by: Shane McGlaun
One of the great mysteries
in archaeology for decades has been exactly what Stonehenge was used for.
Archaeologists and scientists have also attempted over the decades to figure
out exactly how prehistoric humans could have constructed such an elaborate site
using massive and incredibly heavy stones. Over the weekend, archaeologists
offered up a new theory on what I Stonehenge might’ve been used for.
The archaeologists believe
that centuries before the first massive sarsen stone was put in place at
Stonehenge, the monument could’ve been a giant burial ground. The
archaeologists report that they’ve discovered over 50,000 cremated bone
fragments from 63 different individuals. These bone fragments were excavated
and studied for the first time by a group of archaeologists headed by Professor
Mike Parker Pearson.
Pearson has been working
with Stonehenge and nearby monuments for decades. According to Pearson, he
believes the earliest burials of the site are much older than the monument
itself in its current form. According to Pearson, the smaller standing stones
were carried to the site from Wales and placed as grave markers at approximately
3000 BC.
He believes that the site
remained as a graveyard for at least 200 years with sporadic burials after that
time. The archaeologists and his team used new techniques and were able to
determine the first time that the burials at the location were not only of
adult men. According to the new investigation there are almost equal numbers of
men and women including children. The archaeologists discovered artifacts such
as an incense bowl leading them to believe that the people buried at the site
could’ve been religious and political leaders along with their immediate
family.
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