Feeding Stonehenge: provisioning henges and households in southern Britain in the 3rd millennium BC
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Archaeology
Abstract
This project is the third in a trilogy of multi-institutional research investigations aimed at revolutionizing our knowledge of Stonehenge: investigating the monumental landscape of Stonehenge (the Stonehenge Riverside Project), the people of Stonehenge (the Beaker People Project), and the economic provisioning for Stonehenge and associated sites (Feeding Stonehenge, this project).
This proposal is for a study of the material resources required for building Stonehenge and the other henge complexes of Wessex. It goes beyond already-completed surface analysis of finds and investigates inside them, using newly developed scientific analyses to find out about the animal, vegetable and mineral resources utilized by these prehistoric people - where the resources were found, how far they were brought, how they were prepared, and how they were consumed and discarded. All the proposed analyses have been trialled by pilot studies to ensure that they will deliver significant findings.
Stonehenge and its associated sites undoubtedly attracted builders and celebrants from many parts of Neolithic Britain. Until now, archaeologists have only been able to speculate on the size and nature of these sites' catchments and on whether centres such as Avebury and Stonehenge were in competition with each other or were visited at different times in the seasonal round. Isotopic and age analysis of the herds slaughtered for feasting at Durrington Walls and other henges will reveal patterns of rearing, mobility and seasonality to answer these questions. Preliminary investigations have produced unexpected results: they indicate that the animals were brought considerable distances to ceremonial centres.
While much work has been done on the Welsh bluestones brought to Stonehenge, relatively little attention has been paid to the large sarsens. Excavations at Stonehenge in 2008 have revealed that sarsen-working methods varied within and around the monument, allowing earlier excavation results to be re-assessed, to increase our understanding of the methods, process and techniques of stone-working. From largely forgotten antiquarian observations 300 years ago, some of the quarry sites may have been about 20 miles from Stonehenge, between Avebury and Marlborough.
Recent excavations of the Stonehenge people's houses at Durrington Walls will also provide new information: scientific study of the finds will reveal detailed insights into the people's way of life. Geochemical and geophysical analysis of the house floors and yard surfaces will reveal spatial patterns of occupation and activities within a village probably inhabited by the builders of Stonehenge. Combined with the spatial mapping of artefacts, plant remains and animal bones (both large and microscopic), these analyses can reveal how interior and exterior domestic spaces, as well as ceremonial spaces, were used within this short-lived but large settlement occupied for less than 50 years around 2500 BC.
Study of the Durrington Walls settlement's animal bones will indicate dietary preferences, methods of carcass dismemberment and consumption patterns, and reveal differences between small-scale domestic and large-scale ceremonial settings. This settlement was inhabited about 50 years before copper tools are thought to have been adopted in Britain, and there is tantalising evidence that copper axes may have been used at Durrington Walls; the study of cut-marks on animal bones should reveal whether any were made by copper daggers as opposed to flint tools. Study of the hundreds of flint arrowheads, some embedded in pig bones, will reveal patterns of use and breakage as well as variations in manufacture by stone-tool makers with varying knapping skills.
The large quantity of pottery from Durrington Walls can be analysed to find out where it was made and what was cooked in it. Preliminary studies suggest local manufacture from riverine clay; contents included dairy products, pork and beef.
This proposal is for a study of the material resources required for building Stonehenge and the other henge complexes of Wessex. It goes beyond already-completed surface analysis of finds and investigates inside them, using newly developed scientific analyses to find out about the animal, vegetable and mineral resources utilized by these prehistoric people - where the resources were found, how far they were brought, how they were prepared, and how they were consumed and discarded. All the proposed analyses have been trialled by pilot studies to ensure that they will deliver significant findings.
