BEFORE 1500 B.C.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11854, 4 January 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

BEFORE 1500 B.C.

THEORY AS TO THE ANTIQUITY. OF STONEHENGE. Coxcernino the origin of Stonehenge certain authorities assert that it was constructed in post-Roman times, and others that it was; built in the Bronze period. * It is only since the raising of the immense monolith to an upright position a month or so ago that the period during : which it was built io,a with any degree of certainty be assigned. While making excavations round the monolith for the concrete bedding, a large number of; Neolithic stone implements were found that' show every sign of having been :ri»>ed to cut and square the stones. They all bore 'marks of hard : working, and when of no further, use for cutting the stones had been thrown aside and afterwards used to make a bedding to support the uprights. ; ■ So evident are the indications that these are the ; workmen's discarded • tools that experts entertain little doubt that Stonehenge was built in; the Neolithic Age/ for Lad it been built in the Bronze or Iron Age bronze or iron tools would have, been used. V Although : leading authorities do not quite l agree as to the actual date of the introduction of bronze into Britain 'an approximate date is agreed upon, viz., about- 1500 years B.C. From this it is argued that Stonefienge I must. have been constructed some consider-' able period previous to that date. :b; (