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| Stone Formations - Latest News |
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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  |
Dec 3 2003 Stones yield their secrets ARCHAEOLOGISTS at Avebury have unearthed a missing arc of megaliths buried for hundreds of years. 
The fate of the stones has been a puzzle for the last three centuries.
But National Trust archaeologists started a survey and have revealed that
they have found at least 15 massive stones buried close to where they would
have stood in the circle."This is a truly exciting find and completes the circle of Avebury," said Martin Papworth, the Trust's archaeologist for Wessex. "These stones were erected more than 4,500 years ago and the world of archaeology suspected that most of them had been demolished and lost forever." The circle, which is 14 times larger than its more famous neighbour Stonehenge, is a World Heritage Site and attracts more than 300,000 visitors a year. The buried megaliths are around 20ft long a similar size to the surviving standing stones but there are no plans to dig them up. A spokesman for the Trust said that apart from the prohibitive cost of excavating them, the earth had protected the stones extremely well for hundreds of years. However, it is looking at using ground probing radar to build 3D images of the stones and recreate them as computer images. A map of the area created in the 1720s showed many of the stones had gone. Locals suspected that some were buried, but no one knew their fate. Mr Papworth said: "We know that many of the Avebury stones still standing up to 300 years ago were broken up for building stone in the 17th and 18th centuries." David Williams, cellarman at the Red Lion said it would be nice to dig them up and see an almost complete circle. "I think plenty of local people would be willing to volunteer," he added. Last month, archaeologists carried out the geophysical scan as part of the Trustıs continuing programme of surveying its properties Around 70 years ago, millionaire and keen archaeologist Alexander Keiller excavated and reinstalled many stones in the western part of the circle some upside down but his work was ended by the war. Sept 3 2003 In the heart of the circle 
TWO cottages in the heart of the Avebury stone circle are on offer to prospective tenants. One, called Perry's Cottage, is a three-bedroomed semi-detached and is available at £900 per month. The other, a five-bedroomed detached cottage called The Pottery, has had its rent set at just £500 per month because the leaseholder is expecting to carry out necessary repairs and refurbishment. 
Both cottages are in Green Street, within the inner circle of stones at the World Heritage Site, whose history dates back at least five thousand years.
They are among hundreds of properties which are owned by the trust and let to tenants. Trust spokesman Alex Brannen said: ' The trust is one of the major landowners in the country, and leases thousands of farms, farm buildings and cottages. What is wonderful about these two cottages is that they are within a World Heritage Site. But it is important for prospective tenants to note that the five-bedroomed cottage needs some restoration, which the tenant will be responsible for.' The larger cottage was built over the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries as three separate dwellings before being made into one. The smaller was built in the mid-18th century, possibly as a shop with living accommodation, and was used as the premises of a harness-maker and saddler in the following century. It is described as being in good decorative order, with oil-fired central heating. Both properties will be available for viewing on September 12. Further details are available from Sally Sparrow on 01985 843600 |
 
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