Archaeology: Ancient Stonehenge Houses Unearthed

From the Discovery Channel: Nine Neolithic-era buildings have been excavated in the Stonehenge world heritage site, according to a report in the journal British Archaeology (paper not yet available online).

The structures, which appear to have been homes, date to 2,600-2,500 B.C. and were contemporary with the earliest stone settings at the site's famous megalith. They are the first house-like structures discovered there.

Julian Thomas (homepage), who worked on the project and is chair of the archaeology department at Manchester University in England, said Stonehenge could have been a key gathering place at the Neolithic era's version of a housing development.

The buildings all had plaster floors and timber frames, and most had a central hearth. Two, including a house possibly inhabited by a community chief or priest, were enclosed by ringed ditches, the largest measuring 131 feet across.

Continued at "Ancient Stonehenge Houses Unearthed"

Technorati: discovery, channel, neolithic, buildings, excavated, stonehenge, world, heritage, site, report, journal, archaeology, structures, stone, megalith, house, julian, thomas, chair, manchester, university, england, era, plaster, timberframes, hearth, chief, priest, ringed, ditches, ancient, unearthed

Visit the Evolution Book Store (UK | US) for books on this topic

John Latter / Jorolat
Evolution Research
http://evomech3.blogspot.com/