Lecture: Stonehenge, Geology and Prehistory
Speaker:
Entry Fee
Members: Free
Visitors: £5.00
Date and Time
19:30 -
Location
Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HN
Lecture Description
Geological interest in Stonehenge includes not only the main structural components of the monument but also large amounts of stone either used to assist construction, or present as waste from stone-working, or as artefacts left at the site. One suite of rocks came from localities in Wiltshire but not without transporting sarsen blocks weighing up to 50 tonnes over a distance of some 40km. In contrast the ‘bluestones’ originated in SW Wales with the bulk of material coming from a small area in the eastern Preseli Hills, 400km from Stonehenge. It seems unlikely that glacial transportation accounts for material on Salisbury Plain. It must therefore have been transported by the builders of Stonehenge. A brief review of the technical achievements and artistic traditions of the later Neolithic period and early Bronze Age, reveals the building of Stonehenge as an undertaking consistent with the rich cultural context of these times.
Attending via Zoom
This is a hybrid meeting: you can attend in person or join online via Zoom.
Bath Geological Society Members: Free of charge. Joining instructions and the Zoom link are sent to members by email prior to the lecture.
Visitors & Non-Members: (including members of the Geologists' Association and affiliated societies) Please book via Eventbrite to receive Zoom access (see the Entry Fee details above).
How to join: Click the Zoom link provided in your email or Eventbrite confirmation. You can join using the Zoom desktop or mobile app, or directly via your web browser without installing any software. The virtual waiting room opens approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled start time, and attendees will be admitted before the talk commences.
For any queries about joining online, please contact [email protected].