Stonehenge : a new understanding - solving the mysteries of the greatest stone age monument reprint ed

"The most authoritative, important book on Stonehenge to date."—Kirkus, starred review Stonehenge stands as an enduring link to our prehistoric ancestors, yet the secrets it has guarded for thousands of years have long eluded us. Until now, the millions of enthusiasts who flock to the iconic site have made do with mere speculation—about Stonehenge's celestial significance, human sacrifice, and even aliens and druids. One would think that the numerous research expeditions at Stonehenge had left no stone unturned. Yet, before the Stonehenge Riverside Project—a hugely ambitious, seven-year dig by today's top archaeologists—all previous digs combined had only investigated a fraction of the monument, and many records from those earlier expeditions are either inaccurate or incomplete. Stonehenge—A New Understanding rewrites the story. From 2003 to 2009, author Mike Parker Pearson led the Stonehenge Riverside Project, the most comprehensive excavation ever conducted around Stonehenge. The project unearthed a wealth of fresh evidence that had gone untouched since prehistory. Parker Pearson uses that evidence to present a paradigm-shifting theory of the true significance that Stonehenge held for its builders—and mines his field notes to give you a you-are-there view of the dirt, drama, and thrilling discoveries of this history-changing archaeological dig. Stonehenge Stands As An Enduring Link To Our Prehistoric Ancestors, Yet The Secrets It Has Guarded For Thousands Of Years Have Long Eluded Us. Until Now, The Millions Of Enthusiasts Who Flock To The Iconic Site Have Made Do With Mere Speculation About Stonehenge's Celestial Significance, Human Sacrifice, And Even Aliens And Druids. From 2003 To 2009, Author Mike Parker Pearson Led The Stonehenge Riverside Project, The Most Comprehensive Excavation Ever Conducted Around Stonehenge. The Project Unearthed A Wealth Of Fresh Evidence That Had Gone Untouched Since Prehistory. Parker Pearson Uses That Evidence To Present A Paradigm Shifting Theory Of The True Significance That Stonehenge Held For Its Builders And Mines His Field Notes To Give You A You Are There View Of The Dirt, Drama, And Thrilling Discoveries Of This History Changing Archaeological Dig. The Man From Madagascar -- A Brief History Of Stonehenge -- Starting The Project -- Putting The Trench In The Right Place -- The Houses And The Henge -- Was This Where The Stonehenge Builders Lived? -- The Great Trilithon And The Date Of The Sarsens -- Mysterious Earthworks : The Landscape Of Stonehenge -- Mysteries Of The River -- The Druids And Stonehenge -- The Aubrey Holes -- Digging At Stonehenge -- The People Of Stonehenge -- Bluestonehenge : Back To The River -- Why Stonehenge Is Where It Is -- Origins Of The Bluestones -- Origins Of The Sarsens -- Earthworms And Dates -- The New Sequence For Stonehenge -- Stonehenge : The View From Afar -- The End Of Stonehenge. By Mike Parker Pearson And The Stonehenge Riverside Project. First Published In Great Britain In 2012 As Stonehenge : Exploring The Greatest Stone Age Mystery By Simon & Schuster, A Division Of Simon & Schuster Uk Ltd.--title Page Verso. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Stonehenge stands as an enduring link to our prehistoric ancestors, yet the secrets it has guarded for thousands of years have long eluded us. Until now, the millions of enthusiasts who flock to the iconic site have made do with mere speculation{u2014}about Stonehenge{u2019}s celestial significance, human sacrifice, and even aliens and druids. One would think that the numerous research expeditions at Stonehenge had left no stone unturned. Yet, before the Stonehenge Riverside Project{u2014}a hugely ambitious, seven-year dig by today{u2019}s top archaeologists{u2014}all previous digs combined had only investigated a fraction of the monument, and many records from those earlier expeditions are either inaccurate or incomplete.Stonehenge{u2014}A New Understanding rewrites the story. From 2003 to 2009, author Mike Parker Pearson led the Stonehenge Riverside Project, the most comprehensive excavation ever conducted around Stonehenge. The project unearthed a wealth of fresh evidence that had gone untouched since prehistory. Parker Pearson uses that evidence to present a paradigm-shifting theory of the true significance that Stonehenge held for its builders{u2014}and mines his field notes to give you a you-are-there view of the dirt, drama, and thrilling discoveries of this history-changing archaeological dig

A "leader of the groundbreaking Stonehenge Riverside Project expounds on recent research into the famed site in this revelatory study... immensely rewarding" ( Publishers Weekly ). Stonehenge stands as an enduring link to our prehistoric ancestors, yet the secrets it has guarded for thousands of years have long eluded us. Until now, the millions of enthusiasts who flock to the iconic site have made do with mere speculation—about Stonehenge's celestial significance, human sacrifice, and even aliens and druids. But the Stonehenge Riverside Project set out to change that. A hugely ambitious, seven-year dig by today's top archaeologists, the project unearthed a wealth of fresh evidence that had gone untouched since prehistory. In Stonehenge: A New Understanding, archaeologist and project director Mike Parker Pearson uses that evidence to present a paradigm-shifting theory of the true significance that Stonehenge held for its builders—and mines his field notes to give you an insider's view of the dirt, drama, and thrilling discoveries of this history-changing archaeological dig. "This is brilliantly written scholarship. The book combines old ideas about the circle with the unexpected revelations of today. It is a triumph." —Aubrey Burl, author of A Brief History of Stonehenge

Despite its being one of prehistory's most alluring landmarks, before the Stonehenge Riverside Project led by noted archaeologist Mike Parker Pearson, only half of Stonehenge itself, and far less of its surroundings, had ever been investigated; and many records from previous digs are inaccurate or incomplete. With fresh evidence based on seven years of unprecedented access to the Stonehenge World Heritage Site, this excavation replaces centuries of speculation about even the most fundamental mysteries of Stonehenge with hard proof. Stonehenge changes the way we think about the site, correcting previously erroneous dating, filling gaps in our knowledge about its builders and how they lived, clarifying the monument's significance both celestially and as a burial ground, and contextualizing Stonehenge, which sits at the center of one of the densest prehistoric settlements in history within the broader landscape of the Neolithic Age Despite its being one of prehistory s most alluring landmarks, before the Stonehenge Riverside Project led by noted archeologist Mike Parker Pearson, only half of Stonehenge itself and far less of its surroundings had ever been investigated, and many records from previous digs are inaccurate or incomplete. With fresh evidence based on seven years of unprecedented access to the Stonehenge World Heritage Site, this excavation replaces centuries of speculation about even the most fundamental mysteries of Stonehenge with hard proof. Stonehenge changes the way we think about the site, correcting previously erroneous dating, filling gaps in our knowledge about its builders and how they lived, clarifying the monument s significance both celestially and as a burial ground, and contextualizing Stonehenge which sits at the center of one of the densest prehistoric settlements in history within the broader landscape of the Neolithic Age. The man from Madagascar A brief history of Stonehenge Starting the project Putting the trench in the right place The houses and the henge Was this where the Stonehenge builders lived? The great trilithon and the date of the Sarsens Mysterious earthworks : the landscape of Stonehenge Mysteries of the river The Druids and Stonehenge The Aubrey holes Digging at Stonehenge The people of Stonehenge and the Beaker people Bluestonehenge : back to the river Why Stonehenge is where it is Origins of the bluestones Origins of the Sarsens Earthworms and dates The new sequence for Stonehenge Stonehenge : the view from afar The end of Stonehenge.