Avebury

The ladies were attending yet another birthday ‘paaarty’ (as Abbey says it with her new accent) but rather than stay at home Zac and I decided to make the most of the good weather (a temp of at least double digits!) and go to Avebury, site of a large henge (a henge is a prehistoric architectural structure that is a nearly circular or oval-shaped flat area over 20 metres in diameter is enclosed by a boundary earthwork that usually comprises a ditch with an external bank) and several stone circles.

It is one of the finest and largest Neolithic monuments in Europe, about 5,000 years old. Although older than the megalithic stages of Stonehenge the two are broadly contemporary overall. Much to Zac’s initial consternation it is also right near Silbury Hill, which is considered part of the whole complex. The village of Avebury is now located partially inside the stone circles, many of which have been removed to either remove the association with pagan rituals, make room for farms or to be used for building. Those stones that are left are quite impressive although much rougher than those of Stonehenge.

Zac and I had a great time visiting the two hands-on museums in the village that explain the history of the stones and the henge. As we didn’t have Abbey (or Paula) hurrying us along we got to read a lot more of the displays. The most fun though for both of us was running up and down the grassy slopes of the henge’s ditch. Zac’s keen to come back sledging if we get more snow but I think once he realised how fast he would go down the steep slopes he would think again.