Overview
In 1998 the shifting sands at Holme-next-the-Sea in Norfolk revealed a unique Bronze Age monument: the ring of upright timbers and central upturned oak stump that captured the national imagination and were soon christened 'Seahenge' by the media. The ancient site had been hidden in the sand and peat for four millennia, and its discovery created great excitement both among archaeologists and in the world of ancient religion and mysteries. Once exposed to the elements, the waterlogged timbers would soon have been lost to erosion, so they were carefully excavated and removed for preservation. Accurate records taken during the excavations and the latest scientific analytical and dating techniques have since assisted scholars in interpreting the monument and in explaining its use and significance in the broader context of Bronze Age society. Charlie Watson here pulls together the varied evidence and summarises the story with a wealth of illustrations and reconstruction drawings by Judith Dobie. He narrates the events leading to the decision to excavate and lift the timbers, explains the techniques used to study them and brings to life the Bronze Age world of those who worshipped at the site. Seahenge: An Archaeological Conundrum shows how this unique monument fits into, and has changed, our knowledge of ancient Bronze Age culture.
Synopsis
In 1998 the shifting sands at Holme-next-the-Sea in Norfolk revealed a unique Bronze Age monument: the ring of upright timbers and central upturned oak stump that captured the national imagination and were soon christened 'Seahenge' by the media. The ancient site had been hidden in the sand and peat for four millennia, and its discovery created great excitement both among archaeologists and in the world of ancient religion and mysteries. Once exposed to the elements, the waterlogged timbers would soon have been lost to erosion, so they were carefully excavated and removed for preservation. Accurate records taken during the excavations and the latest scientific analytical and dating techniques have since assisted scholars in interpreting the monument and in explaining its use and significance in the broader context of Bronze Age society. Charlie Watson here pulls together the varied evidence and summarises the story with a wealth of illustrations and reconstruction drawings by Judith Dobie. He narrates the events leading to the decision to excavate and lift the timbers, explains the techniques used to study them and brings to life the Bronze Age world of those who worshipped at the site. Seahenge: An Archaeological Conundrum shows how this unique monument fits into, and has changed, our knowledge of ancient Bronze Age culture.