Stone Age religion
On a tour of England last month, I visited again the impressive monuments of stone age people. Stonehenge is the most well known. But the one at Avebury is part of a huge area used by pre-historic people.
I noticed that National Geographic features Stonehenge in the current June 2008 issue. You might want to read it. And PBS had a program on how these ancient people (with primitive technology, such as tools made of bone and stone) moved 20 ton rock megaliths a hundred miles and erected them. Why did they do it? What was in their minds? Was it fear, awe, or practical primitive astronomy helping them in agriculture?
Some link it to ancestor worship designed to assure the return of good crops and successful hunts. Archeologists find clues as they continue to excavate larger areas. They say large settlements surrounded these henges in order to house thousands of families that came each year to work on the projects over hundreds of years.
What is a henge, exactly? What do know about the way these people looked at their existence? About what religious aspirations they held? How much is solid, almost fact, and what is speculation and outright guesswork?
Did these people believe in God? In life after death? Did religion dominate their lives or was it more a “nod to god?”
See what you can find out about this and share it under comments so we can get a dialog going on pre-historic religion. Be sure to cite your sources as you try to reach some conclusions that make sense to you.
I'll try to post some photos. If you find visuals to share, please do so as long as fair use is granted by the source.
I noticed that National Geographic features Stonehenge in the current June 2008 issue. You might want to read it. And PBS had a program on how these ancient people (with primitive technology, such as tools made of bone and stone) moved 20 ton rock megaliths a hundred miles and erected them. Why did they do it? What was in their minds? Was it fear, awe, or practical primitive astronomy helping them in agriculture?
Some link it to ancestor worship designed to assure the return of good crops and successful hunts. Archeologists find clues as they continue to excavate larger areas. They say large settlements surrounded these henges in order to house thousands of families that came each year to work on the projects over hundreds of years.
What is a henge, exactly? What do know about the way these people looked at their existence? About what religious aspirations they held? How much is solid, almost fact, and what is speculation and outright guesswork?
Did these people believe in God? In life after death? Did religion dominate their lives or was it more a “nod to god?”
See what you can find out about this and share it under comments so we can get a dialog going on pre-historic religion. Be sure to cite your sources as you try to reach some conclusions that make sense to you.
I'll try to post some photos. If you find visuals to share, please do so as long as fair use is granted by the source.
posted by Jim Gustafson | 4:32 PM
17 Comments:
Hi
I must admit that even as a man who is well trekked and has an intelectual curiosity I know nothing much about Megaliths-the good news is that i am learing!
I recently benifited from a lecture in world Civilization I, given by a Professor Andrew Morse -that shed light (and interest) on this very topic-hah, how timley!
I remain open minded, but, the UFO thearist are not playing my tune on this one-saw some wild theory once in History or discovery Chanell.UFO's mayby, Megaliths-obviously-but UFO's and Megaliths in some universal connection? Homey don't play that.
And so I turn to my text which list Megaliths {great stone}as a common theme in iliterate, tribal religions- good start, thanks Carmody and Brink! These ritualistic centers made of stone
are in Europe as well as Africa and Australia. "the Megalith was the major symbol for a ritual pertaining to the dead." (Carmody and Brink, 37)Apparently stone represented a reistance to decay,a permanance that helped lead tribes to see death as a state of security-utilizing the power and wisdom of deceased anchestors as allies.
Now having considered a few facts and giving this a bit of thought the question nagging me is this: In a hand to mouth,rudamaentary existance why would great time and labor be devoted to thier constuction of Megaliths-as opposed to endeavors that are more immidiate and utilitarian?
It has got to be that they operate within a certain relevance- that has created ultimate values that drove them to comittment and action which had been reinforced through vindication over hundreds of years.
What do you think? Peace out, Ralph,
Wow!
I was really surprised to find out that the megaliths in England were part of a bigger network where people lived for short times to do the ritual work.
This Nat Geo article is cool (link below) because it talks of the religious importance of death rituals in the tribal culture. I am inclined to think that these people really reached out for meaning to their life and death and thought they "could" connect to the deceased.
