Archaeology
_ During the 17th century and the time of the antiquitaries
and romantantics, there was a renewed interest in ancient history, these
sparked investigations into Stonehenge, its physical history and thus the archaeology.
In 1629 the Duke of Buckingham dug a hole in the centre of the monument,
however it is reported that he was disappointed with his finds, obtaining
nothing more than 'stagges hornes and bulls hornes and charcoales'. Although today
this would present ample samples for radiocarbon dating, at the time these were
not considered finds of great interest.
During the 18th century further study was undertaken by William Stukely, often remembered as a pioneering field archaeologist, he studied much of the landscape however it seems did not publish anything conclusive. In 1797 after the collapse of an entire triathlon archaeologists William Cunningham together with Sir Richard Colt Hore investigated many of the barrows that surrounded the site.
In to the 20th century, largely as a result of the fall of the stones attitudes changed towards the monument, engineering work to secure the site was accompanied by excavation work by Professor William Gowland. Unlike many, he published his results promptly concluding rather accurately that the stones were raised during the late stone, and early Bronze Age.
During further restoration work, experienced archaeologist Conal William Hawley worked alongside engineers, and later went on to excavate the whole of the Stonehenge monument. He started at the Sarsen circle digging for six years from 1919, unfortunately the findings had never been properly analysed or published, and thus little can be conclusively established from them.
The 1950's saw the return of archaeologists to Stonehenge, Professors Richard Atkinson, Stuart Piggot and J F S Stone began to attempt to prepare Hawley's findings for publication, along with carrying out additional excavation work. The excavations produced carbon datable evidence for the first time of between2123 and 1575 BC. Annual excavations then continued on until 1958 when they were paused for engineering works to be carried out. Excavations continued until 1964; however it wasn’t until 1995 that the results of the 20th Century excavations were published.
In 2008 two small, separate excavations were completed Professors Tim Darvill and Geof Wainwright discovered evidence for the deliberate destruction and removal of Bluestone during the Roman Period. The originally discovered burial was re-excavated also.
Due to the nature of the site and its age the information we obtain from it is primarily archaeological evidence, continued projects and investigations are likely to occur well into the future, in the attempt to discover more about this highly significant and intriguing ancient monument.
During the 18th century further study was undertaken by William Stukely, often remembered as a pioneering field archaeologist, he studied much of the landscape however it seems did not publish anything conclusive. In 1797 after the collapse of an entire triathlon archaeologists William Cunningham together with Sir Richard Colt Hore investigated many of the barrows that surrounded the site.
In to the 20th century, largely as a result of the fall of the stones attitudes changed towards the monument, engineering work to secure the site was accompanied by excavation work by Professor William Gowland. Unlike many, he published his results promptly concluding rather accurately that the stones were raised during the late stone, and early Bronze Age.
During further restoration work, experienced archaeologist Conal William Hawley worked alongside engineers, and later went on to excavate the whole of the Stonehenge monument. He started at the Sarsen circle digging for six years from 1919, unfortunately the findings had never been properly analysed or published, and thus little can be conclusively established from them.
The 1950's saw the return of archaeologists to Stonehenge, Professors Richard Atkinson, Stuart Piggot and J F S Stone began to attempt to prepare Hawley's findings for publication, along with carrying out additional excavation work. The excavations produced carbon datable evidence for the first time of between2123 and 1575 BC. Annual excavations then continued on until 1958 when they were paused for engineering works to be carried out. Excavations continued until 1964; however it wasn’t until 1995 that the results of the 20th Century excavations were published.
In 2008 two small, separate excavations were completed Professors Tim Darvill and Geof Wainwright discovered evidence for the deliberate destruction and removal of Bluestone during the Roman Period. The originally discovered burial was re-excavated also.
Due to the nature of the site and its age the information we obtain from it is primarily archaeological evidence, continued projects and investigations are likely to occur well into the future, in the attempt to discover more about this highly significant and intriguing ancient monument.