Overview

Every generation has created its own interpretation of Stonehenge, but rarely do these relate to the physical realities of the monument. The author begins with those elements which made possible the building of this vast stone circle: the site, the materials and the society that undertook the enormous task of transporting and raising the great vertical stones, then capping them, all to a carefully contrived plan. What emerges from this detailed examination is a much fuller sense of Stonehenge, both in relation to all the similar sites close by, and in terms of the uses to which it was put. The building and development of the structure arises from the archaeological evidence; the purposes lying behind it are obscure. Castleden suggests that there is no one ""meaning"" or ""purpose"" for Stonehenge, that from its very beginning it has filled a variety of needs. The Romans saw it as a centre of resistance; the antiquaries who ""rediscovered"" it in the 17th century saw a long line of continuity leading back into the nation's past. The archaeologists see it as a subject for rational, scientific investigation; and the National Trust and English Heritage view it as an unfailing magnet for tourists.

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9780415085137

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Rodney Castleden

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