An overhead photo of a huge brown field between houses -- © Skyspider Aerial Imaging
Posted on 08/17/2014 1:10:57 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Archaeologists suspect a “sacred way” could have led to a henge 6,000 years ago at Iwade Meadows, to the west of the Kent industrial town of Sittingbourne.
Positioned on a north-west slope, the 30-metre diameter structure is one of several prehistoric monuments on a north-west slope above the Ridham fleet stream running through the centre of the site.
...says Dr Paul Wilkinson, of... SWAT Archaeology...
“The monuments are in a location that would have formerly had extensive views to the Swale Estuary and the Island of Sheppey beyond.
“The archaeological evidence suggests that the outer ditch may have originated in the Neolithic and been later transformed in the Bronze Age into a funerary monument with the addition of the inner ring.”
...
“The outer ring has an entrance facing north-east suggesting that it may have originated as a henge-type monument – a ceremonial gathering place of which Stonehenge is our most well known example,” says Dr Wilkinson.
“The inner ring appears to be later and is an unbroken circuit. This may be associated with a Bronze Age burial, as a barrow, though no burials have yet been found.
“A second smaller monument lies close to the larger rings and may be a secondary barrow dating to the Bronze Age.
“While the monuments may have fallen out of use for their primary function by the middle Bronze Age they seem to have still been significant landscape features, as a track from the north-east is seen to have been extended to the causeway entrance of the outer ring.
“The importance of the location in the Neolithic period is reinforced by the rare findings of a series of pits close to the monuments that may indicate the area was being used before the construction of the monument or represents activity associated with it.”
(Excerpt) Read more at culture24.org.uk ...
An overhead photo of a huge brown field between houses -- © Skyspider Aerial Imaging
Maybe in excavation of this site they will find the purpose or something of these henges.
How exciting a find!
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Yeah me too. Also the one about the big 5000 year old battle.
:(
The link to the pic? Yeah, note the special instructions.
Easiest is probably, visit the original article, then right-click and open each graphic in a new tab/window. After that, try reloading the FR topic.
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