Stonehenge 'a long-term cemetery'

[THE BOUNCER]

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.

One clue to this idea is that there are few burials in the earliest phase, but that the number grows larger in later centuries, as offspring multiplied.

Under the traditional view, cremation burials were dug at the site between 2,700 BC and 2,600 BC, about a century before the large stones - known as sarsens - were put in place.

Professor Mike Parker Pearson, from the department of archaeology at the University of Sheffield, and his colleagues have now carried out radiocarbon dating of burials excavated in the 1950s that were kept at the nearby Salisbury Museum.

Their results suggest burials took place at the site from the initiation of Stonehenge, just after 3,000 BC, until the time the large stones appear at about 2,500 BC.

Full Story: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Stonehenge 'a long-term cemetery'

[babyblues]

Originally Posted by THE BOUNCER

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.

One clue to this idea is that there are few burials in the earliest phase, but that the number grows larger in later centuries, as offspring multiplied.

Under the traditional view, cremation burials were dug at the site between 2,700 BC and 2,600 BC, about a century before the large stones - known as sarsens - were put in place.

Professor Mike Parker Pearson, from the department of archaeology at the University of Sheffield, and his colleagues have now carried out radiocarbon dating of burials excavated in the 1950s that were kept at the nearby Salisbury Museum.

Their results suggest burials took place at the site from the initiation of Stonehenge, just after 3,000 BC, until the time the large stones appear at about 2,500 BC.

Full Story: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Stonehenge 'a long-term cemetery'

Because radiocarbon dating is so incredibly accurate.

I didn't know it was a cemetery. I still think Stonehenge is cool no matter what it was.

[THE BOUNCER]

Originally Posted by babyblues

Because radiocarbon dating is so incredibly accurate.

I didn't know it was a cemetery. I still think Stonehenge is cool no matter what it was.

umm, its pretty accurate from what i understand. why do you say it isnt?

[babyblues]

Originally Posted by THE BOUNCER

umm, its pretty accurate from what i understand. why do you say it isnt?

I just think radiocarbon dating has been manipulated so much, I don't trust when people "confirm" the age of anything with it. For a few thousand years ago, I wouldn't be that skeptical though.

[Mr incredible]

there's a big feature on it on nat geographic sunday night here

[THE BOUNCER]

Originally Posted by Mr incredible

there's a big feature on it on nat geographic sunday night here

yea, i have had that set on my DVR for a few weeks. that show was made before this discovery though so i dont know how they are going to do it.