SCOPERTA L'ORIGINE DELLE PIETRE DI STONEHENGE

Sa di presa in giro, ma è vero: è stato identificato un sito (molto più vicino di quello considerato prima) da cui potrebbero essere state prese le pietre per edificare Stonehenge.

Prima, ci si interrogava sul perché e sul come più di 4.000 anni fa circa 80  enormi pietreanche di 3 tonnellate ciascuna fossero state trasportata per circa 250 chilometri, (dal Galles al Wiltshire). Non ci si chiedeva affatto se ciò fosse mai possibile.

Le teorie proposte sono state le più varie (dal trasporto su tronchi usati come ruote, al trasporto in parte su chiatte lungo il Canale della Manica, al trasporto di pietre erratiche da parte di ghiacciai ed altro ancora).
Ma adesso si è notato (e dimostrato, anche in 'doppio cieco'!)* che le doleriti macchiate e le rioliti che compongono Stonhenge non provengono dalle Preseli Mountains, bensì da due sedi molto più vicine al sito archeologico: soltanto tre chilometri.

Questo restituisce alle antiche popolazioni di Costruttori Anglosassoni un po' di quell'intelligenza che era stata loro negata proponendo teorie assolutamente non logiche, né credibili, né fattibili...

Ci sono molte analogie con quello che avvenne ed avviene in un'altra isola, non del Mare del Nord, ma del Mediterraneo....


Source of rocks used to build Stonehenge found .


 A new study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, suggests that the site researchers had previously thought was the starting place of many of Stonehenge's rocks may not have been the source after all. Instead, it looks like the rocks actually come from a different site three kilometres away. 

Carn Goedog [Credit: Richard Bevins] 

The findings, bring into question the long-standing theory that people transported the rocks from Wales to Wiltshire in order to build the monument. 

The research focused on the smaller stones at Stonehenge, called bluestones. The chemistry of these rocks varies, but they all originate from the Preseli Hills in Wales and are thought to have been transported to the Stonehenge site over 4000 years ago. By confirming the source of the rocks, the researchers hope to help answer the long standing question of how around 80 of these bluestones, weighing up to three tonnes each, were transported 250 kilometres from southwest Wales to Wiltshire. 

'The Holy Grail question is how were the stones moved and why,' explains Dr Richard Bevins of National Museum of Wales who led the research. 'Many people think humans transported the stones south, down from the Preseli Hills and then up the Bristol Channel on rafts. 
But a second school of thought says these rocks are glacial erratics that were transported by ice to Salisbury Plain and so were available in the local environment. 'We're trying to discover the source of the stones so archaeologists can excavate sites in order to see if they can find evidence for people working the source stones,' he continues. Scientists have known the bluestones originated from the Preseli Hills since 1923, when H. H.

 Thomas from NERC's British Geological Survey recognised the distinctive dark grey spotty rocks, known as spotted dolerites, during fieldwork. Further work in the early 1990s then tried to tie down the specific locations of the rocks' origin by matching the chemistry of the Stonehenge bluestones with those at the proposed origin site. 'The earlier research looked at the source of one of the spotted dolerites and tied it down to a specific outcrop, Carn Meini. It seems Thomas wanted all of the bluestones to also come from that same small area so he argued the rhyolites came from a nearby outcrop, Carn Alw. When we looked at it again we realised the descriptions of the rhyolites from Carn Alw and those at Stonehenge didn't look the same at all,' says Bevins. The team took images showing the rocks at Stonehenge and the rocks at Carn Alw. They then asked members of the public with no geological background whether they looked the same. 'We asked people "does A look like B?" and everyone said no,' Bevins continues. 'This is astonishing because this has not been questioned since the original publication by Thomas in 1923.' The team used a new method of identifying the chemical makeup of the rocks, to match the rocks with their origin. 
They believe that they have now identified Carn Goedog as the source of at least 55 per cent of the spotted dolerite bluestones at Stonehenge. 
'If Carn Goedog is the true origin of the dolerites, and Craig Rhos-y-felin is a source of the rhyolitic bluestones then it does bring into question the stones being transported by rafts down to the Bristol Channel, because both of these outcrops lie on the northern side of the Preseli Hills. The rocks would have had to be dragged up the hills, across the summits and back down again before they even reached the waterways. It's just not likely,' Bevins concludes. 

