Tisbury Stone Circle and Henge facts for kids
The Tisbury Stone Circle and Henge was an ancient monument in Wiltshire, England. It was made up of a stone circle and a henge, which is a special type of earthwork. Experts believe people built it a very long time ago, during the Bronze Age. Today, nothing is left of this monument.
The Tisbury Stone Circle and Henge was part of a tradition of building stone circles. This tradition spread across much of Great Britain, Ireland, and Brittany. It happened between 3,300 and 900 BCE, during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. Along with stone circles, people also built timber circles and earthen henges. These circular monuments became very important.
We don't know exactly why these rings were built. However, archaeologists think the stones might have represented special spirits or gods for the people who built them.
Where Was Tisbury Stone Circle Located?
This ancient site was about 12 miles (19 km) west-south-west of the famous Stonehenge. It was built just north of the River Nadder.
From old descriptions, it seems the Tisbury monument had both a stone circle and a henge. Archaeologists also found a burial near the center stone. This is similar to other ancient sites in the British Isles, like the Longstone Rath henge in County Kildare, Ireland.
Today, nothing remains of the Tisbury Stone Circle.
Why Were Stone Circles Built?
Around 3000 BCE, people in southern and eastern England started building different kinds of monuments. Older monuments like long barrows and causewayed enclosures were no longer built. Instead, circular monuments became popular. These included earthen henges, timber circles, and stone circles.
Stone circles are found in most parts of Britain where there is natural stone. They are most common in south-western Britain and in north-eastern Scotland. People might have built these circles for about 2,400 years, from 3300 to 900 BCE. The main period of building was between 3000 and 1,300 BCE.
These stone circles usually show very little sign that people visited them often after they were built. This suggests they were not used for everyday rituals that would leave many traces. They might have been left as "silent and empty monuments."
Archaeologist Mike Parker Pearson thinks that in Neolithic Britain, stone was linked to the dead, while wood was linked to the living. Other archaeologists suggest the stones might not have represented ancestors. Instead, they could have stood for other powerful spirits or gods.
Other Stone Circles in Wiltshire
In the area of modern Wiltshire, many stone circles were built. The most famous ones are Avebury and Stonehenge. All the other examples are now ruined, and some have been completely destroyed.
Archaeologist Aubrey Burl noted that these other sites have left "only frustrating descriptions and vague positions." Most of the known stone circles in Wiltshire were built in low-lying areas of the landscape.
