If we ask you to imagine a henge, we’d bet your mind instantly goes to the now-iconic Stonehenge in Wiltshire, UK. This prehistoric megalithic structure is, in the minds of many people, the quintessential example of a henge. It’s even in the name, right? Well, not quite. Stonehenge isn’t actually recognized as a true henge, despite giving its name to the classification. This raises a rather obvious question: what on Earth is a henge?
Slippery definitions
The word “henge” comes from the
Generally speaking, henges have causeways that give access to their interior. Sometimes there is only one of these entrance points (known as Class I henges), but some henges have two (Class II), or up to four (Class III) ways into the earthwork. Given that these ditches were shallow and located inside the raised banks, it is unlikely henges were used for
As noted above, a henge is defined by its earthwork structure rather than any particular feature at its center. As such, a henge does not always have stones arranged in its center. Sometimes there are other things there, such as timber posts,
Given that most henges are identified through fieldwork or
It is also worth noting that a circle of standing stones is not necessarily a henge either. These
Okay, this sounds straightforward, but there are also henge sub-types. Firstly, there are “hengiform monuments” that are basically
As our knowledge develops, so too do the words we use to describe things. This is as true for archaeology as it is for any scientific subject. So today, the classification “henge” and its value for demarcating one type of ancient structure from another is very much
This is because, over the years, the classification has been stretched to include unusual sites with features that do not match the original intention. As such, the description here is a simplified explanation of what makes a henge.
Where did henges come from and who used them?
So what exactly constitutes a henge is a bit of a messy subject. But surely, we know more about where they came from? Again, not necessarily so. These monuments are surprisingly difficult to date with precision. The earliest examples appear around 3000 BCE, but the larger ones were probably created later, around 2800 and 2200 BCE. Henges and other
There are older structures as well.
Things get even murkier when we start to explore the reasons for their construction. To be sure, there is a ton of speculation, inaccuracy, and fantasy concerning these locations. Contrary to what many New Age groups maintain, there is no evidence that these sites had anything to do with the historical figures known as the
Despite these anachronistic and fabulous claims, it is likely that henges were ceremonial spaces. It is possible the earthwork arrangements marked out specific areas for specific people or for the spirits of the dead. They may have also been the site of ritual practices, such as dancing, drinking, feasting, sacrifices, and funerary rites. However, again, there is no evidence that sacrifices included humans as offerings, unlike at the
Other interpretations suggest they may have served judiciary purposes, or been sites of trade or astronomical observation.
Clearly, there is much we do not know about these sites, but that does not mean we can just inject wild unfounded speculation that has little archaeological evidence to support it.
Examples of some henges
It would be impractical to try to examine all the henges scattered across the British Isles. So, here is a selection of some examples.
One of the greatest examples of a henge is at
The site is massive, encircling an area that also includes part of Avebury village itself. The henge encloses the largest stone circle in Britain, which originally held around 100 stones. These stones themselves were enclosed by two smaller stone circles.
Another impressive example of a henge, albeit less grand than the one at Avebury, is the one at
As noted above, the features that make a henge a henge are flexible. As such, Mayburgh henge does not include a surrounding ditch. However, it does include a large single standing stone at its centre.
Finally, there are the stunning structures of the Ring of Brodgar, in Orkney, Scotland. This site includes a henge and stone circle and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the
It is the only major henge with a stone circle in Britain that is almost perfectly round. Originally, there were about 60 stones at this site, but today there are only 36. There are also 13 prehistoric burial mounds located at the site.
As mentioned above, there are many other henges across Britain and Ireland that were built during the same period. We may not know exactly what they were created for, but as more examples continue to appear, we are certainly learning more about these impressive – if not confusing – ancient monuments.