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| Stone Formation Archive 1996 |
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 Stone Formations news, views, gallery and archive brought to you by Weird Wiltshire Introduction Latest News News Archive Stonehenge Stonehenge Project Stonehenge 360 Avebury Saviours Stones Village Solstice Wayland Smithy Long Barrow Woodhenge Gallery Summer Solstice Gallery 2002 Summer Solstice Gallery 2004 Postcards Wallpaper Links  |
First published on January 30, 1996 AERIAL archaeologists have discovered evidence of a large previously unknown structure inside the world-famous henge and stone circle at Avebury. The structure shows in air photographs as two rings of yellow grass about 22 metres in diameter. A spokesman for the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England said they could be ring ditches (the remains of a prehistoric mound or barrow.) The rings show because 'parch marks' can occur where ditches have been dug and this effect was particularly dramatic during last year's dry summer. "The pictures were taken in September," said cameraman Roger Featherstone. "I did not expect to see anything new as no parch marks have ever been seen inside Avebury henge and it was not until I studied the pictures a week ago that I realised what was in them." "Avebury must be one of the most intensively studied archaeological sites in the world. "There are over 300 air photographs of it in the RCHME's public archive alone, yet this has never been seen before," said Bob Hewley head of the air photography unit. The pictures also reveal the sites of several previously unknown standing stones at Avebury which is managed by the National Trust. It is hoped that in the near future a ground-level survey will be made of all the new Avebury features. Back to 1996 index |
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