Henge facts for kids
A henge is a special type of ancient structure. People built them a very long time ago, during the Neolithic period. This was the New Stone Age. Henges are usually found in the British Isles, like Stonehenge. But a few similar ones are in other parts of Europe.
Henges are made of earth. They have a round bank (like a raised wall) and a ditch. The ditch is usually inside the bank. This is different from a fort, where the ditch would be outside. Because of this, experts think henges were not for defense. Instead, they were likely used for important ceremonies or rituals. Stonehenge is a famous example often talked about for its ceremonial use.
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Different Kinds of Henges
Experts divide henges into three main types. They are grouped by their size and what they were used for.
Big Henges (20 meters or more)
These are the most common type of henge. They have a flat area in the middle that is at least 20 meters (about 65 feet) across. Usually, there isn't much sign that people lived inside them. However, they often contain other special structures. These can include stone circles, wooden circles, or tall standing stones.
Some famous examples of big henges include:
- Avebury in Wiltshire. This henge holds the largest stone circle in Britain.
- The Great Circle at Stanton Drew in Somerset. This one has the second largest stone circle in Britain.
- The Ring of Brodgar in Orkney. It contains the third largest stone circle in Britain.
Not all big henges have stone circles. For example, the three henges at Thornborough Henges in Yorkshire do not. Also, Stonehenge is a bit unusual. Its ditch is outside the main earth bank, which is different from a typical henge.
Mini Henges (less than 20 meters)
These are like smaller versions of the regular henges. Their central flat area is less than 20 meters (about 65 feet) wide. An example of a mini henge is the ancient site at Dorchester on Thames.
Henge Enclosures (more than 300 meters)
These are very large Neolithic earthworks. Like other henges, they have a ditch inside the bank. But their central flat area is huge, more than 300 meters (about 980 feet) across. Also, there is a lot of evidence that people lived inside these large enclosures. Some true henges, like Avebury, are also very big. However, they don't show signs of people living there.
Examples of henge enclosures include Durrington Walls in Wiltshire and Mount Pleasant Henge in Dorset.
Images for kids
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Avebury henge contains several stone circles
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The Ring of Brodgar, Orkney is a possible area of origin for henges
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Excavated henge ditch on Wyke Down (Dorset). The ditch was originally dug as a causewayed enclosure and may therefore not be a henge.
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Maelmin Henge, constructed in 2000
See also
In Spanish: Henge para niños
