From the Southworth Planetarium
“Great news! We spend one seventh of our lives on a Monday”
THE DAILY ASTRONOMER
July 26, 2010
The Second Henge
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Hey, gang!
We are pleased to announce that Professor Patrick Peoples
will present a “Mid Winters’s Eve at Stonehenge” on
December 20th at 7:00 p.m. For the first time, Professor
Peoples offers his Stonehenge program for the winter solstice.
(Previously, he’s only offered it around the summer solstice.)
Also, the lecture “The Astronomy of Stonehenge” follows
Prof. People’s presentation.
Admission by donation.
Call 207-780-4249 for more information.
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Archaeologists are calling it one of the early 21st century’s most significant discoveries. Astronomers, most of whom are not naturally inclined to make such grand pronouncements, are intrigued, but silent. Druids are likewise reserving judgment. The discovery pertains to Stonehenge, the world famous, neolithic monument of more than 4,000 summers that stands battered but proud on southern England’s Salisbury Plain. Employing sophisticated scanning technologies, archaeologists have found evidence of a second henge encircling the massive stone structure. Positioned 2,950 feet from these stones, this henge represents the most exciting find at Stonehenge within the last half century. It bares noting, of course, that the 2008 archaeological effort which yielded this discovery was the first excavation at Stonehenge in about fifty years.
A “henge” is simply a circular ditch around which other structures are often erected for either ritualistic or astronomical purposes. This second henge is obviously larger and is believed to have used timber as markings instead of stones. Scientists think that ancient people constructed this timber hinge around the time when Stonehenge would have been at or near completion (i.e. when it contained the entire interlocking stone structure). So, instead of just stones, the entire complex would have been stones surrounded by timber poles. Subsequent excavations might indeed reveal evidence of yet unknown structures either around or possibly within the area these two henges encompass.
Those who want to understand Stonehenge’s astronomical function will likely have to re-formulate their hypotheses to incorporate this finding. The main problem with these formulations still continues to be the lack of written records. Stonehenge’s designers left no tablets or rune-inscribed obelisks to explain their intentions. Future generations have therefore been left with only speculation about the structure’s purpose and usage. It was only recently that some scientists concluded that Stonehenge must have had an astronomical aspect, either incidental or primary. They based such conclusions on the manner in which certain stones seemed aligned with significant astronomical events. For instance, at the summer solstice, the sun might have appeared to rise above the heelstone to any person situated in the henge’s center. Some astronomers futher assumed that Stonehenge’s sarsen circles and trilithons might have been components in a sophisticated system designed to predict lunar phases and eclipses.
The notions about Stonehenge astronomy are as complex as they are uncertain. Unfortunately, those who were involved in the multi-century effort to build Stonehenge are all dead and therefore unavailable for comment. Now that researchers have discovered an entirely new henge, complications will undoubtedly ensue. How were these timber poles involved in the astronomical calculations? Were they even involved? What was the purpose of having the timber henge that far from the stones?
These are questions that astronomers are already asking and might never answer with certainty.
