Avebury: the other henge and the biggest by da-AL

Posted on by da-AL
Some of Avebury henge’s residents.

Stone circles — when it comes to henges (prehistoric wood or stone earthworks ringed by a bank and a ditch) — Stonehenge comes to mind. Our visit to the United Kingdom included London, the British Museum Part 1 – Part 2 – and Part 3, Bath, and the Kelpies of Scotland. Stonehenge, unfortunately, didn’t fit with our self-drive itinerary…

Welcome to g-r-e-e-n Avebury henge and village!

News to me, the U.K. is home to many stone circles! Archeologist Aubrey Burl cites 1,303 in Britain, Ireland, and Brittany. Theories abound as to why henges came to be erected.

Henges are regarded as sacred sites and living temples by some.

Visiting the henge at Avebury village proved a stroke of good fortune — it’s the largest in the world.

Wikipedia: The postulated original layout of Avebury, published in a late 19th-century edition of the Swedish encyclopaedia Nordisk familjebok. Original illustration by John Martin, based on an illustration by John Britton

Moreover, it’s comprised of t-h-r-e-e rings surrounding the southwest English village.

Avebury henge now. Wikipedia by Detmar Owen – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It took hundreds of years to construct Avebury henge. One of its stones weighs over 100 tons!

Inside the round dovecote are cubbies for birds to nest.

The immediate area includes the only pub enclosed by a henge, a dovecote (where domesticated pigeons and doves nest), a church, a manor, a beekeeper (an affable French man who taught us much as we sipped afternoon tea with locally baked scones)… and assorted sheep.

The community of Avebury features impressive historical buildings.

What’s your theory as to why stone circles exist?…

Published by da-AL

Happiness Between Tails blog/podcast speaks to and from the heart. It connects lovers — of pets, authors, reading — and of my still-unreleased novels. “Flamenco + the Sitting Cat” and “Tango + the Sitting Cat,” are my love letters to all who fear they're too odd, too damaged, too old, too whatever to find love and happiness with or without a partner. HappinessBetweenTails.com • ContactdaAL@gmail.com • BuyMeACoffee.com/SupportHBT

66 thoughts on “Avebury: the other henge and the biggest by da-AL”

  7. Hiya, henges are magical, mysterious places, that channel our thoughts back to the ancient past. They make us question our beliefs and excite our imaginations with thoughts of pagan ceremonies and rituals.
    To walk amongst the stones of Avebury Circle is a privilege and a pleasure; I’m happy that you got to experience it. Don’t beat yourself up about missing out on Stonehenge, the steps that have been taken to preserve it have only turned it into a theme park attraction. They have removed the magic.
    I enjoyed reading your post, thanks for sharing. Take care.

    Mick.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Jenny does some cooking for me and my hopelessly incapable “misfit” male friends, so I like reciprocating (big word, eh) by sharing my ‘non-gifts’
        “The world’s absolutely worst cook” (if you don’t believe me, just ask Jenny (as I often regale her with my latest escapades “What have you done now?”)

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Wow. Over 1300 if them documented so far! Thank you for this visit to one of the largest. I like your blog post AND the comments afterwards. I agree that it is very challenging to imagine ourselves into another epoch and culture. And what an undertaking — what vision — what perseverance to work on it for so many years/generations!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. They are everywhere, and we haven’t a clue as to the true purpose, because we do not understand the civilization that created them. We look at everything from our perspective which is only one of so many. They are only religious sites because we see them that way. There is a form of power we do not understand (or is kept hidden from us). Until we change out perspectives they will remain a mystery

    Liked by 3 people

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