Stonehenge workers' village found

[helderheid]

• Village found about two miles from Stonehenge
• Eight houses excavated at Durrington Walls
• Stonehenge, village built around 2600 B.C.
• Scientists think Durrington Walls was for living, Stonehenge was a memorial



WASHINGTON (AP) -- Archaeologists have uncovered what may have been a village for workers or festival-goers near the mysterious stone circle Stonehenge in England.

The village was located at Durrington Walls, about two miles from Stonehenge, and is also the location of a wooden version of the stone circle.

Eight houses have been excavated and the researchers believe there were at least 25 of them, archaeologist Mike Parker Pearson said Tuesday at a briefing held by the National Geographic Society. (Watch scientist describe big parties for Stonehenge builders Video)

The village was carbon dated to about 2600 B.C., about the same time Stonehenge was built. The Great Pyramid in Egypt was built at about the same time, said Parker Pearson of Sheffield University.

The small wooden houses had a central hearth, he said, and are almost identical to stone houses built at about the same time in the Orkney Islands.

The researchers speculated that Durrington Walls was a place for the living and Stonehenge -- where several cremated remains have been found -- was a cemetery and memorial.

More

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/01/30/stonehenge.village.ap/index.html

[AngryAmish]

1. And how they danced.....

[porphyrian]

2. That makes me think of only one thing...

"I think that the problem may have been, that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf. Alright? That tended to understate the hugeness of the object." - David St. Hubbins, This Is Spinal Tap

[MuseRider]

6. I was not quick enough

That is so funny.

[porphyrian]

7. It's already classic. - n/t

[MuseRider]

9. I think there is a line

for everything in that movie.

Just the other day at a board meeting we were talking about our luck with treasurers like Spinal Taps luck with drummers. I swear, I hear references to that movie at least once a week. Of course many of those times it is from me.

[Reverend_Smitty]

3. That's really cool

I just saw a BBC documentary about pre-Roman Britain the other day and I have to say that these people fascinate me. I hope this excavation can give the archaeologists more clues about their culture

[justiceischeap]

4. In the article they are also being referred to as

Cult Houses. Enough to scare the bejesus out of the xstians.

[MADem]

5. Now THAT's NEAT!!!!

Stonehenge is a fascinating place...they've had to protect it lately, because people can't be trusted to just visit it and not screw with the place...

[Cabcere]

11. Stonehenge is amazing.

When I was 17, I was lucky enough to actually get to go inside the stone circle as part of an archaeology class I took through the University of Cambridge. It was absolutely incredible and awe-inspiring. (I had bought a few disposable cameras for the trip and, no lie, I used up three of them just on Stonehenge!) We were allowed to just wander around inside and look at all the stones and touch them as well, and the thing I remember most to this day is that even though it had been cold, windy, and overcast that day, the stones themselves felt warm to the touch. (I'm not sure if I really believe in Ley lines or "earth magic" or anything like that, but after that experience I'm at least open to the possibility.) What was really interesting is that when our plane landed in the States and my friend who I'd flown over to England with and I were talking about Stonehenge, a British lady who was on our shuttle overheard and started telling us about how she used to play inside Stonehenge as a child. :) I thought that was really neat.

Okay, digression over. Back to the subject at hand...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

8. This is very interesting news! I visited Stonehenge four years ago and

it is an amazing place. I got there about an hour before closing, and waiting for it to close was a large group of people dressed in costume getting ready to have some sort of ceremony there. I felt like they were violating the site.
One thing that really surprised me was that it overlooked a major roadway and had a huge field with sheep right next to it.

[blogslut]

10. I love these finds

Ancient and pre-history so peak my interests.