Seahenge lies in the village of Holme-next-the-Sea in Norfolk. It is a timber circle with an upturned tree root in the centre that is thought to have been built during the early Bronze Age. Recently a second prehistoric circle has been found on the same stretch of Norfolk beach
Both sites have been eroded with seawater during the many many centuries that have passed, but archaeologists believe the two circles, which originally stood inland in boggy freshwater, were part of the same monumental complex connected with rites to honour the dead.
Archaeologists have said that, unlike the giant boulders of monuments such as Stonehenge, the only evidence for most 'prehistoric timber structures is post holes in the ground.' However, because the salty silt preserved the wood, the two circles at Holme Beach are the only ones in Britain to have been dated precisely to the year 2049 BC.
Both sites have been eroded with seawater during the many many centuries that have passed, but archaeologists believe the two circles, which originally stood inland in boggy freshwater, were part of the same monumental complex connected with rites to honour the dead.
Archaeologists have said that, unlike the giant boulders of monuments such as Stonehenge, the only evidence for most 'prehistoric timber structures is post holes in the ground.' However, because the salty silt preserved the wood, the two circles at Holme Beach are the only ones in Britain to have been dated precisely to the year 2049 BC.
David Robertson, historic environment officer at Norfolk county council who ran the Holme II dating project, said he believed the circle may originally have been covered by a burial mound, with the central logs supporting a coffin.
"As the timbers used in both timber circles were felled at the same time, the construction of the two monuments must have been directly linked. Seahenge is thought to have been a free-standing timber circle, possibly to mark the death of an individual, acting as a cenotaph symbolising death rather than a location for burial. If part of a burial mound, the second circle would have been the actual burial place. The inevitable destruction of the monument will be monitored, but there are no plans for further excavation."
"As the timbers used in both timber circles were felled at the same time, the construction of the two monuments must have been directly linked. Seahenge is thought to have been a free-standing timber circle, possibly to mark the death of an individual, acting as a cenotaph symbolising death rather than a location for burial. If part of a burial mound, the second circle would have been the actual burial place. The inevitable destruction of the monument will be monitored, but there are no plans for further excavation."
The images of both Seahenges have an eerie feel to them, we can see posts half submerged and the upended stump of a giant oak tree in the original Seahenge. Seahenge's timber were excavated and can be viewed in a local museum but this second find is still in situ. Archaeologists monitoring its decay have just released the dating evidence, obtained by dendrochronology, that is counting the growth rings in the timbers. This has shown that this 'Seahenge' was built from trees felled in the spring or summer of 2049 BC which is exactly the same time as the Seahenge timbers. These timbers revealed the oldest marks of metal axes ever found in Britain, showing that bronze tools were being used for complex woodwork within a century of the introduction of bronze smelting. The marks of at least 36 separate axes were found which suggests it was a project undertaken by a community as a whole.
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