On the east coast of England, a mystery more than 4,000 years old still intrigues researchers. "Seahenge," a wooden circle from the Bronze Age, has recently been reexamined, suggesting it may have been built to ward off a period of extreme cold and bring back milder temperatures.
Plan of Holme I (from Brennand & Taylor, 2003)
This monument, consisting of 55 oak trunks forming a circle 24.6 feet (7.5 meters) in diameter around an inverted oak stump, has sparked various theories since its discovery. Some believed it was a memorial for a significant person or an "open-sky" site for celestial funerals.
David Nance, an archaeologist at the University of Aberdeen, proposes a new theory: these circles may have been erected to extend the summer in response to harsh winters and late springs that stressed coastal societies of the time. This hypothesis is supported by the severe climatic conditions known in that era.
Nance studied the two Seahenge structures, Holme I and Holme II, using dendrochronology to date the trees cut down in the spring of 2049 B.C. The main circle appears to be aligned with the sunrise at the summer solstice, suggesting rituals aimed at prolonging the summer season.
The construction of Seahenge was exposed to erosion in 1998, revealing the site to British media, which compared it to the famous Stonehenge. Full excavation in 1999 was controversial, with some arguing that the monument should have remained in place.
Studies show that the ancient wooden circle, nicknamed "Seahenge," was built in 2049 B.C. It was excavated from a salt marsh near a beach on the east coast of England in 1999.
Credit: Holmes Garden Photos/Alamy
A second wooden circle, Holme II, was left untouched to monitor erosion. Current research benefits from precise climatic data, allowing links between archaeological sites and climate changes.
Researchers like Brian Fagan and Stefan Bergh see this new study as an original and imaginative approach that opens up perspectives on the beliefs and rituals of Bronze Age peoples.