Stonehenge and its associated sites undoubtedly attracted builders and celebrants from many parts of Neolithic Britain. Until now, archaeologists have only been able to speculate on the size and nature of these sites' catchments and on whether centres such as Avebury and Stonehenge were in competition with each other or were visited at different times in the seasonal round. Isotopic and age analysis of the herds slaughtered for feasting at Durrington Walls and other henges will reveal patterns of rearing, mobility and seasonality to answer these questions. Preliminary investigations have produced unexpected results: they indicate that the animals were brought considerable distances to ceremonial centres.
While much work has been done on the Welsh bluestones brought to Stonehenge, relatively little attention has been paid to the large sarsens. Excavations at Stonehenge in 2008 have revealed that sarsen-working methods varied within and around the monument, allowing earlier excavation results to be re-assessed, to increase our understanding of the methods, process and techniques of stone-working. From largely forgotten antiquarian observations 300 years ago, some of the quarry sites may have been about 20 miles from Stonehenge, between Avebury and Marlborough.
Recent excavations of the Stonehenge people's houses at Durrington Walls will also provide new information: scientific study of the finds will reveal detailed insights into the people's way of life. Geochemical and geophysical analysis of the house floors and yard surfaces will reveal spatial patterns of occupation and activities within a village probably inhabited by the builders of Stonehenge. Combined with the spatial mapping of artefacts, plant remains and animal bones (both large and microscopic), these analyses can reveal how interior and exterior domestic spaces, as well as ceremonial spaces, were used within this short-lived but large settlement occupied for less than 50 years around 2500 BC.
Study of the Durrington Walls settlement's animal bones will indicate dietary preferences, methods of carcass dismemberment and consumption patterns, and reveal differences between small-scale domestic and large-scale ceremonial settings. This settlement was inhabited about 50 years before copper tools are thought to have been adopted in Britain, and there is tantalising evidence that copper axes may have been used at Durrington Walls; the study of cut-marks on animal bones should reveal whether any were made by copper daggers as opposed to flint tools. Study of the hundreds of flint arrowheads, some embedded in pig bones, will reveal patterns of use and breakage as well as variations in manufacture by stone-tool makers with varying knapping skills.
The large quantity of pottery from Durrington Walls can be analysed to find out where it was made and what was cooked in it. Preliminary studies suggest local manufacture from riverine clay; contents included dairy products, pork and beef.
Publications
Allen M
(2016)
Stonehenge's Avenue and 'Bluestonehenge'
in Antiquity
Chan, B. And Parker Pearson, M.
(2014)
Quo Vadis? Status and future perspectives of long-term excavations in Europe.
Craig O
(2015)
Feeding Stonehenge: cuisine and consumption at the Late Neolithic site of Durrington Walls
in Antiquity
Fernandes R
(2018)
Reconstruction of prehistoric pottery use from fatty acid carbon isotope signatures using Bayesian inference
in Organic Geochemistry
French C
(2012)
Durrington Walls to West Amesbury by way of Stonehenge: a major transformation of the Holocene landscape
in The Antiquaries Journal
Mitchell PD
(2022)
Intestinal parasites in the Neolithic population who built Stonehenge (Durrington Walls, 2500 BCE).
in Parasitology
Parker Pearson M
(2012)
Image, Memory and Monumentality: archaeological engagements with the material world
Parker Pearson M
(2015)
Craig Rhos-y-felin: a Welsh bluestone megalith quarry for Stonehenge
in Antiquity
Parker Pearson Mike
(2012)
Stonehenge: Exploring the greatest Stone Age mystery
Parker Pearson, M.
(2015)
Stonehenge: making sense of a prehistoric mystery
Parker Pearson, M.
(2015)
The sarsens of Stonehenge
in Proceedings of the Geologists' Association
Parker Pearson, M.
(2011)
Stonehenge: controversies of the bluestones.
in Menga: Journal of Andalusian Prehistory
Parker Pearson, M.
(2011)
Megaliths and Identities: early monuments and Neolithic societies from the Atlantic to the Baltic.
Parker Pearson, M.
