Stonehenge Was a Crematory, Not a Healing Center

[n2doc]

Why can’t archeologists make up their minds about Stonehenge? We get that the place is mysterious, but is it so mysterious that we’re flip-flopping from “healing center” to “crematory”?
That's what the new evidence suggests. Apparently, Stonehenge was a grand cemetery for a powerful ruling family--not a health spa. New evidence indicates that Stonehenge was used as a cremation cemetery throughout its entire history. Recent discoveries also suggest that Stonehenge may be even older than previously thought.

Academics and historians have been guessing at the origins and purposes of Stonehenge for centuries and been the subject of heated debate. Originally it was believed that the tall circle of stones was was erected in 2,600 BC, replacing an earlier wood structure where cremation was carried out. A recent BBC documentary suggested that the standing stones were not erected until 2,300BC, when the site then became a center of healing. But new evidence indicates that the cremations never stopped.

Additionally, the team behind the latest dig believes the stones were actually erected in 3,000 BC. They’re saying that Stonehenge continued to be used for cremation burial throughout its history, and not for healing. The dig known as The Stonehenge Riverside Project includes archeologists from several British universities who have been carrying out excavations for the past five years.

The report asserts: "Contrary to claims made in the recent BBC Timewatch film, which promoted a theory of Stonehenge as a healing centre built after the practice of cremation burial had ceased, standing stones and burial may have been prominent aspects of Stonehenge's meaning and purpose for a millenium."

more:
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2008/10/oopsstonehenge.html

[Cronus Protagonist]

1. Makes more sense to me

Everyone loves a good bonfire.

[izquierdista]

2. Maybe both?

When the healing fails to work, you light the corpse right on the spot.

[WePurrsevere]

3. Perhaps it was simply a sacred spot similar to...

temples and churches where a variety of ceremonies for both the living and dead took place.. over time and sometimes even at the same time. IMO there doesn't need to be just "one" thing. From what I've read over the years it wasn't all that uncommon for people from ancient religions/cultures to go to a sacred site to give birth, to celebrate coming of age, to die, etc.. much as many still do to in some form or another.

[Marrah_G]

5. As a pagan that is the theory that makes the most sense to me

To me it looks to be an outside temple for large celebrations and gatherings. The things found in the surrounding area make sense also.

[Historic NY]

4. interesting I subscribe to the concept of cemeteries are for the ..

living rather than the dead. Why else would we have them ?

[sakabatou]

6. Perhaps...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodhenge">Woodhenge was the healing center.