Abury, A Temple of the British Druids, With Some Others, DescribedStukeley, William
History
Abury, A Temple of the British Druids, With Some Others, Described
Stukeley, William
Avebury (England) -- Antiquities; Druids and Druidism
At _Winterburn-basset_, a little north of _Abury_, in a field
north-west of the church, upon elevated ground, is a double circle of
stones concentric, 60 cubits diameter. The two circles are near one
another, so that one may walk between. Many of the stones have of late
been carry’d away. West of it is a single, broad, flat, and high stone,
standing by itself. And about as far northward from the circle, in a
plough’d field, is a barrow set round with, or rather compos’d of large
stones. I take this double circle to have been a family-chapel, as we
may call it, to an archdruid dwelling near thereabouts, whilst _Abury_
was his cathedral.
There are likewise about _Abury_ some pyriform barrows, longish, but
broad at one end: some compos’d of earth, thrown into a _tumulus_.
Of this sort a very long one in the valley from _Bekamton_ to
_Runway-hill_. Another among the furze bushes south of _Silbury_,
set with stones, which farmer _Green_ carry’d away. Others made of
stones set upright in that form. Of the latter, a very large one in
_Monkton-fields_, about 20 stones left on one side. ’Tis directly
north of _Abury_ town. Another such south of _Silbury-hill_. Another
pyriform, made only of earth, under _Runway-hill_. Another on the hill
south-west from _Bekamton_, cut through with some later division dike.
The long barrows are what I call archdruids’. There are but few about
_Abury_ left, and but two at _Stonehenge_. The paucity seems to confirm
the notion. One very large at _East-Kennet_, points to _Abury_, but
with its lesser end: no less than 200 cubits in length, which is 350
feet, a huge body of earth. Another not far off points to the snake’s
head temple, being at a right angle with the former.
By _Horslip-gap_ is another considerable long barrow of a large bulk,
length and height: it regards the snake’s head temple, tho’ here not in
sight.
By _Bekamton_ cove another, a vast body of earth, as thick as the
_vallum_ of _Abury_, and points to the cove hard by; which shews that
cove to be as a chapel. Another large round barrow near it.
In _Monkton_, west of the town, is a large and flat long barrow, set
round with stones, which I have depicted in plate XXX, ’tis just 120
cubits long, 30 cubits broad in the broadest end. It stands due east
and west, the broadest end eastward. Its breadth the fourth part of its
length: a most magnificent sepulchre, and call’d _Milbarrow_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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