What was Mike Parker Pearson theory about Stonehenge?
“The current theory is that Stonehenge was created during a time of profound social change,” says Pearson. It was at a time when “Britain was moving away from being isolated tribal territories to being a unified county.” Unlike previous thought, its construction probably involved all the people of Britain.
What do archaeologists think about Stonehenge?
There is strong archaeological evidence that Stonehenge was used as a burial site, at least for part of its long history, but most scholars believe it served other functions as well—either as a ceremonial site, a religious pilgrimage destination, a final resting place for royalty or a memorial erected to honor and …
How was Stonehenge dated by archaeologists?
May 18, 1952: Carbon-14 Sets Stonehenge Date at 1848 B.C., More or Less. 1952: An analysis of the carbon-14 radioisotope in a piece of charred oak from an excavated pit at Stonehenge estimates that the mysterious structure on England’s Salisbury Plain is 3,800 years old, plus or minus 275 years.
What have archaeologists found at Stonehenge?
Archaeologists excavating at Stonehenge have uncovered prehistoric human remains and ancient artefacts during a recent investigation at the iconic site. The findings have added fuel to the controversy surrounding a new tunnel nearby, that could, it now appears, disturb a whole landscape of archaeology.
What are the latest theories about Stonehenge?
The latest theory is based on the first analysis of more than 50,000 fragments of cremated human remains from one of the Aubrey holes, a ring of pits from the earliest phase of the monument, which some have believed held wooden posts.
When did Parker Pearson become an antiquary?
In 1991 he was admitted as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and in 1996 then became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. From 2003 through to 2009, Parker Pearson directed the Stonehenge Riverside Project.
Why was the Stonehenge a’secondhand’monument?
Mike Parker Pearson, a professor at University College London who led the study, said the stones could have been transported as part of a larger movement of people to the area. “Stonehenge is a secondhand monument,” he said sardonically.
How many people have been buried at Stonehenge?
More than 50,000 cremated bone fragments, of 63 individuals buried at Stonehenge, have been excavated and studied for the first time by a team led by archaeologist Professor Mike Parker Pearson, who has been working at the site and on nearby monuments for decades. He now believes the earliest burials long predate the monument in its current form.
