Avebury
comprises of an enormous circular earthwork, 400 m wide.
Inside is a circle of immense standing stones, and inside that there
are two more stone circles each 100 metres in diameter.
From Avebury there run two stone avenues, each of which had about
100 megaliths
Avebury is about 24 miles north of Stonehenge.
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The
Megalithic Society keeps a detailed web site of both Stonehenge and
Avebury going into great detail.
Stonehenge
& Avebury Unofficial Web Site
Within a mile of Avebury is Silbury Hill, the biggest prehistoric
artificial mound in Europe. You can easily walk between the two. We
have a short self guided
Avebury walk which visits both Avebury & Silbury Hill.
Unlike Stonehenge you
can freely walk between the stones, and there is no admission. You
are not allowed on Silbury Hill, there is a viewing platform close
by. |
Avebury
The
village of Avebury has given its name to one of the greatest stone
circles in the United Kingdom.
The area has been inhabited by villagers for about 1000 years and
is completed surrounded by the stone circle. |
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Avebury
stone circle is the largest henge monument in Britain, which is managed
by the National Trust. Unlike Stonehenge you can wander around the
stones and experience the mystery and mystique of this prehistoric
wonder. Avebury is one of the most important megalithic monuments
in Europe and spread over a vast area. The great stone circle, encompassing
part of the village of Avebury, is enclosed by a ditch and external
bank and approached by an avenue of stones.
Mostly dating to around 2,600-2,500 B.C., Avebury covers approximately
28 acres comprises a huge circular earthwork ditch, originally about
30 feet deep, and bank about a quarter of a mile in diameter which
encloses an outer circle of standing stones. It has been estimated
that there were originally a minimum of 247 standing stones within
the henge, and perhaps 400 more forming the avenue outside
Many of the stones were re-erected in the 1930s by the archaeologist
Alexander Keiller. The site museum, including a new exhibition in
the 17th Century thatched threshing barn, presents the archaeological
story of Avebury. Finds from the site and interactive and audio-visual
displays are used to tell the story of the monuments and the people
who have helped to reveal their past. |
Differences
With Stonehenge
Stonehenge is only about 20 miles south of the Avebury henge. The
largest Sarsen Stones at Stonehenge come from the Marlborough Downs
besides Avebury.
Rich evidence of funerary feasts has been found at the Sanctuary,
which was linked by a procession route, the West Kennet Avenue, to
the Avebury henge. Unlike at Stonehenge the procession route to the
henge is clear for all to see, its an impressive sight lined with
stones. The columnar (male) and triangular (female) stones of this
avenue were deliberately paired together. At Stonehenge the stones
have been shaped into angular building blocks, Avebury the stones
are in natural shapes.
At Stonehenge the ditch surrounding the henge is hardly visible, at
Avebury the ditch and earth mound is truly dramatic.
Avebury also hosts a museum in which can be found the remains of a
prehistoric child called 'Charlie' .The museum houses one of the most
important prehistoric archaeological collections in Britain.
Within the henge is a Saxon Village, complete with Dovecote, church,
manor house and Post Office. The cafe here specialises in Organic
food.
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Avebury's
Thatched Pub |
Silbury
Hill |
Silbury Hill Tourist Information
Silbury Hill, part of the complex of Neolithic monuments around Avebury
in Wiltshire (which includes the West Kennet long barrow), is the
tallest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe and one of the world's
largest. On a base covering over 2 hectares (5 acres), it rises 39.6m
(130ft) high.
It is a display of immense technical skill and prolonged control over
labour and resources. Archaeologists calculate that Silbury Hill was
built about 4600 years ago and that it took 18 million man-hours to
dump and shape 248,000 cubic metres (8.75 million cu ft) of earth
on top of a natural hill. |
Mystical
Stonehenge & Avebury Personalised
Tour From London
Guided tour with 5 hours in field - touch the stones, track
ley lines - unbeatable price |
If you really
want to understand Stonehenge and the Neolithic culture it is a symbol of,
this tour is for you. Peter Knight is a leading speaker and author specialising
in earth mysteries, earth energies. ley lines and astronomical alignments
and lives locally from Stonehenge.
Peter is an enthusiastic guide who will immerse you in the subject,
not bombard you with a monologue of facts. You will be encouraged
to touch and feel the stones, experience natural energy forces and
ley lines and really get into the mindset of our ancestors who over
3,000 years ago were creating this astounding environment. |
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is an experience you will not forget, and astoundingly you can have a personalised
hands on tour with such an enthusiastic local authority for much less than
a standard packaged tour. Travel from London by train and be met at Salisbury
Station by Peter or if you are a group we will arrange a bus with pickup
from your hotel. |
Mystical
Sonehenge & Avebury Tour - More Details and Reservations
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