Stonehenge for the Ancestors: Part 2: Synthesis

The Stonehenge Riverside Project (2003-2009) investigated the purpose of Stonehenge by considering it within its wider archaeological context. This volume includes studies of the lithics, petrography, and land mollusca, providing an overview of Stonehenge in its landscape over millennia.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 380 pages
Publication date: 28 September 2022
Publisher: Sidestone Press

For countless centuries, scholars and enthusiasts alike have been captivated by Stonehenge, the world's most renowned stone circle. In 2003, a team of archaeologists embarked on a long-term fieldwork project for the first time in decades, marking a significant milestone in the study of this ancient monument. The Stonehenge Riverside Project (2003-2009) sought to unravel the purpose and significance of this unique prehistoric structure by examining it within its broader archaeological context. This captivating second volume in a series presents the remarkable findings of that campaign. It encompasses comprehensive studies of the lithics, encompassing both topsoil sampling and excavated features. Additionally, the petrography of the iconic bluestones, identified through chippings recovered during excavations, is explored in depth. Other specialized syntheses focus on the land mollusca, shedding light on the diverse fauna that once inhabited the surrounding landscape. This volume offers a comprehensive overview of Stonehenge's evolution over millennia, from its inception before the monument's construction to its final stages of development. It concludes with a chapter that places Stonehenge in its rightful context within Britain and western Europe during the third millennium BC.

Contributions to this volume come from a diverse group of esteemed scholars and experts, including Umberto Albarella, Michael Allen, Richard Bevins, Benjamin Chan, Robert Ixer, Claudia Minniti, Doug Mitcham, and Sarah Viner-Daniels. Their collective expertise and dedication have enriched the understanding of Stonehenge, ensuring its place as a pivotal landmark in human history and archaeology.

Weight: 1176g
Dimension: 210 x 277 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789088907050