Here is a quote from the article."It was a way of referring to its powerfulness and to the importance and significance of the activities that are taking place at the henge and the people who are officiating," Thomas said.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070112-stonehenge.html
Any Thoughts on the pic? Sossie
Well, one thing we still have in common with the henge societies - "You'll never get out life alive" - as I used to say to my kids. These Henge-ites seemed to know this. And like the tribal people I meet in Kenya, they are deathly fearful of ancestors. They think they still exist and do bad things if not kept happy. So no matter how big the gravestone (I'm not planning on a megalith, myself) we know the moratility rate is still about 100%
Question:(optional since it could be personal for you and this is public forum) - what do you think will happen to you when death holds your body in its icy grasp? Do you hope for something more? Have you a plan? What is the basis for your hope (or lack of hope) - since you cannot go over the River Styx and come back to start over? That concern is what drives a lot of the basic religious stuff in our world. And the secularists have a lot to say on the subject, too.
The various religions (and even non-religion) we study try to answer these questions. So it is a motif for the whole course.
As for me, basically I am hopeful. But let's here from the class before I say more.
Stonehenge was erected in 3000BC and it was originally composed of wood timbers, but 500 years later those were replace by bluestone that was about 4 tons. It is believed that these stones were brought over 100 miles, land and sea. Many years later those bluestones were replaced with sandstone that weighed up to 45 tons. These stones were brought over 20 miles. All by man alone.
The purpose of Stonehenge is still unclear to this day. Some believe it to have been a magnificent ancient temple, a place of spiritual, religious and ceremonial importance. Some believe it to be an ancient burial ground Others believe that it was used to determine summer solstice, but the website, http://www.knowth.com/stonehenge.htm says that even the celebrated summer solstice sunrise significance is in doubt, Stonehenge may actually have been built to mark the winter solstice sunset.
The name Stonehenge originates from the Anglo-Saxon period – the old English word ‘henge' meaning hanging or gibbet, according to the website, www.english-heritage.org. So it is literally ‘the hanging stones', derived probably from the lintels of the trilithons which appear to be suspended above their massive uprights.
Today the word ‘henge' has a specific archaeological meaning: a circular enclosure surrounding settings of stones and timber uprights, or pits. Although the complete structure of Stonehenge is not comlpete any longer, it was originally a circular enclosure with 5 sarsen trilithons that were constructed in a U shape.
Professor Gustafson, I published the above comment. OOPS!!!
Lisa Ross
An interesting artifice indeed. I'm most fascinated by peoples...well...fascination with the actual manner in which it was constructed. Locations have been agreed upon as sources of material, and all recognize the monumental amount of effort that it must have taken to get there---but there remains the baffling part.
Tommy, I think you put it quite well, and I quote: "In a hand to mouth,rudamaentary existance why would great time and labor be devoted to thier constuction of Megaliths-as opposed to endeavors that are more immidiate and utilitarian?"
The supposition exists that the task of creating such a monolith would be the work of hundreds, if not thousands of dedicated workers. Suggestion exists (in small part to be sure) that the task itself was too large to handle by the people that began it---that the henge itself is either incomplete, or must have been finished by a later culture. I suggest as pop culture as it is: search "Stonehenge" on YouTube. Witness a SINGULAR man, without the help of anything beyond primitive materials, erect a 20 ton piece of stone into a standing position. I contend that perhaps the great feet of construction was not necessarily as labor intensive as thought.
Referencing Tommy again, it strikes me that perhaps the only thing to cause such remains, tools, etc...to be present on the site is one of ferver and passion. The people, whomsoever they are, must surely have thought themselves to be engaged in a task of the Highest importance.
*theatrical voice* Yet time still shrouds the hidden mysteries of this testament to the unkown....and thank you for watching Nova.
I had previously watched a special on the excavation of the village outside Stonehenge. This was a facinating show to watch just to see the reinactmets of how these peoople lived.
What I found most interesting was that it is believed these people did not all live in this community but would travel for miles for rituals and ceremonies. To either celibrate the summer solstice and the reurn of their crops or, to attend to their dead properly.
Perhaps the idea that these stones are used as a sacred marker for the dead is not such a crazy idea. if we walk into any modern cemetary there are plenty of stones to mark our dead today.
As for what I think may become of me when "death holds my body in its icy grasp" ( putting it like that sends a bit of a chill up my spine). I can only hold out hope that the good I have done while alive will bring me to a better place. I don't believe I have any sort of plan, as what happens after life is nothing that can be proven it is more of an ideal.
There are many people of the same faith that have different ideas on what would be the perfect place to be when they die. Everyone is different and has different things that make them happy wich is what accounts for so many different religious beliefs.
I myself hope to to be in a big fluffy bed sleeping past 6 am but thats just me.
