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Sea Henge

Seahenge — the oldest wooden building in the world

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Sanctuary S
Sanctuary Nov 18, 2012 20:14:54
Replying to Littlestone

Littlestone wrote:
Was looking again at the little Anglo-Saxon church of Greensted in Ongar, Essex earlier - thought to be, “...the oldest wooden church in the world, and probably the oldest wooden building in Europe...” The oldest wooden building in the world is thought to be the Horyu-ji Temple in Japan.

However, let’s not be modest, some might quibble as to whether Seahenge is actually a ‘building’ but, with a ringed wall of split logs (not dissimilar to the Greensted walls actually), a ‘door’ and an amazing upturned root at its centre, it’s got to be a contender (at over 4,000 years-old) for the title ‘oldest wooden building in the world’.

Or are there others...

Are we talking about actual structural above ground remains here LS or remnants such as:-

http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/2003/05/01/experts-ponder-mystery-of-neolithic-wooden-structure/

L Littlestone
Littlestone Nov 18, 2012 21:20:51
Replying to Sanctuary

Aye, was actually thinking about structural above ground remains (though thanks to tiompan and HD for their links).

Seahenge (before it was ‘relocated’) could be seen as a wooden, in situ structure if not an actual building. Having said that what constitutes a building anyway. Seahenge has a worked wooden wall, an entrance that could be opened and closed and a central monumental feature. That would surely place it into the building category and, as such, a fair contender for the oldest wooden building in the world?