Thornborough Henges

The Thornborough Henges in North Yorkshire are three Neolithic circular structures on a nearly two -kilometer-long, slightly bent line north of the town of Ripon, England. The three equidistant spaced- Henge Monuments apparently form an ensemble. They have a diameter of each 244 m. Between the rivers Ure and Swale are located on a 11 km long, almost straight line next to the Thornborough Henges three other henge monuments.

The massive ramparts of the Thornborough Henges, both internally and externally, a 20-meter wide and three meters deep ditch. The ramparts were built of large boulders, which were covered with white limestone rocks. It seems that the whites of the facades, which is also detected at the passage tomb of Newgrange, were consciously used. Your additions are located on the axis from northwest to southeast.

Function

As the three major circuit systems of the Priddy Circles in Somerset are the three Thornborough Henges - built in the same size along one axis to each other in almost the same spatial distance and. This arrangement has raised additional questions about their use.

A simple explanation of the trinity of the circles is that rapid population growth have additional circles, for example as a meeting place or meeting place made ​​necessary. However, this explanation is more acceptable for small, scattered groups. However, it is difficult to see that the constructed area would have been necessary only by population growth even in gigantic circles as those in Priddy, Thornborough Knowlton or a doubling or tripling. It looks as if the part had been built drilling Shenges been a coherent overall design and at the same time.

The author of popular science books R. Castleden has the Thornboroug Henges as well as the Priddy Circles interpreted as a particular cult centers .. He thinks that probably an order of ceremonies had been determined by the arrangement of the circles. Maybe there were several deities, who were honored separately.