West Kennet Avenue

West Kennet Avenue follows a winding course of 1.5 miles, linking the Avebury Circles with the Sanctuary.

Originally consisting of about 100 pairs of stones, the Avenue followed a sinuous course.  The stones were about 15 m (49 ft) apart and there was a span of about  24 m (80 ft) between the pairs. Several had been buried in medieval times, and others had been removed altogether. Of those remaining none were very large, between c1.4 m (5 ft) and 3 m (10 ft) high.*

The dating of the Avenue is probably slightly later than the main henge and circles, probably c 2300BC, although no absolute dating is yet available.*

West Kennet Avenue up Close

*From ‘The Prehistoric Monuments of Avebury’ by English Heritage – 1994 edition.

22 Comments CherryPie on Jun 19th 2014

22 Responses to “West Kennet Avenue – Avebury”

  1. rusty duck says:

    That’s quite old!

  2. ubermouth says:

    I am curious as to what your opinion is on what they symbolized, Cherie???

    • CherryPie says:

      I have read quite a bit about the henges and related sites. From my readings I think these avenue stones are a processional/pilgramage route to the Avebury Circles complex.

  3. ubermouth says:

    How far are they from Stonehenge and do you think they are related in any way? Also, how do you think they got them there?

    • CherryPie says:

      They are about 25 miles apart. They have similar alignments and there are many theories. There are also many theories on how the stones were moved and placed. The simple answer for me is I do not know that is why I keep reading different accounts as they become available.

      • ubermouth says:

        If I have not flogged this subject to death, I think it also extraordinary given the basic tools/size of men/lack of adequate nutrition at the time, they were able to build something so spectacular and huge as Salisbury cathedral. I sure would love to know how they erected that with no modern-day scaffolding.

  4. CrashRyan says:

    aha! more evidence of ancient aliens … or at least that’s what the History Channel is telling me

  5. Mickie Brown says:

    Cherie, What a lovely pastoral scene. Simple, serene, and charming. Mickie :)

  6. They do look interesting.

  7. Claude says:

    Our steps covering other other steps through the centuries of times. Fascinating!

  8. Oh I’ve been there many, many years ago.
    Summer is the best time to see crop circles in Wiltshire too.