Source: PlanetEarth Online [February 18, 2014]

Read more at: http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.it/2014/02/source-of-rocks-used-to-build.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheArchaeologyNewsNetwork+(The+Archaeology+News+Network)#.UwXluItDxCB
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(*) Cioé invitando profani estranei, del tutto ignari dell'argomento del contendere, a giudicare l'aspetto delle rocce in questione: tutti hanno escluso che le pietre della presunta vecchia cava fossero simili a quelle di Stonhenge (che non sapevano fossero quelle!).

Dolina Carsica, presso STONEHENGE

La scoperta è di quelle promettenti: è stata trovata una dolina carsica presso Stonehenge. Lo studio non è che all'inizio: si può solo ipotizzare che cosa vi si troverà. Il sito potrebbe fornire novità assolute sulla vita del 4.000 a.C.: non solo dell'uomo, ma anche di piante ed animali. 

Neolithic sink hole uncovered near Stonehenge

An archaeology team led by an academic from London's Kingston University has delved back into a Neolithic site at Damerham, Hampshire, and uncovered a sink hole of material that may hold vital information about the plant species that thrived there 6,000 years ago.

An archaeology team led by a Kingston University academic has delved back into a Neolithic site at Damerham, Hampshire, and uncovered a sink hole of material that may hold vital information about the plant species thriving there 6,000 years ago [Credit: Kingston University]

Dr Helen Wickstead said the find was completely unexpected and had initially confused the team digging on the farmland. This is the sixth year of the project at Damerham, located about 15 miles from the iconic British monument Stonehenge, with four areas of a temple complex excavated during the summer. The surprise came in the largest of the openings, approximately 40 metres long, where careful extractions revealed a layer of uncharacteristic orange sand and clay. Typically the archaeological survey would involve mapping and cataloguing such finds as bone, pottery and tool-making waste fragments.

"The site at Damerham is on chalk land, so we don't often find materials like this that capture and preserve the plant remains -- pollen or phytoliths -- from a specific time period," Dr Wickstead explained. "The sink hole contained orange sand with a yellow and grey clay and we are very hopeful that, within this material, there will be evidence of plant life that will help us continue to piece together the puzzle of human habitation on this significant site."

It was evident that prehistoric people living in the area had also come across the sink hole and excavated the material during their own construction work, Dr Wickstead said. A pile of matching waste material was also seen at one of the other mounds. "We didn't expect to find this and suspect it would have surprised the original architects of the site too," she said. "Moments of unexpected discovery could have had cultural significance for prehistoric people. The henge itself was a focus for rituals, life and death, so questions about the impact such a discovery would have had on their activity will be interesting to consider."

The prehistoric temple complex at Damerham is unusual because of the number of structures that are focused in one area, Dr Wickstead added. "The diversity of burial architecture here is intriguing," she said. "What is special about this place that meant generation after generation returned to the site to live, hunt, build and commemorate life?"

Various scientific techniques, including geophysical imaging which uses electrical currents to test the density of materials below the surface, were employed during the project. Kingston University MA Heritage student Jack Bartley joined Dr Wickstead on site to take part in the field walking survey.

"Once the field was clear of crops, we were able to walk across sections in search of items that will have been turned over by the plough," Jack explained. "This is important because it helps researchers understand how people used the land by examining what they left behind. We've been using GPS satellite technology to measure the search zones systematically. It's been great to be out in the field experiencing a real archaeological dig, especially since my dissertation is examining communities of interest, such as those involved in archaeology," the 24 year old from Surbiton added.

Evidence of archaeological remains at Damerham was first detected in 2003 when English Heritage's senior aerial survey investigator Martyn Barber spotted crop marks in a photograph. The different colours visible in the crops indicated that there were historical earthworks just beneath the soil and Dr Wickstead teamed up with Mr Barber to begin the long process of trying to find out more about the site.

"During the six years since we first opened the site, we've not only involved the local community but also brought together expertise from a range of specialists from geochemical analysts to artists, to make sure we make the most of the opportunity while we can," Dr Wickstead explained. "Doing the dig is only a tiny portion of the work required to document these important sites, but it is the more urgent part because erosion by farming and other environmental factors will gradually diminish what's there."

Dr Wickstead, who is based in Kingston University's Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, suspects the Damerham site holds many more secrets about human life in the Neolithic period. Although excavations are expensive and rely on funding from a variety of organisations, she hopes her team has demonstrated how important it is to stage similar projects in the future.

