The more I think I understand the purposes of prehistoric constructions, the less certain I am of any of them. Francis Pryor declares that just about everything has a ritual purpose. eg Windmill Hill is a community based ritual centre where each family dug its own section of ditch. Others argue equally strongly that it was a stock compound.. I just have a feeling that the ritual argument has often been overstated and practical herdsmen and farmers must have left their marks on the landscape as well as the priests.

Why are long barrows long? The business end is at the front so why the long earthwork behind. What on earth is a cursus - processional way, artificial horizon or the path of a tornado as suggested by Terry Meaden? None seem very likely when you consider the enormous variation in lengths. But I'm wandering into uncharted realms. Help!