Stonehenge 181
Image by Zeb
Stonehenge

Stone Shifting 3

Steve Gray S
Steve Gray Sep 2, 2003 00:52:25
Replying to jimit

I found these quotes on the web:

"A bronze axe was recovered from the ditch fills of the henge monument in Dorchester known as Mount Pleasant. It was found with pottery dated to 2500 BC and shifted modern thinking on dating the 'Bronze Age'. " - BBC Timelines.

"The Sarsen Trilithons (photo) appear to be stratigraphically earlier than the Bluestone Oval/Horseshoe and have produced three results. Analysis of these provide a best estimate for the date of construction of this setting of 2440-2100 cal BC" - English Heritage.

Putting two and two together, I would say that it is entirely possible (even likely) that the people who raised the trilithons could have had bronze axes with which to cut down and shape logs for building towers. I know stone tools could have been used for this purpose, but bronze is more versatile and they might have had chisels, adzes, or even saws and drills.

F FourWinds
FourWinds Sep 2, 2003 06:42:18
Replying to Steve Gray

"... but bronze is more versatile and they might have had chisels, adzes, or even saws and drills."

Axes definitely. Chisels I think so. Adzes possibly. I don't think any bronze saws or drills have been found though, certainly not from 2500 bce. Planks recovered from this time are split and drills where probably stone tipped.

Within the next two weeks I am visiting the museum in Longford where they have a stretch of Bronze Age 'togher' (wooden road across a bog) preserved. I'll have a good look at the construction methods used there. Obviously it won't tell us what they could have done in 2500 bce, but it will tell us what the couldn't do in 200 bce.

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