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Arbor Low

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AR A
AR Jun 21, 2004 19:11:16
Replying to pixie46

Thanks very much. I was afraid that no one would reply or that I had asked a silly question or something! I hope it turns into an interesting topic. I don't really know what the site could be for, that is why I am investigating it. There are many theories that sound plausible when someone who really believes in them justify them. Especially a proffessional archaeologist! One theory I am inclined to lean towards is that monuments such as this appeared when agriculture did and symbolize territory. This would also show the change in attitudes to the land eg it could be owned. Henges could therfore symbolize a great change in attitudes to nature and humanity eg how people saw themselves as separate from the land and animals, so in some peoples eyes, more human.

H Hob
Hob Jun 22, 2004 16:44:55
Replying to AR

Eyup AR,

I know you might get told off for making direct comparisons across cultures, but if the person marking the dissertation is sympathetic to anthropological comparision, have a check out of the 'Bora' ground ceremonial circles in Australia. There's not much on the web, but journals etc should have some guff.
Some of them are hengelike, a few even have stones. I'm still trying to find out if any have internal ditches. It does fly in the face of accepted wisdom to compare them to henges though, as they are obviously the product of a non-farming, non-sessile culture. Proto-henges maybe? At the least, they might make an unusual inclusion.