"The clues to earlier human life are all around us in the landscape and I would love to return and undertake a larger-scale dig at Damerham," Dr Wickstead said. "For now, the team will be examining and compiling the data already gathered and, as well as analysing the soil samples, plotting the artefacts and mapping the earthworks, we may also be able to undertake some gene sequencing on the bone fragments we found. All of this will help tell us more about how the people of this period lived and died in Damerham more than 6,000 years ago."

Source: Kingston University [November 27, 2013]

I gioielli dell'età di Stonehenge

Non traduco: lascio solo immaginare che cosa accadrebbe se i tesori sardi (ma vale anche per quelli del resto dell'Italia) fossero pubblicizzati almeno come lo sono quelli Inglesi (in questo caso: ma il discorso resta valido anche per i francesi, gli spagnoli etc). Gli Inglesi non raccontano fandonie sul proprio passato ed hanno investito enormi cifre (in rosso le modalità della raccolta di fondi) per fare del loro centro più rappresentativo (iconico, dicono loro) un polo d'attrazione turistica eccezionale. Dal quale, poi, si aspettano i giusti ritorni di capitale.

Revealing the Golden Treasures of the Age of Stonehenge

Britain’s greatest treasures from the mysterious golden Age of Stonehenge are to go on permanent display for the first time ever. This will be the largest collection of Early Bronze Age gold ever put on public display in England. In a move that will transform public understanding of the Stonehenge era, the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes, 15 miles north of Stonehenge, is exhibiting 500 Stonehenge period objects, including 30 pieces of gold treasure which have rarely been seen by the public before.

A grouping of gold and flint objects [Credit: © Wiltshire Heritage Museum]

The large specially-designed new high security and humidity-controlled exhibition facility, constructed inside the museum, cost £750,000 to build, with funding coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, Wiltshire Council, the North Wessex Downs Area of Natural Beauty and other sources.

Amongst the ancient Stonehenge era treasures placed on permanent display for the first time, are a beautifully decorated gold lozenge, a magnificent bronze dagger with a gold- covered hilt, a golden fitting from a dagger sheath, a ceremonial axe, gold beads,  necklaces, ear-rings, pendants and other items of gold jewellery, a unique jet disc (used to fasten a luxury garment), rare traces of ancient textiles and two of the finest prehistoric flint arrow head ever found.

“These and other spectacular treasures from the Age of Stonehenge were unearthed by antiquarians and archaeologists in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but until now it’s never been possible to give the public permanent access to them,” said David Dawson, Director of the Wiltshire Museum. "But now, after generous funding from a number of national and local organisations, we have been able to create a secure and stable environment in which they can be enjoyed by visitors to the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site from Britain and around the world.

The Bush Barrow treasures - the ritual objects of a Stonehenge-era chieftain - displayed
together [Credit: © Wiltshire Heritage Museum]

“Stonehenge is an iconic monument – but this is the first time that such a wide range of high status objects from the spectacular burials of the people who used it, has ever been put on permanent display”. The most precious gold, jet and amber objects from the period are being permanently brought together to tell the story of the people who lived in and around the Stonehenge landscape when the monument was one of the great religious focal points of western Europe. Indeed, many of the items may well have been worn by Bronze Age priests and chieftains as they worshipped inside Stonehenge itself,” said Mr Dawson. “Axes and daggers on display in the new purpose-built galleries are identical to images of weapons carved into the giant stones of Stonehenge itself.” “We believe the new displays are a major step forward in helping to explain the extraordinary sophistication of the remarkable people who used the world’s most famous prehistoric monument,”.

The new facility not only features treasures from the Age of Stonehenge, but also recreates some of the key places they were unearthed. Archaeologists have recreated the famous Bush Barrow burial, where a Bronze Age chieftain was buried in regal splendour overlooking Stonehenge itself.
The museum hopes that the new display will help attract substantial numbers of additional tourists to Devizes, generating jobs in the local community.

“Devizes is mid-way between two of the world’s most important ancient monuments – the great prehistoric stone circles of Stonehenge and Avebury. Visiting the Wiltshire Museum completes the experience of seeing these two iconic sites. “ said Mr Dawson.

The new facility, consisting of four new galleries – form the centre-piece of the relaunched Wiltshire Museum. The museum is run by the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, an independent charity founded 160 years ago. It now has 1,000 members.

