in two basic shapes-tall with vertical sides, and broad, diamonded shaped. (Hawkins, 83) It is thought that these two shapes symbolized the male and female principles and that their careful selection and alternation show that the builders honored some fertility cult. It has also been reasoned that Avebury was the most important temple meeting place in the area and probably in the whole British Isles, until Stonehenge surpassed it.The source of the huge stone sarsens was site 17 miles south of Avebury. Although they were already formed for the most part, they were half buried in soil, so the first task was to lever them out onto sledges using timber beams. Ingenuity of this caliber indicates the efficiency of the thought processes involved with the construction of Avebury. Even factors like friction were taken into account.Durrington WallsThe large circular earthwork situated north of the town of Amesbury in south Wiltshire, England has been one of the more neglected prehistoric monuments, overshadowed by the visual impact of Stonehenge. A prehistoric ceremonial circle, Durrington Walls was probably formed during the last glacial episode, between about 30,000 to 50,000 years ago.The bank that Durrington Walls is built on tells us much about the land in that part of Britain. On the top of the soil and penetrating for a distance of about 7 cm is a rich but localized deposit of refuse which produced pottery of earlier Neolithic type, flints, bones, and charcoal.(Wainwright, 54) These items produced a radiocarbon date of 2450 BC. The environmental evidence, based on an investigation of the soil profile preserved beneath the bank of the enclosure and on an analysis of land snails and pollen from the soils, demonstrates a distinct phase of prehistoric woodland clearance and possible cultivation prior to the construction of the enclosure. (Wainwright, 54) The discovery of more pottery, stone tools, bone, and antler provides m...