(2011)
Der Griff nach den Sternen: Nebra-Conference Halle.
Pearson M
(2013)
Researching Stonehenge: Theories Past and Present
in Archaeology International
Viner S
(2010)
Cattle mobility in prehistoric Britain: strontium isotope analysis of cattle teeth from Durrington Walls (Wiltshire, Britain)
in Journal of Archaeological Science
Willis C
(2016)
The dead of Stonehenge
in Antiquity
Wright E
(2014)
Age and season of pig slaughter at Late Neolithic Durrington Walls (Wiltshire, UK) as detected through a new system for recording tooth wear
in Journal of Archaeological Science
Description | The Stonehenge Riverside Project, which undertook major excavations at the henge monument of Durrington Walls and elsewhere in the Stonehenge World Heritage site between 2004 and 2009, has led to further research to explore the lives of the people of Stonehenge. The Feeding Stonehenge project is examining the huge assemblage of faunal remains from the excavations, using isotopic and other analyses to unravel the history of the domestic animals whose remains were found at Durrington Walls and other sites (Albarella, Evans, Montgomery, Viner). By tracing the lives of the animals, we can track the movements of the people themselves. Preliminary results indicate that some of the domestic animals arrived in southern England from as far away as Scotland, opening up new questions about identity, political organisation and religious belief in the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age of Britain. Other analysts are working on the ceramic assemblage, to discover what was cooked in the pottery by analysing lipid residues (Craig, Cleal). This gives us a real insight into the diet of these prehistoric people. Lithic analysis shows how people made and used material culture in this period around the arrival of metal in the British Isles (Chan). This project is coming to an end in 2013, and the results will be published in a series of scientific papers and monographs in the coming years. |
Exploitation Route | The research has proven to be of great interest to the public around the world. It was recently the subject of a Channel 4 TV documentary (broadcast March 2013 to over 2 million viewers). A longer version of the documentary will be shown on European TV later this year. The press release accompanying the documentary led to publication in British and foreign newspapers. The project's results are also being incorporated into the new Visitor Centre display at Stonehenge (currently over 1 million visitors pa). English Heritage are displaying an exhibition on our project, entitled 'Feeding Stonehenge', for temporary display in 2018-2019.The results are also the subject of a travelling exhibition on Stonehenge, to be opened in Tongeren, Belgium, in 2018. |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Creative Economy Education Environment Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
URL | http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/research/directory/feeding-stonehenge-parkerpearson |
Description | New visitor centre for Stonehenge, series of TV documentaries, flagship project for AHRC and UK Trade & Investment 'Research is Great' campaign. New initiative by English Heritage and this project's members to stage a temporary exhibition on Feeding Stonehenge at the Stonehenge Visitor Centre in 2018-2019. New travelling exhibition in preparation for 2018 onwards. |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Construction,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic |
Description | Archaeological advisor to English Heritage on new Stonehenge visitor centre |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | AHRC Follow-on funding for Impact and Engagement |
Amount | £75,979 (GBP) |
Funding ID | AH/R005621/1 |
Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2017 |
End | 11/2018 |
Description | Consuming Prehistory: Feeding Stonehenge follow-on fund |
Organisation | Cardiff University |
Department | School of History, Archaeology and Religion |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | To make the research results of the AHRC funded 'Feeding Stonehenge' project relevant to new audiences by focusing on food. In collaboration with English Heritage, we have a project that provides us with unparalleled access to Stonehenge as a focus for knowledge exchange and engagement and will see us bring new local, national and international audiences to our research. We are increasing the volume of engagement by national and international audiences at Stonehenge, and creating and delivering workshops to engage national audiences. |
Collaborator Contribution | To make the research results of the AHRC funded 'Feeding Stonehenge' project relevant to new audiences by focusing on food. In collaboration with English Heritage, we have a project that provides us with unparalleled access to Stonehenge as a focus for knowledge exchange and engagement and will see us bring new local, national and international audiences to our research. We are increasing the volume of engagement by national and international audiences at Stonehenge, and creating and delivering workshops to engage national audiences. |
Impact | Temporary exhibition at the Stonehenge visitor centre in 2017-2019. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Consuming Prehistory: Feeding Stonehenge follow-on fund |
Organisation | University of York |
Department | Department of Archaeology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | To make the research results of the AHRC funded 'Feeding Stonehenge' project relevant to new audiences by focusing on food. In collaboration with English Heritage, we have a project that provides us with unparalleled access to Stonehenge as a focus for knowledge exchange and engagement and will see us bring new local, national and international audiences to our research. We are increasing the volume of engagement by national and international audiences at Stonehenge, and creating and delivering workshops to engage national audiences. |
