Aerial view of excavations at Bluestonehenge (Wiltshire, England).
Bluestonehenge was a Bronze Age stone circle situated about 1.6km south-east of Stonehenge. All that now remains is the henge's ditch, and the stone settings, with nothing visible above ground.
It was possibly built between 3000 – 2400 BC, although this is uncertain. Charcoal was found in some of the holes left by the stones, suggesting that burning may have taken place there, possibly to cremate bodies. Chips of bluestone show that the stones, like Stonehenge, came from the Preseli Hills in Wales. In fact, it is possible that when the stones were removed from Bluestonehenge (around 2500 BC), they were transported to Stonehenge and used for the first stone circle there.
There were probably 27 bluestones, in a circle 10m wide. The circle was surrounded by a henge, which comprised a 25m-wide ditch and an outer bank that probably dates from around 2400 BC. Unlike Stonehenge, no astronomical aspects have been found in the site.
Bluestonehenge is situated beside the River Avon in West Amesbury, next to the Stonehenge Avenue, which is a linear ditch and bank route that leads to Stonehenge. Perhaps Bluestonehenge was used as a stopping-point between Durrington Walls and Stonehenge. Over 200 cremation burials have been found at Stonehenge, so there is a possible link there as well.
