Avebury and Stonehenge

We also visited two prehistoric sites, Avebury Stone Circle and Stonehenge. Both are composed of an earthwork as well as rings of stones, and in both cases the earthwork was in place before the stones were added.

The stones are huge at both sites and it is incredible to think about prehistoric peoples moving these stones to their current position-- in the case of stonehenge the stones came from a Welsh mountain range 200 miles away. And in both cases historians don't know what the function of these monuments were, although for various reasons it is clear that they were very important.

Both seem to date back to around 3000 B.C. (Avebury is supposedly a little older), but Avebury is much larger with a diameter over 1000 miles. A village has grown up in and around the Avebury stones and you can walk right up to the stones and touch them.

These were fascinating sites. Their size, mystery, significance, and antiquity made both of them wonderful places to visit.

(Note: the top two photographs are of Avebury, the bottom two of Stonehenge.)