Collaborator Contribution | To make the research results of the AHRC funded 'Feeding Stonehenge' project relevant to new audiences by focusing on food. In collaboration with English Heritage, we have a project that provides us with unparalleled access to Stonehenge as a focus for knowledge exchange and engagement and will see us bring new local, national and international audiences to our research. We are increasing the volume of engagement by national and international audiences at Stonehenge, and creating and delivering workshops to engage national audiences. |
Impact | Temporary exhibition at the Stonehenge visitor centre in 2017-2019. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Feeding Stonehenge |
Organisation | British Geological Survey |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Analyses for research project |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific analysis |
Impact | Numerous journal articles and book chapters |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Feeding Stonehenge |
Organisation | British Geological Survey |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Analyses for research project |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific analysis |
Impact | Numerous journal articles and book chapters |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Feeding Stonehenge |
Organisation | University of Sheffield |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Analyses for research project |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific analysis |
Impact | Numerous journal articles and book chapters |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Feeding Stonehenge |
Organisation | University of Sheffield |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Analyses for research project |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific analysis |
Impact | Numerous journal articles and book chapters |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Feeding Stonehenge |
Organisation | University of York |
Department | Archaeology Data Service (ADS) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Analyses for research project |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific analysis |
Impact | Numerous journal articles and book chapters |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Feeding Stonehenge |
Organisation | University of York |
Department | Archaeology Data Service (ADS) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Analyses for research project |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific analysis |
Impact | Numerous journal articles and book chapters |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | A History of Ancient Britain TV mini-series |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | TV miniseries viewed by over 1 million |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Archaeological Institute of America's 2011-2012 Samuel H. Kress Lecturer in Ancient Art - lecture tour of US & Canada |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Over 1000 people attended the lectures at 14 venues across North America |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | International lecture tour of Canada, US, Belgium and Ireland |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Lecture tour on results of AHRC-funded Stonehenge research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Lecture tour of Germany, Sweden, Netherlands and Portugal |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Lectures, keynote addresses and conference papers on AHRC-funded Stonehenge research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Lecture tour of Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, Turkey, Ireland, Canada and US |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Lectures on AHRC-funded Stonehenge research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
Description | Lecture tour of US and Australia |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Lectures on AHRC-funded Stonehenge research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |
Description | Lecture tour of US, Denmark, Ireland, Germany & Mexico |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Lectures, day schools and UNESCO committee meetings to present AHRC-funded Stonehenge research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Lecture tour of US, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium and Spain |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Lectures on AHRC-funded Stonehenge and Beaker People research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
Description | Lecture tour of US, Sweden, Germany, Spain and South Korea |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Lectures on AHRC-funded Stonehenge and Beaker People research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | Secrets of the Stonehenge Skeletons, Oxford Scientific Films, C4 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This has been broadcast to well over 1 million in the UK and Europe |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Stonehenge through the ages, BBC4 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This TV documentary was watched by well over 100,000 viewers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | UNESCO conference (Malaga) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | UNESCO world heritage of megaliths committee, based on AHRC-funded Stonehenge research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Walking through History TV documentary |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | TV documentary viewed by over 1 million |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |