Stonehenge May Have Been a Burial Ground

Mon, Jun 2, 2008

Offbeat News

By Vlad Jecan

Stone Henge
Image by Frédéric Vincent

This enigmatic structure has been the source of all kinds of speculation, from scientific to popular beliefs. Perhaps you even are familiar with the myths that still float within the two meter-high stones.

For more than half a century it was thought that Stonehenge was a place of druids; a sacred marked space where the ancients celebrated different religious festivals and gathered to worship their gods unknown to us.

Building began 6500 years ago and parallel to that, human activity was spotted. This gave archaeologists the impression it was designed to host cult-like manifestations. Some researchers had gone so far as to argue that Stonehenge was built by supernatural means. Very complicated mathematical calculations were made in an attempt to prove that the site had astrological connections.

When the first stones were erected the available technology was very rudimentary. Modern research has shown how these heavy stones were moved. Amateurs have also tried to explain how this famous prehistoric monument was built. However, for years theories continued to emerge, yet few were based on historical truth.


This year, new research campaigns were organized to study Stonehenge and recent clues suggest that Stonehenge was a burial ground. The first cremated burials were dated to around 3000 B.C., however scientists say they continued for at least 500 years. From the findings, it is argued that 240 people were buried at the site.

Specialists active in the Stonehenge Riverside Archaeological Project say the first cremation burials date from around 3030 to 2880 B.C. Later remains include a 25 year old woman dating back to 2570 – 2340 BC. Scientists point out that this was not the burial place for common people, but rather, a more special, sacred burial ground.

In the past there were other cremation burials found, for example at the beginning of the 20th century 49 others were found.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

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This post was written by:

Vlad Jecan - who has written 36 posts on Environmental Graffiti.


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1 Comments For This Post

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  1. Garry Denke Says:

    Coal dusters.

    Avebury coal duster, Cursus coal duster, Durrington Walls coal duster, Long Barrow coal duster, Robin Hood’s Ball coal duster, Stonehenge coal duster, Woodhenge coal duster, etc, all being originally simple coal hunting failures. Every one of them were coal exploration sites that did not yield any coal.

    Take away all of the dressed up cemetery headstone rocks and what have you got? Nothing more than a bunch of coal exploratory ditches and holes, that is what. Afterwards, these ditches and holes were utilised as grave plots, for tired disappointed coal explorers, and their cold disheartened families.

    Sad but true.