Results from Stonehenge dig revealed

22 September 2008

BU?s Archaeology expert presents evidence from Stonehenge dig, revealing its use as an ancient healing site, to the world?s media.

Professor Timothy Darvill, from BU, and Professor Geoffrey Wainwright, President of the Society of Antiquaries of London have revealed the results of their Stonehenge excavation – the first archaeological dig for over 40 years.

Speaking in front of an international media audience, Professor Darvill and Professor Wainwright revealed that they believe the bluestones were revered as healing stones - the key reason they were transported some 250 km from the Preseli Hills in west Wales to Wiltshire. It was the magical qualities of these stones which they believe transformed the monument and made it into a place of pilgrimage for the sick and injured of the Neolithic world.

The new evidence shows interest in the Bluestones by the Romans that wasn't previously documented and clearly reveals the continued re-positioning and systematic break-up of the stones through to medieval times and beyond.

From late March to mid-April this year, Professors Darvill and Wainwright led a group of experts as part of the Bluestone Project, to determine when the first Double Bluestone Circle that formed the original Stonehenge was placed on the Wessex Downs.

Their two-week excavation within Stonehenge – the first allowed since 1964 – yielded an abundance of materials documenting thousands of years of human activity. Items recovered include broken bottles from the 19th century, coins and animal bones from the Roman period, and prehistoric beaker pottery and worked pieces of flint. The team also recovered carbonised plant and other organic material taken for radiocarbon dating

“When we look back over the results of that relatively tiny area, it’s hard to imagine that we could actually have got so much out of such a small area,” says Professor Darvill. “We’ve actually managed to re-write whole sections of Stonehenge’s history from those very small excavations.”

“All of the evidence reinforces the idea that whatever the purpose of Stonehenge might have been – and there could well be more than one – the bluestones were central to it,” continues Professor Darvill. “Their meaning and importance to prehistoric people was sufficiently powerful to warrant the investment of time, effort, and resources to move the bluestones from the Preseli Hills to the Wessex Downs.”

The excavation was facilitated by English Heritage following the granting of Scheduled Monument Consent by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Funding for the excavation and post-excavation analysis was provided by BBC ‘Timewatch’ programme in association with the Smithsonian Network in the US. The resulting documentary, ‘Stonehenge Deciphered’, will air on both the BBC and the Smithsonian Channel on Saturday 27 September.

The programme will be broadcast on BBC2 at 8pm (BST).