Exploring the Avebury Neolithic Complex: A Journey into Ancient Mysteries

Well after launching this site I decided to tackle Stonehenge as my first post which is an enormous topic. I hope I did the overview justice. But I must be a glutton for punishment as I have chosen another massive topic for my next post, Avebury. As with Stonehenge, this overview is skating the surface and I will be following up many of the points raised with more in-depth analysis in future posts…So, hold on to your hat, here we go…

Introduction

The Avebury Neolithic complex, located in Wiltshire, England, is one of the most significant and awe-inspiring prehistoric sites in Europe. While it often plays second fiddle to the more famous Stonehenge, Avebury's scale, complexity, and historical significance make it a must-visit for anyone interested in ancient history, archaeology, or the mysteries of early human civilization. This blog post delves into the fascinating details of the Avebury complex, its history, structure, and the theories surrounding its purpose.

The Significance of Avebury

Avebury is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that also includes Stonehenge and other nearby monuments. Dating back to the Neolithic period, around 3000–2500 BCE, the complex is one of the largest and most intricate stone circles in the world. Unlike Stonehenge, which consists of two rings of stones and a henge, Avebury is composed of multiple concentric circles, ditches, and embankments that span nearly 28 acres and has part of the village inside it. This grand scale suggests that the site was of immense importance to the people who built it.

Structure of the Complex

Avebury is not just a single stone circle; it's a vast complex that includes several distinct features:

1. The Outer Stone Circle.

The most prominent feature of Avebury, the outer stone circle, originally consisted of about 98 massive stones. Some of these stones weigh as much as 40 tons and stand up to 4 meters tall. This circle has a diameter of approximately 331 meters, making it the largest stone circle in Britain.

1. Inner Stone Circles.

Inside the outer circle are two smaller stone circles. These are positioned near the centre of the site, and their exact purpose remains a mystery. Each of these inner circles also contains a central feature, which might have held religious or ceremonial significance. Here is the site of a former “Obelisk” and an unusual rectangular stone setting as well.

1. The Henge.

Surrounding the stone circles is a large circular ditch and bank, known as a henge. The ditch is about 11 meters deep and 21 meters wide, with the bank rising as high as 6 meters. The effort involved in digging this out using antler picks was truly monumental. The henge encloses an area of about 11 hectares (28 acres), making it the third largest in Britain after nearby Marden Henge and Durrington Walls near Stonehenge.

1. The Avenue.

Extending from the henge is the West Kennet Avenue, a ceremonial pathway lined with pairs of standing stones. This avenue stretches for about 2.5 kilometres towards another important site, the Sanctuary, another smaller circle monument now ruined and close to many enigmatic barrows. The Avenue likely served as a processional route, perhaps linking different parts of a broader ceremonial landscape. There is another lost avenue that mirrors this site, a curving prehistoric avenue of stones that ran broadly southwest from Avebury towards the still visible pair of stones called The Longstones at Beckhampton .

1. The Cove Stones.

Amongst the largest and finest stones of the whole monument. It has long been accepted that these two stones (along with the Avenue) at Avebury represent male and female characteristics with cove stones being perfect examples of the straight sided “male” and Diamond shaped “female”. At the north side there once was a third stone which completed the cove and faced the existing slender "male" stone. This fell in 1713 and was destroyed.

1. Silbury Hill.

Close to Avebury is Silbury Hill, a conical flat-topped feature and the largest artificial mound in Europe at 40 meters high. Its purpose is still unclear, though it is often associated with the Avebury complex and Earth Goddess by neo-pagans. Its antiquity is demonstrated by the Roman Road that bends around Silbury to avoid it. Many springs are nearby, and the mound often floods becoming surrounded by a moat. Nearby is the source of the river Kennet. Another contemporaneous neolithic hill is nearby in the grounds of Marlborough College.

1. The Greater Landscape and Older Monuments.

Near to Avebury there are many other sites of interest. Many barrows are visible on the skyline along the ancient track The Ridgeway and other sites such as The Devils Den cromlech, the older Windmill Hill enclosure and the similar aged monuments the long barrows. Examples of these exist at West and East Kennet and Beckhampton. As mentioned above, the source of the River Kennet is close, and this feature is very important in my opinion.

