west of the British Isles to what we know as Salisbury Plain,” he continues. “It was believed that these particular stones had many healing properties because in Preseli, there are many sacred springs that are considered to have health-giving qualities; the water comes out of the rocks used to build Stonehenge and it’s well established that as recently as the late 18th century, people went to Stonehenge to break off bits of rock as talismans.

“Also, around the Stonehenge landscape, there are many burials, some of which have been excavated and amongst these there are a good proportion of people who show sings of being unwell – some would have walked with a limp or had broken bones – just the sort of thing that in modern times pressurises people to seek help from the Almighty.

“In the case of Stonehenge, I suggest that the presiding deity was a prehistoric equivalent of the Greek and Roman god of healing, Apollo. Although his main sanctuary was at Delphi in Greece, it is widely believed that he left Greece in the winter months to reside in the land of the Hyborians – usually taken to be Britain.

30th March 2007

The governement has approved the plans for a new visitor centre at Stonehenge. Those who have already will know that the visitor facilities are a disgrace at a monument which has visitors from all over the world. The plans would site the centre about a mile away.

The bad news is that the building can only go ahead once another government department approves a new road scheme. A bored tunnel is the best solution as it will leave the stones in a peaceful landscape. Trouble is the cost of the tunnel is £500 million.Now the Olympics are costing 20 times that amount of money and will last a month. The tunnel will last many years.

26th March 2007

Stuck for something to do on St Georges Day - 23rd April? Paste the following link into your browser to see what happens here in Salisbury to celebrate Englands patron saint; http://www.salisbury.gov.uk/leisure/arts-and-entertainment/st-george.htm

14th March 2007

The home of former British Prime Minister Edward Heath is not to open to the public in July as planned. His former home, Arundels, is a 18th Century house in the Close surrounding Salisbury Cathedral. The local council refused a planning application to open the use based on the inadquacy of lavatories for the public and concern over signage in the area.

The house contains rare Ming vases presented by Chairman Mao and paintings by Sir Winston Churchill.

23rd February 2007

Three protestors from fathers 4 justice dressed as Fred Flintstone's and climbed on top of Stonehenge yesterday 22nd February. They breached the security fence at 9.15 am and finally came down at 5 pm when they were promptly arrested. Stonehenge remained open during the day to visitors.

Fathers 4 justice campaign for the right of both parents ( and grandparents) to maintain contact with their children while they are growing up. This was one of a number of stunts by the group to draw attention to their cause.

21st February 2007

Missing Stonehenge stone found?

It was common for the stones at Stonehenge to be broken up or removed and re-used elsewhere for a variety of purposes. Someone believes they may have found one such stone at Berwick St James a few miles from Stonehenge. If you want to read more on this story it can be found at

http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/55611

11th February 2007

Salisbury Cathedral in the USA.

The Huntington, San Marino, CA is hosting the first exhibition of the renowned English artist John Constable's 'Six Foot Paintings' to be shown in one place. One of the paintings is of Salisbury Cathedral from the meadows painted in 1831. The scene is much the same as it is today and is a magnificent painting of this beautiful Cathedral. The exhibition runs from February 3rd until April 29th 2007. Further details on opening times are available on their website www.huntington.org

6th February 2007

The interim report of the highly successful dig at Durrington Walls, Woodhenge, and part of the Cursus has been published by the Stonehenge Riverside Project. The report can be seen at http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/research/stonehenge

One of our guides worked on the project for 2 weeks and can be seen lurking in the background of one photograph!

3rd February 2007

There's still time to vote for the new 7 Wonders of the World. Stonehenge is included in the list of finalists. Currently, the top finalists are: the Colosseum, the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, the Pyramids at Giza, Petra, the Statues of Easter Island and the Taj Mahal. The final declaration will be made on the 7th July. Below is an extract from the website on the history of the stones.

30th January 2007

Described by National Geographic News headline as 'Stonehenge Settlement Found: Builders' Homes, ''Cult Houses" this article outlines the exciting dicoveries made at Durrington Walls and Woodhenge during the major archaeological dig that took place in the summer 2006. The finding is of a major prehistoric village which is likely to have housed the builders of Stonehenge. The full article can be accessed on the National Geographic website.

Alternatively you can read the news article from the BBC at;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6311939.stm

Quick link; Home page