Stonehenge was a Healing Centre, say Archaeologists

What is the evidence that Stonehenge was a healing centre?

It is not very straightforward, but then again nothing ever is with this mysterious ancient monument. The two archaeologists, Professor Tim Darvill and Geoff Wainwright, first of all noted the abnormal number of corpses found in tombs nearby Stonehenge that display signs of serious physical injury or disease. One of the most famous of these is the "Amesbury Archer" buried about two miles from Stonehenge. He is known to have originated from the Alps and had suffered a serious knee injury and a potentially fatal dental problem before he died.

His history seemed to match many of the other bodies found near the site. Analysis of the mineral isotopes found in human teeth show that about half of these people where not native to the Stonehenge area. Taken together, this could suggest that some people came to the site in order to benefit from some kind of healing powers that the bluestones were perhaps supposed to have.

The two archaeologists also found that about three times as many stone chipping were taken from the bluestones compared to the Sarsen stones. "It could be that people were flaking off pieces of bluestones, in order to create little bit to take away... as lucky amulets," Prof Wainwright said.