Stonehenge: An ancient Royal burial site?

[mojo]

Stonehenge: An ancient Royal burial site?

news.bbc.co.uk (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7426195.stm)


Stonehenge served as a burial ground for much longer than had previously been believed, new research suggests.
The site was used as a cemetery for 500 years, from the point of its inception.
Archaeologists have said the cremation burials found at the site might represent a single elite family and its descendents - perhaps a ruling dynasty.


A really interesting theory if it proves to be correct. I always thought it was built as an astronomical monument used for religious rites.


news.nationalgeographic.com (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/photogalleries/Stonehenge-photos/index.html)


Archaeologists may have finally solved the enduring puzzle of the prehistoric monuments: They are giant tombstones of the dead, says a new study released today by the National Geographic Society.


Link to a Stonehenge photo gallery (http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/06/stonehenge/geiger-photography)

Something about Stonehenge is inspiring and never ceases to pique my interest.

[Foxtrot Oscar]

This is new... Like really quite new!!

Stonehenge was on the front cover of Nat Geo this month and there was nothing in it about this.

It was al about where the stones came from, and how they have tracked then down to a couple of square K's in Wales.

The fact remains that Stonehenge is aligned astronomically for the solstices. So maybe this was also a time for remembrance. Many cultures have a specific day for remembering their departed.

I've never liked the idea of it being used for sacrifices of any kind, that time period was brutal enough. I don't think they needed to kill just to keep their gods happy, it was just a way of life when someone pissed you off.

Fox

[Bitchkoma]

I've always figured them to be huge tombstones anyway. Glad to see a pro confirming this.

[Yo Mama]

I want to know how they'll be able to tell how ashes are related to other ashes. It's not like there's a whole lot of DNA left after a cremation.

[mojo]

I think there wer some teeth discovered as well GN. They should be able to extract dna from the teeth i imagine.

[mttcarv]

Dont forget that before the stones were erected there,there was a wooden structure like woodhenge a few miles from there so that rules out the tombSTONE theory but maybe the site was chosen because of the burials that had taken place there??