• Profile: Moving Stonehenge

    Author(s):
    Barney Harris (see profile)
    Date:
    2017
    Group(s):
    Archaeology
    Subject(s):
    Archaeology, Archaeology and history, Neolithic period, Bronze age
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    Stonehenge, Wessex, Historical archaeology, Neolithic, Bronze Age
    Permanent URL:
    http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/t7q0-by30
    Abstract:
    Over the course of the twentieth century a number of experimental studies have investigated the construction of megalithic monuments such as Stonehenge (Atkinson, 1956; Osenton, 2001; Parry, 2000; Pavel, 1992; Ravilious, 2010; Richards & Whitby, 1997). These studies have typically highlighted the challenges posed — or benefits offered — by one method of manipulating a heavy load in relation to another. In certain cases (e.g. Atkinson, 1956), archaeologists have used data from such experiments to estimate the probable length of time that the construction of Stonehenge, or similar monuments, would have taken. These experiments have occasionally generated significant interest from national and international media outlets, a fact that illustrates their potential to act as powerful devices for academic outreach and/or public archaeology initiatives today. The experiment discussed below, ‘Moving Stonehenge’, was conducted on 23 May 2016 as part of UCL’s Festival of Culture, and succeeded in capturing the public’s imagination. It was reported extensively by the UK national press (BBC, 2016; Beal & O’Hare, 2016; Knapton, 2016), the international Associated Press, and a number of popular science and technology websites (Condliffe, 2016; Metcalfe, 2016). In addition to documenting the planning and execution of the experiment, this report also explores aspects of its public engagement.
    Metadata:
    xml
    Published as:
    Journal article     Show details
    Pub. DOI:
    https://doi.org/10.1080/14655187.2016.1261250
    Publisher:
    Informa UK Limited
    Pub. Date:
    2017-4-19
    Journal:
    Public Archaeology
    Volume:
    15
    Issue:
    2-3
    Page Range:
    148 - 156
    ISSN:
    1465-5187,1753-5530
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    5 years ago
    License:
    All Rights Reserved
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