Stonehenge et al

[chaggle]

I've just been half watching a program on Edge Media TV (SKY Channel 200 - Don't bother). It was about Stonehenge and other such circles. The man talking was one Kevin Rowan-Drewitt who (please remember I was only listening with one ear) seemed to be talking some scientificcy sounding sense about the astronomical, geometric and mathematical aspects of its design.

I googled him to see if he had written anything sensible about it only to be met with:



Kevin Rowan-Drewitt is an esoteric teacher, High Priest of Wicca, astrologer, rune reader and Reiki Master.


This from http://www.paganfestivals.com which is well worth a visit.::) Actually it is! It looks like fun. I'll bet that lot know a bit about drinking!

Anyway I digress. My question is - can anyone recommend some reading about Stonehenge and the like which has been written by a proper scientist/historian/skeptic?

And in general, how can one be sure that what one is reading about any subject is written in an objective and analytical manner?

I'm sure I should know these things already but I'm still quite new at this.

p.s. they are now repeating that crystals program that made me ill a few weeks back. I MUST stop watching this channel.

[Mulder]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeoastronomy_and_Stonehenge

Alexander Thom did a lot of stuff on alignments as did Aubury Burl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey_Burl). So far as I am aware, they have good academic reputations.

[aylett]

By far the most interesting recent developments in Stonehenge studies can be found by Googling ‘Solving Stonehenge’. The new reaseach shows there are no alignments, other than the axis of symmetry of the longest and shortest days of the year - otherwise Stonehenge is a geometric construction, in which the stones ‘align' only on themselves.

[Mulder]

As any archeologist knows, the past is an ever changing place ...

[chaggle]

By far the most interesting recent developments in Stonehenge studies can be found by Googling ‘Solving Stonehenge’. The new reaseach shows there are no alignments, other than the axis of symmetry of the longest and shortest days of the year - otherwise Stonehenge is a geometric construction, in which the stones ‘align' only on themselves.

I'll do that. Thanks and welcome aylett

[FarSideOfTheMoon]

I didn't know that channel existed until I read it in Charlie Brooker's column in the Guardian.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/jan/24/charlie-brooker-screen-burn-edgemedia

He does a good demolition job as usual.

[Julia]

I can recommend "Stonehenge Complete" by Christopher Chippindale, although it might be a bit out of date by now. It's got a very good chapter about Druids/New Agers and Stonehenge.

And if you ever find yourself in the vicinity of Salisbury the museum there has an excellent section devoted to Stonehenge. You can also meet the Amesbury Archer!

[Dubious Dick]

Last I remember is that there is a new-ish archaeology project being lead by the University of Bournemouth (I think). They had an American guy on the team who was likening the stones to stuff he had seen elsewhere e.g. South America/Pacific and suggesting that the stones represented people.

Sorry if this is very vague. I don't have the time to check this out further but for those interested the Bournemouth link may be worth checking out.