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Cambridge Magazine
`Excellently written'
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This is a complete new history of the world's greatest stone circle. Britain's leading expert on stone circles turns his attention to the greatest example of them all - Stonehenge. Every aspect of Stonehenge is re-considered in Aubrey Burl's new analysis. He explains for the first time how the outlying Heel Stone long predates Stonehenge itself, serving as a trackway marker in the prehistoric Harroway. He uncovers new evidence that the Welsh bluestones were brought to Stonehenge by glaciation rather than by man. And he reveals just how far the design of Stonehenge was influenced by Breton styles and by Breton cults of the dead. Meticulously research sets the record straight on the matter of Stonehenge's astronomical alignments. Although the existence of a sightline to the midsummer sunrise is well known, the alignment and the viewing-position are different from popular belief. And the existence of an earlier alignment to the moon and a later one to the midwinter sunset has been largely unrealized. One almost unexplained puzzle remains. The site of Stonehenge lies at the heart of a vast six-mile wide graveyard, but before it was built there appears to have been a mysterious gap two miles across on that site. Burl argues that earlier totem-pole style constructions served a ceremonial purpose for the living - to celebrate success in the hunt.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An admirable examination of the history of, theories on and approaches to Stonehenge.
Aubrey Burl certainly does not stint on the academic aspects; the various excavations and ensuing thoughts over the centuries are examined, providing much of interest for the specialist.
However, the real value of the book lies in its accessibility to the interested amateur. The emphasis is placed upon making this most mysterious of sites understandable to the layman and the essential technical detail serves that purpose, rather than obscuring it.
Good stuff; an approach which so many other historical sites would benefit greatly from. My only slight caveat is at the relatively sparing use of illustrations and photographs.
Aubrey Burl certainly does not stint on the academic aspects; the various excavations and ensuing thoughts over the centuries are examined, providing much of interest for the specialist.
However, the real value of the book lies in its accessibility to the interested amateur. The emphasis is placed upon making this most mysterious of sites understandable to the layman and the essential technical detail serves that purpose, rather than obscuring it.
Good stuff; an approach which so many other historical sites would benefit greatly from. My only slight caveat is at the relatively sparing use of illustrations and photographs.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Bit dull and technical in many places. The historical chapters were the best, but did seem to repeat a fair bit of material. I thought the author's theory about taking the origins of Celtic words back to derive the language of Stonehenge's builders was a bit far fetched. There also seemed to be some errors, e.g. in the facing of long barrows, where the table on p99 does not match the plan on p96. On the other hand, the author is convincing in showing that the bluestones were not transported from south Wales, as has been believed for the last 80 or more years. All in all, disappointing.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Aubrey Burl is Mr Henge! There is no doubt that this man knows his stuff, having published widely on the subject of henge's and stonecircles it was no suprise to see this volume. My only critasism is that its taken so long to appear. If you need a dam good version of events then this is your book.
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