[blackjackiisre]

A building whose foundations were unearthed during an excavation at Marden Henge near Devizes last summer could have been a Neolithic sauna.

Archaeologist Jim Leary told his audience at Devizes town hall on Saturday that the chalk foundations contained a sunken hearth that would have given out intense heat.

“It brings to mind the sweat lodges found in North America,” he said. “It could have been used as part of a purification ceremony.”

Also found was a midden or rubbish heap with dozens of pig bones, some still attached, likely to be the remains of a huge feast that took place 5,000 years ago.

Mr Leary was supposed to give his talk at the museum, but such was the interest in his subject that it was transferred to the town hall. All 150 tickets were sold and people queued for returns. Read more of this story at The Gazette and Herald

[Broorbbub]

[Moved by Ishtar from Navigation Narratives]

Here's another discovery at a well known site, with another hearth, purpose speculated at

English Heritage archaeologists have uncovered a ceremonial building, thought to be 4,500 years old during a recent 6-week archaeological excavation at one of Britain’s most important but least understood prehistoric monuments, Marden Henge in Wiltshire, south west England.

Read more >> http://www.pasthorizons.com/index.php/a ... z1GiZEkLba
Read the Archaeology News - then buy the Trowel at Past Horizons Tools http://www.pasthorizons.com/index.ph...olithic-ritual

Some fabulous photos:








Check out the url though, more info and the photos are being cropped here, for some reason.


Caigwyn

[Eeaquzyh]

Other than Scandinavia, sweat lodges are not common in Britain or Europe are they?