Burl, a British archaeologist best known for his studies into megalithic monuments, worked while considering the astronomical roles of many megalithic monuments, was cautious of embracing the more tenuous claims of archeoastronomy. In Prehistoric Avebury Burl proposed that Circles and Henge monuments, far from being astronomical observatories for a class of "astronomer priests" were more likely used for ritualistic practices, connected with death and fertility rites, and ancestor worship, similar to practices observed in other agricultural cultures (in particular the rituals of Native North American Tribes such as the Algonquin and the Pawnee). Rituals would have been performed at key times of the year, such as the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice, to ensure a successful harvest from the land.
Product Identifiers
- Publisher
- Yale University
- ISBN-10
- 0300023685
- ISBN-13
- 9780300023688
- eBay Product ID (ePID)
- 4556063
Product Key Features
- Book Title
- Prehistoric Avebury
- Author
- Aubrey Burl
- Format
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- Topic
- Archaeology, Europe / Great Britain / General
- Genre
- History, Social Science
- Number of Pages
- 272 Pages
Dimensions
- Item Length
- 8in.
- Item Width
- 10.4in.
- Item Weight
- 38.8 Oz
Additional Product Features
- Lc Classification Number
- Da143.A95
- Copyright Date
- 1979
- Lccn
- 78-031589
- Dewey Decimal
- 936.2317/01
- Dewey Edition
- 21
- Illustrated
- Yes