What Are The Similarities Between Stonehenge And Durrington Walls

When one refers to the Neolithic era, the two main monuments that typically come to mind are Stonehenge and Durrington Walls. Stonehenge, one of the most famous monuments of the Neolithic era was built in Southern England between 2900 and 1500 BCE. On the other hand, Stonehenge’s counterpart, Durrington Walls was erected not too far off from Stonehenge around 2600 BCE. While both of these monuments were created during around the same period of time and had slight structural similarities, for the most part, they consist of different stylistic designs, are made of different materials and serve different purposes in terms of proposed historical context. In order to get a better understanding of Stonehenge, one must first analyze the materials
Throughout the years that Stonehenge was being developed, it when through a progressive change in materials that were used, due to the fact that it was built in stages. During the first stage, which can be traced back to around approximately 3000 BCE, the monument was simply a circular pit, which enclosed 56 pits which were known as Aubrey Holes (Stonehenge: Ancient Monument…). It is hypothesized that these ditches were dug out using antler picks, due to the fact that after excavating the site of Stonehenge, they were found within the pits (Stonehenge: Ancient Monument). In 2500 BCE, stage two of Stonehenge went under way. Large blue stones which were brought in from the Prescelli Mountains in South Wales, which were placed within the middle of the large circular ditch created during stage one. During around approximately 2640 and 2480 BCE, the third and final stage of Stonehenge had begun. At this time, sarsen stones were brought in from the Avebury area of Marlborough Downs. Before these sarsen stones could be placed in the center of Stonehenge, they had to be smoothed out, which was done by continuously hammering at the rock with a sarsen hammer (Stonehenge: Ancient Monument…). Once these stones were smoothed out they were placed in a
There have been many theories proposed as to why Stonehenge was built; however, it is difficult to know for a matter of fact what the purpose Stonehenge served, due to the fact that there was no writing during the prehistoric era which could document what Stonehenge was used for. One theory which has been commonly referred to, and seems to make the most logical sense, was proposed in the eighteenth century. Scholars believed that due to the placement of Stonehenge’s entrance, which was positioned perfectly in front of the rising sun on the summer solstice, that it was used as “a kind of solar calendar to track the movement of the sun and moon and mark the changing seasons (Why Was Stonehenge Built?). Another theory, which can be backed up by factual evidence as proven by archeologist Mike Parker Pearson, is the notion that Stonehenge was used as a monument where one could bury the dead, as well as to pay tribute to the deceased. This theory would also seem right, due to the fact that during stage one of Stonehenge, “the site started as a cemetery of cremation burials…” (18). One might even argue that Stonehenge served both of these purposes, which very well may have been the case, rather than just one or the