I was able to find a definition of henge: a prehistoric circular area with standing stone or wooden pillars and often enclosed by a bank or ditch, possibly used for rituals. The word cromlech, defined in the text as a circle of huge stones, was listed on the same dictionary website as no longer in technical use and defined as a megalithic chamber tomb. We know from the text that megaliths represent burial vaults or ritual areas. There was a recent article dated 5/29/08 on www.foxnews.com,under archeology - under scitech, which reported the recent dating of cremated remains shows that burials took place as early as 3000 B.C. (B.C.E.) These burials continued for 500 years as the stone circle was being constructed. I believe that to undertake such an enormous project the people must have had a strong belief in a god and the afterlife.They must have felt that they would somehow be rewarded for their labor. I find it very interesting that there are many megaliths, not just in Europe. I know that there is the "American Stonehenge" in Salem, NH but do not know too much about it. I went when my kids were little, but don;t remember too much! I'm going to try to post this (!) and then go look it up.
There is a website for the Salem NH Stonehenge www.stonehengeusa.com The site explains it is unknown who contructed the structures there. It is described as a maze of man-made ceremonial meeting places. There is no mention of it being a burial ground. They know that the site is an accurate astonomical calendar; they have ceremonies marking the summer and winter soltices and the spring and fall equinoxes.
By: Laurie Piantigini
Stonehenge is definitely an interesting part of the world's history. Viewing the huge stone structure makes you wonder how it was built and the strength that it took to assemble. It is said that over nine hundred similar structures were built all over Britain. The stone structures are built in a circular form which is said to have a religious ritual function and astronomical meaning. It is said that it helped figure out the best time to use the land depending on the shadows that were created by the stones. Festivals and celebrations were also held near these structures as a way to express their ritualistic behaviors. People would travel miles and miles to take part in the rituals. I find it amazing that these structures were the main devotion to many civilizations.
http://www.sacredsites.com/europe/england/stonehenge.html
Good info coming through on henges, etc. In the 1960s when I first went to America's Stonehenge in Salem, NH there wasn't much there but stones in the woods. Now there is a display and a small building that tells the story. It's worth a trip if you have time. But let's face it - so much of the interpretation of what went on and what purposes motivated the builders is informed guesswork. Maybe on a scale of 1-100 we have about 55% certainty that our current interpretations are correct. Much of the dating seems reliable - but no written records of any of this, since no computers or typewriters have been found at these sites. ; )
SoonMyung said
I really do not know much about the history of Stonehenge. Why did ancient people put so much effort into that project? How could it possibly still stand thousands of years later? Who built it? What motivated them to build their great stone monuments as a means of relating their presence on earth? No one really knows why it was built. My mind is filled with a sense of wonder.
Stonehenge, the great pyramid, is a prehistoric megalithic monument located on the Salisbury Plain in Southern England. It is composed of many different types and weights of stones. Even though it is nearly impossible to precisely date Stonehenge, it is known that it was constructed during the Neolithic period. It is laid out on the line of the middle summer sun rise and the midsummer sunset, the longest and the shortest days of the year. On the first day of summer, the Sun can be seen rising over the Heel Stone when observed from the center of the monument. Carmody & Brink (2006) states that Stonehenge could be used for making astronomical calculations. Others say that the use of Stonehenge suggests the primacy of ritual function rather than astronomical observation or it was built to chart the changing seasons for farming. It continues to inspire ingenious research, explanations, and discussions.
What I find most interesting is the structure and design of Stonehenge. How did they calculate the distance between one stone to another? How did they determine the correct size and height of the stones. They did not have written language but I am sure they were able to communicate with each other using some form of language. It is very difficult to understand and figure it out what they were thinking. I researched and read about the history of Stonehenge. I have learned that it is fascinating to try to understand the nature-based life of the ancients.
If anyone is interested in reading about the age of Stonehenge, this article is very helpful. Antiquity Journal is the British journal of archaeological research.
Pearson, M., Cleal, R., Marshall, P., Needham, S., Pollard, J., Richards, C., et al. (2007, September). The age of Stonehenge. Antiquity, 81(313), 617-639.
By soonmyung Sim
I really do not know much about the history of Stonehenge. Why did ancient people put so much effort into that project? How could it possibly still stand thousands of years later? Who built it? What motivated them to build their great stone monuments as a means of relating their presence on earth? No one really knows why it was built. My mind is filled with a sense of wonder.