Theories on Purpose and Use

The true purpose of Avebury remains one of the great mysteries of prehistoric Britain. Archaeologists and historians have proposed several theories, though none can be definitively proven.

• Religious and Ceremonial Site: The most widely accepted theory is that Avebury served as a religious or ceremonial site. The sheer scale of the construction suggests it was of considerable significance to the Neolithic people. The alignment of the stones and the connection to the surrounding landscape might have been intended for rituals related to the agricultural calendar, solar and lunar events, or ancestor worship. When first constructed Avebury would have not been grassed over as today, but due to the chalk just below the turf, it would have stood out as a huge white shining monument that would have been (and still is) revealed dramatically when approached from the ancient road of The Ridgeway.

• Social and Political Gathering Place: Some researchers believe Avebury was a social or political gathering place, where different groups could come together for trade, feasting, and communal activities. The complexity and scale of the site suggest that it might have been a centre of power or influence in the region. The conjecture of some is that - as Avebury is older - Stonehenge was envisaged to rival the power of the Avebury complex.

• Astronomical Observatory: Another theory posits that Avebury, like Stonehenge, may have been used as an astronomical observatory. The alignment of some stones with the solstices and other celestial events supports this idea, though the evidence is less clear than at Stonehenge. I have covered this topic in another blog that I will publish along with this one.

• Burial or Funerary Site: The nearby presence of burial mounds and chambers, such as the much older West Kennet Long Barrow, suggests that Avebury might have had a funerary function. The circles and avenues could have been used in rituals related to death and the afterlife, although this is probable, it remains speculative.

The People Who Built Avebury

The construction of Avebury would have required a tremendous amount of labour, organization, and resources. The people who built it were part of a sophisticated Neolithic culture that lived in Britain around 4,500 years ago. They were skilled in stone working, engineering, and agriculture. The sheer scale of the project indicates a society capable of coordinating large groups of people over many years. Interestingly, the stones used in Avebury were sourced locally, but moving and erecting them would have been a monumental task, likely involving hundreds of people. The builders also demonstrated a deep connection with their landscape, as Avebury is aligned with natural features like the nearby River Kennet.

Preservation and Legacy

Over the millennia, the Avebury complex has undergone significant changes. Some stones were removed or destroyed during the medieval period, probably due to religious opposition to what was perceived as a pagan site. Other stones have fallen, and erosion has altered the original layout. However, much of Avebury remains intact, thanks to preservation efforts, particularly those by heir to a fortune made from the very English breakfast commodity of marmalade, Alexander Keiller. Keiller was an interesting character who used his fortune to restore many of the fallen stones and conducted extensive archaeological work at the site. If the second world war had not intervened, he may have finished it. The museum at Avebury contains many of his finds.

Today, Avebury is managed by the National Trust and English Heritage, and it continues to be a site of archaeological research, as well as a popular tourist destination. Visitors to Avebury can walk freely among the stones, unlike at Stonehenge, making it a more immersive and personal experience. Neo pagans are particularly attracted to the site for this reason, and the people watching is good! The Red Lion pub (with an interesting old well in the bar) stands in the middle of the circle and is also recommended for refreshment!

Conclusion: The Enduring Mystery of Avebury

The Avebury Neolithic complex remains one of the most enigmatic and fascinating prehistoric sites in the world. Its purpose, construction, and the people who built it continue to inspire wonder and curiosity. Whether it was a place of worship, a social gathering spot, an astronomical observatory, or something else entirely, Avebury stands as a testament to the ingenuity and spirit of our ancient ancestors.

For anyone interested in history, archaeology, or the mysteries of the ancient world, a visit to Avebury is an unforgettable experience. As we continue to study and explore this incredible site, we may yet uncover more of the secrets that it has guarded for thousands of years. To paraphrase the late great 18th century antiquarian William Stukeley - who originally rediscovered the site-,

"Stonehenge, in comparison to Avebury

is as a parish church to the cathedral."