The new galleries – featuring gold from the time of Stonehenge – are the first part of a totally new re-presentation of Stonehenge and its landscape. Two months after the new facility in Devizes opens, English Heritage will open its new Stonehenge Visitor Centre and in 2014 Salisbury Museum will also inaugurate new displays

Source: Wiltshire Museum [October 13, 2013]

ESIBIRE IL PASSATO

Stonehenge Exhibition and Visitor Centre opens 18 December

Probabilmente si può fare anche in Italia: per esempio in Sardegna. Si dirà: ma di Stonehenge ce n'è una sola. Invece i nuraghi sono tanti: quale scegliere? Si tratta di un falso problema, naturalmente. Ma se proprio si desiderasse scegliere un 'pezzo unico', la scelta potrebbe cadere sul 'Santuario' di Monte d'Accoddi, pubblicizzandolo come unica Ziggurat fuori della mesopotamia.  E si potrebbe procedere proprio come hanno fatto gli inglesi con l'esempio di Stonehenge: ci hanno messo del tempo, è vero, ma sono ancora i primi, anche se non hanno ancora finito...

English Heritage announced that the first phase of the long-awaited improvements to the setting and visitor experience of Stonehenge will be launched to the public on Wednesday 18 December 2013.

Aerial view of Stonehenge showing how it is expected to look by summer 2014,
once the A344 has been covered by grass [Credit: English Heritage]

Finally, a place to tell Stonehenge's story

Visitors will be welcomed at a new visitor building, located 2.1km (1.5 miles) to the west of Stonehenge. For the first time ever at the site, they will be able to learn more about this complex monument in a stunning, museum-quality permanent exhibition curated by English Heritage experts. A 360-degree virtual, immersive experience will let visitors 'stand in the stones' before they enter a gallery presenting the facts and theories surrounding the monument through various displays and nearly 300 prehistoric artefacts.

Over 300 prehistoric artefacts on display

The archaeological finds on display are on loan from the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, the Wiltshire Museum, and the Duckworth Collection, University of Cambridge. All were found inside the World Heritage Site and many are on public display for the first time.

211 steel columns support the gently undulating canopy, under which sit two "pods" which
house the exhibition, education, cafe, and retail space [Credit: English Heritage]

Set in Stone? How our ancestors saw Stonehenge, will be the first special temporary exhibition. It will chart over 800 years of ideas and debate - from 12th-century legends to radiocarbon dating reports in the 1950s - on who built Stonehenge and when, and features stunning objects on loan from many national museums.

Heightened sense of anticipation

Visitors will have a heightened sense of anticipation when they arrive at the visitor building as Stonehenge is not immediately visible; it will only emerge slowly on the horizon during the 10-minute shuttle ride to the monument.

Artist’s impression of the permanent exhibition which features, among other things, precious objects on loan from the Wiltshire Heritage Museum and the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum [Credit: English Heritage]

At the stones, there will be opportunities to walk and explore the surroundings of the monument including the Avenue, Stonehenge's ancient processional approach, guided by new interpretation panels specially developed with the National Trust. The Avenue will have been reconnected to the stone circle after being severed by the A344 road for centuries, the whole area will be free of traffic, and newly-sown grass will be establishing on the former route of the road. 

Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: "This world famous monument, perpetually described as a mystery, finally has a place in which to tell its story. The exhibition, will change the way people experience and think about Stonehenge forever - beyond the cliches and towards a meaningful inquiry into an extraordinary human achievement in the distant past. The exhibition will put at its centre the individuals associated with its creation and use, and I am very proud with what we have to unveil to the world in December."

The new visitor building, designed by leading practice Denton Corker Marshall, is reaching the final stages of construction and interior fit-out has started. 

Phases two and three in 2014

From Easter 2014, visitors can look forward to the opening of a group of reconstructed Neolithic houses. The Neolithic houses are the highlight of the outdoor gallery and will be built from January 2014 onwards by volunteers, based on houses where the builders of Stonehenge may have lived, complete with furniture and fittings. 

Flint arrowhead, from a grave near Stonehenge on loan from
Wiltshire Museum, Devizes [Credit: English Heritage]

The final phase of the project - the restoration of the landscape around Stonehenge - will be completed in the Summer of 2014. Work to demolish the existing facilities and return the area to grass will begin immediately after the new visitor centre has opened and will continue for a few months.

The £27-million Stonehenge Environmental Improvements Programme is the largest capital project ever undertaken by English Heritage. It is financed almost entirely by Heritage Lottery Fund money (£10m), English Heritage commercial income and philanthropic donations including significant gifts from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Linbury Trust and the Wolfson Foundation.

From 18 December 2013, entrance to Stonehenge will be managed through timed tickets and advance booking is strongly recommended. Online booking opens on 2 December at www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge. 

Source: WiredGov [September 30, 2013]