Stonehenge, the great pyramid, is a prehistoric megalithic monument located on the Salisbury Plain in Southern England. It is composed of many different types and weights of stones. Even though it is nearly impossible to precisely date Stonehenge, it is known that it was constructed during the Neolithic period. It is laid out on the line of the middle summer sun rise and the midsummer sunset, the longest and the shortest days of the year. On the first day of summer, the Sun can be seen rising over the Heel Stone when observed from the center of the monument. Carmody & Brink (2006) states that Stonehenge could be used for making astronomical calculations. Others say that the use of Stonehenge suggests the primacy of ritual function rather than astronomical observation or it was built to chart the changing seasons for farming. It continues to inspire ingenious research, explanations, and discussions.
What I find most interesting is the structure and design of Stonehenge. How did they calculate the distance between one stone to another? How did they determine the correct size and height of the stones. They did not have written language but I am sure they were able to communicate with each other using some form of language. It is very difficult to understand and figure it out what they were thinking. I researched and read about the history of Stonehenge. I have learned that it is fascinating to try to understand the nature-based life of the ancients.
If anyone is interested in reading about the age of Stonehenge, this article is very helpful. Antiquity Journal is the British journal of archaeological research.
Pearson, M., Cleal, R., Marshall, P., Needham, S., Pollard, J., Richards, C., et al. (2007, September). The age of Stonehenge. Antiquity, 81(313), 617-639.
By Soonmyung sim........
In terms of what I think of if death holds my body in its icy grasp. I never thought about it previously. First, I think my physiological body would feel pain for a moment then would not feel any pain later. Therefore, I would not be suffering from the great possibility of having physical pain before death for a long period of time. On the other hand, the emotional matter of greatest worry would be if death comes too fast. I would not have the chance to goodbye to family or loved ones. If death comes to me and I can not make a decision of my life then I would not want to be on life support systems. At this moment, I am not sure what I believe in life after death. No one knows.
One of the most difficult realities that human beings face is that, despite our best efforts, we will die. Death is a part of the life cycle. Death comes to everyone equally. Every individual is unique, every person responds about death differently. Most common fears of dying people are fear of the unknown. Although we can not change this fact, we can have a significant and lasting effect on the way in which we can create the quality of life by adapting to death.
I never really knew much about Stonehenge, except for that it is a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, but after reading your blog and doing some reading on my own, I have come to find that it's really quite fascinating.
According to one site I found, it was built in multiple construction phases spanning over 3,500 years. Another interesting fact I read is that there are many astronomical alignments among the stones and that it was used for astronomical observation and ritualistic function.
Here are some photos I like:
Stonehenge I, about 3100 BC
Stonehenge Circle
I've heard a bunch of different things about Stonehenge in the past, that it was a major religious site for the people living there at that time, or that it was intended for astronomical observations/predictions. I've also heard that the astronomical aspect of it has been way overplayed and that yes the stones are lined up with the sun and moon in certain ways, but that it was just a religious significance and not for astronomy. This was the most recent thing I had heard, so I assumed it was correct, but this website made me start wondering if the astronomical significance story doesn't have some credibility after all. The site basically lays out all the ways that Stonehenge could be used to find equinoxes, solstices, eclipses, etc. Some of the accuracy of the construction is really quite impressive. Adding to what this site says, I was just in South America for three weeks and we visited several sites with astronomical significance that were built with the same or greater precision, so I'm not finding it very hard to believe that it could have been used for solstice/equinox festivals or celebrations or for predicting eclipses or even just for tracking heavenly bodies. The nice thing about this (although some people might disagree with me) is that it is highly unlikely that anyone will ever be able to tell for sure what the purpose of Stonehenge was, so we can happily speculate without fear of being proven wrong. :-)
Paul
Stonehenge is a very interesting structure in my mind. Unfortunatly there seems to be very little information on the people that built it. This I find frustrating because one can learn a lot about the architects intentions if we only knew something about them. I have always thought that it was the Druids or some group similar to the Druids who were responsible for the building of Stonehenge. Although according to some legends it could have just as easily been Merlin the wizard or Giants from Ireland who turned into stones creating the henge.
http://www.angelfire.com/ab6/gem1506k/legends.htm
After searching on google and landing on http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/feb2003/ston-f24.shtml I learned that people from as far away as Austria were buried under these monoliths. In my opinion I would believe the architects were people just curious where they came from and seeing as the sun was the thing that allowed them to see during the day it seemed only logical to praise it.
I find it fun to think about where peoples intentions were back in 3,000 B.C. I would think food and water would be a #1 priority but it seems that #2 was erecting huge stones to honor the dead, the sun, aliens or whatever their real intentions were.
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