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Google Sightseeing takes you on tour of the world as seen from satellite, using the free Google Earth program, or Google Maps in your web browser. Each weekday your guides James and Alex present new weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

The editors: James & Alex

Avebury

Monday, 15th May 2006 by James

Although not as famous as the nearby Stonehenge the henge of Avebury is larger and older; dating back to around 5000 years ago. The standing stones are arranged in a circle with a 400m diameter, on a raised piece of land which has a deep external ditch, and surrounds the tiny village of the same name.

It is one of the largest Neolithic monuments in Europe but what’s really cool about Avebury is that, unlike Stonehenge, you can walk right up to and around the stones. In fact, in a move that would probably have upset those who assembled the stone circle, the A351 road cuts straight through the middle.

There’s even more megaliths extending to the West and South in two “avenues” and you can follow the southward avenue down to the Sanctury, where another stone circle once stood. At one time there were around 600 megaliths making up the stone circles and avenues.

Thanks: Ben Moore & Dee

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Locations: England / Categories:

10 Responses to 'Avebury'

  1. 1. Pinback says: May 15th, 2006 at 7:40 pm

    Also nearby is Silbury Hill ( Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth )

    Which, according to Wikipedia is “the tallest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe and one of the world’s largest.”

    Its very impressive to view from the car park just to the west, but if you’re feeling brave and a bit naughty you can hop over a little fence, climb to the top and imagine you’re a druid or a caveman or something.

  2. 2. Cr@X says: May 16th, 2006 at 6:33 am

    two white horses…..
    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
    and Butterfly??????…
    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

  3. 3. Cr@X says: May 16th, 2006 at 8:16 am

    ………..and third horse:
    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

  4. 4. Babaganoosh says: May 16th, 2006 at 8:56 am

    Crop circle?
    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

  5. 5. Arne says: May 16th, 2006 at 11:49 am

    Thank you very much for posting this now since I will be in that area in about two weeks!

  6. 6. Amio Cajander says: May 16th, 2006 at 12:09 pm

    What about this ? is it related?

    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

  7. 7. Gwaer says: May 16th, 2006 at 12:45 pm

    I think it’s a Celtic Hill-Grave…
    Impressive

  8. 8. Babaganoosh says: May 16th, 2006 at 10:23 pm

    Amio Cajander, see Pinback’s post.

  9. 9. Amio Cajander says: May 18th, 2006 at 2:12 pm

    ooops, sorry. You are right !

    Thank you

  10. 10. Nat says: September 3rd, 2006 at 7:25 am

    See also the Wikipedia article on henges, for refs to other major sites:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henge

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