Re: Henge corrals? | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

moss Dec 20, 2005 10:48:41

Replying to nigelswift

Well if (a very big if) you take one of the Priddy circles/henges that have been partially excavated, the third circle reveals, and the bank by the way is within the ditch; the ditch is u shaped, originally 3-4 ft deep and now probably 12 ft wide. The material from the bank was piled between two rings of stout posts and then roughly faced with locally collected dry-stone walling. I think the posts were estimated at 10 ft high... now on a 50- 50 basis was it a stockade or ritual enclosure?
And before Littlestone goes on more wild speculations.... Gorsey bigbury entrance is 13 ft wide, if it was stone gateposts we get back to the problem of hinges to hang the gates........... ;)

PeterH Dec 20, 2005 11:13:31

Replying to moss

"And before Littlestone goes on more wild speculations.... Gorsey bigbury entrance is 13 ft wide, if it was stone gateposts we get back to the problem of hinges to hang the gates........... ;)"

We keep coming back to the stones and the Wessex henges. I started this thread by looking at the stoneless henges of Essex. If there were any gate posts there, they wood have hung on wooden posts. Gaps can be closed by other means than gates

Littlestone Dec 20, 2005 12:03:05

Replying to moss

Oi, less of the 'wild speculations' moss :-)

But going back to a point a bit further up the thread - I can't help thinking that an enclosed and roofed Stonehenge might not be such a wild idea after all (sorry Nigel, I know you're not going to accept that) but what exactly <i>are</i> the arguments against it? It's been suggested, after all, that Durrington Walls and the Sanctuary may have been roofed. Assuming that Stonehenge was principally a place of ritual, ceremony and astronomical observation, surely the rituals and ceremonies would have taken place in more comfort (or secrecy if needed) and far more accurate observations undertaken within an enclosed area (with suitable apertures obviously :-) than through friggin' great gaps between the stones with the wind and rain howling in across Salisbury plain :-)