Henge corrals?

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Jane J
Jane Dec 19, 2005 16:24:20
Replying to PeterH

Great question!

Henges today follow a rough pattern of an area of land enclosed by an inner ditch and a bank on the outside.

We haven't a clue what went on inside them. Just as many buildings today don't just have ONE purpose, why shouldn't henges - which come in all shapes and sizes - have many, many different purposes? To believe they all had the same use - and only one use - is not a great place to start from.

To neolithic communities an area of land enclosed by an inner ditch and a bank on the outside would have been bloody useful. I reckon they were gathering grounds probably used a couple of times of year for something we might describe today as a 'festival'. Like a festival it would have also been a marketplace, offer speed-dating services, livestock trading, stalls trading fancy goods, and campground.

In many parts of Africa, where the population is dispersed, people gather once or twice a year at specially designated places to do all these things. For example, the Cure Salee gathering in Niger, where the semi nomadic people of the Tuareg and Wodaabe come together to do all these things. They bring livestock to trade, get married, meet up with family and friends from all over the Sahara, do a bit of dancing, listen to music, tell stories, meet holy men and shamen, chat up potential spouses... They trade in salt, leathers, rope, spices, metals, clothing, precious things and generally have a great time. The Cure Salee doesn't take place in a henge, but it has a particular fixed location. What better place to do this than a secure and specially constructed meeting place like a henge? Bring your oxen, goats and sheep, tether them securely them against danger in henge, camp outside the henge and party on down inside! You could call this activity 'ritual' or 'ceremonial' if you want. (I don't really know what either of those words mean anymore!) or you could just call it people gathering to party.

Perhaps at other times of the year when the festival wasn't on, young animals would be grazed within the safety of the henge. Why not? Nice piece of secure land, good grazing, easy to shepherd.

P PeterH
PeterH Dec 19, 2005 17:52:43
Replying to Jane

Thank you Jane. That is very attractive and makes a great deal of sense to me too. That scenario would also allow for different size henges for different sized communities. Perhaps moving from a semi-nomadic lifestyle to a more settled one meant that communities still felt the need to come together for special events. A bit like the Appleby horse fairs?

H Hob
Hob Dec 20, 2005 00:22:25
Replying to Jane

Is that not what causewayed enclosures are supposed to have been used for?

In which case by the time they'd developed into henges (if that's what hapened), maybe the ritual aspect of the proceedings had taken prominence, a bit like the headlining act at a festival. It's not the only reason to go, but it gives the festival a focus. Perhaps eventually, the ritual/ceremony/gig events at causewayed/proto-henge sites developed greater significance, and purpose built spaces were created.

Mind, I still have a pet unsubstantiated theory the Australian bora circles are somehow related to henges, so I'm not claiming to have any particularly sensible opinions on the matter.