STONEHENGE, A PREHISTORIC TRADING AND SPORTS CENTRE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3129, 7 August 1922, Page 8

STONEHENGE, A PREHISTORIC TRADING AND SPORTS CENTRE.

(J. E. Guirdmi.) | It is peculiar how that pile of gigan-| tic stones on Salisbury Plain stimulates, argument. No i doubt, worthy Roman residents of Wiltshire felt its spell. One can imagine some togasokd antiquary remarking toi his fellow, “Now, eoncorning that barbarian temple yonder rupt scornfully, “Temple! Oan you be referring to the ancient military encampment?” After which, of course, a life-long friendship would be severed. Should this imagined incident he true, then history has repeated itself to the limit of redundancy. But a catalogue of past controversies, although doubtless fascinating reading, is not the object of this article. The present discussion concerning the sporting and commercial uses of Stonehenge is prehistoric days affords ample material in itself. By those who have long been accustomed to consider Stonehenge solely as a monument to some bygone religion, the suggestion that it may have also been a precursor to Epsom and the Royal Exchange has been viewed a*? almost sacrilegious. That, however, is a matter for their consciences, of which no man can be judge. Passing by that aspect of the problem, I will present the evidence in the case before the jury of readers. The reader, one must assume in the absence of evidence to the contrary, is a. busy man, and has, therefore, had but limited opportunity of enriching his knowledge on tire subject of Stonehenge. It may even be that his information is confined to the following facts: that Stonehenge is ai ruin apparently of great antiquity lying on Salisbury Plain ; and that, as a taxpayer, he personally has contributed his mite to H.M. Office of Works for the purpose of restoring and preserving the monument. The accuracy of this information need not he considered, but a few additions of a more definite nature are clearly permissible. The ground-plan of Stonehenge is a simple affair built up of rings and horse-shoes. Some of the elements used to complete this pattern are plain, upright stones standing at regular intervals; others trilithons —two uprights carrying lintels across their apices. These trilithons are of sarsen, a rock commonly found on Salisbury Plain; the smaller, isolated uprights are called “Foreign Stones,” since nothing resembling them has ever been found near Wiltshire. The domensions of the monument arc of interest to antiquaries, but, as they have no direct bearing on the present problem, may be omitted. Clearly the presence of these “Foreign Stones” requires some explanation. and explanations without number have been advanced. It has been suggested that the stones were carried to the Plain by a glacier, and subsequently deposited. At first sight this theory appears feasible; but, if it were correct, pebbles of a similar material would bo found in Wiltshire gravel. There are no such peebles. Another explanation, which was long accepted. is ingenious though franoiful. We are informed that the devil brought these stones by air from Ireland, and that, when adjusting hia burden near Bedford, one stone slipped from his grasp and plunged into the Avon. It is true that such a stone has actually been located in the bed of the river, but further confirmation is required. Since natural or supernatural agencies fail to account for their presence. ono must assume that men. brought the stones to the Plain. The reasons for undertaking such a labor are obscure, but not incomprehensible. Sun-worship and idolatry are closely akin, mid it is probable that Megalithic peoples worshipped the stones themselves rather than the invisible powers to which they were dedicated. Under such circumstances it would he natural for a tribe, compelled to migrate under pressure of invasion or famine to desire the continued presence of its stone gods. The builders of the trilithons used local stones, and no motive can lie imagined which would have induced them to roam far afield for the less important isolated uprights. It may safely lie assumed that the “Foreign 'Stones” belong to an earlier period, both for this reason and also because the big. trilithons are far more carefully and scientifically trimmed. In short, the “Foreign Stones” formed either part or whole of a much older temple. This conclusion is of great importance, since it proves that the site of Stonehenge was holy ground before ever the monument in its present form was erected a fact which bears upon (he contention that the district was a commercial and sporting centre. At first there does not seem to be any elo.se connection between a sanctuary and trade, but it must be remembered that such dissociation is a modern innovation. In prehistoric days the business man was subject to more open methods of robbery. Negotiations were apt to terminate suddenly owing to the stronger man reaching for bis club. But prehistoric folk extended to their temple that respect which is now commonly paid to the law courts. They were as anxious to avoid conflict with their priests as tin- modern merchant is to steer clear of lawyers. Why. then, should it be surprising that they should conduct their bartering under the protective aegis of the temple, where bloodshed was taboo unless conducted by holy men? The double antiquity of Stonehenge is in itself strong ground for expecting traces of prehistoric commercial activity. Since the “Foreign Stones” indicate sanctity previous to the coming of the trilitbion builders, it is not extravagant to assume that the only meeting-ground safe alike to the older residents and the immigrants should be the mutually sacred area. Intercourse would, therefore, naturallv gravitate to Stonehenge, bringing with it a revival of trade with loss local tribes already accustomed to the security of the neighborhood. But this, it' may be asserted, is pure supposition. Fortunately, the theory is hacked by corroborative evidence. Scattered about within a narrow circle enclosing the building there lie Count-le-s fragments of flmt implements, tools fashioned of animals’ hones, broken domestic pottery, beads and bronze ornaments, Upholders of the exclusively religious theory proffer no adequate explanation to account for the presence of these relics. Stonehenge was topographically in an excellent situation as a trading centre. Running north-east from the monument is the Avenue, now marked only by two parallel 1 ridges l on the turf, but once a broad, level roadway. Its accurate orientation certainly indicates a religions significance, but its Continuation on to the site of an ancient ford across the Avon suggests secnlalr utility. In those days the water in the Avon apparently stood at a higher level. If so. the low-lying ground 1 to the southeast of Stonehenge must have formed a back-water sufficiently deep for the navigation of rafts. Facilities for the transport of goods by water were welcome in times' when roads were practically non-existent. Piecing together all this evidence, wc can hardily avoid

the conclusion that Stonehenge was ! the [Royal Exchange of its day. I Much criticism also greeted the conI ention that a racecourse existed in the I mmediate vicinity. This contention, a )f course, rests on the presence of a I angular earthwork, popularly known fas the “Cursus,” which at otic point f joins the Avenue. One writer suggests that there is no evidence of the use of the Cursus as a racecourse other than its present name and very properly points out that this would be a deceptive argument. Apparently, he argues that the careful orientation of the Cursus deprived, it of any but religious uses, although their nature is left entirely to the imagination. What purely religious purpose could have been served by a broad, straight, long-track, having a loop'at one end eminently suitable for the turning of a chariot to cover the course a second time? Why should mounds have been erected of a nature and situation calculated to enable huge crowds to witness some occurrence within the Cursus? The orientation of the track need excite no dismay. That it had some religious significance is almost a certainty, and is just what would be expected. Sport, like trade, was intimately associated with religion and religious festivals among all primitive people.