{"id":30413,"date":"2023-09-01T09:48:24","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T07:48:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=151414"},"modified":"2023-09-01T10:39:51","modified_gmt":"2023-09-01T08:39:51","slug":"thornborough-henges-why-the-stonehenge-of-the-north-more-than-rivals-is-famous-southern-counterpart","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/thornborough-henges-why-the-stonehenge-of-the-north-more-than-rivals-is-famous-southern-counterpart\/","title":{"rendered":"Thornborough Henges: why the \u2018Stonehenge of the North\u2019 more than rivals is famous southern counterpart"},"content":{"rendered":"

Between the North York Moors and Yorkshire\u2019s Pennine Hills lies the greatest concentration of prehistoric henge monuments in Britain. Thornborough Henges is at the centre of this vast ritual landscape \u2013 for size, appearance and significance, it more than rivals its world-famous counterpart to the south <\/p>

By Chris Gee\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 01 September 2023 at 07:48 AM<\/p>

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Sometimes billed as \u2018the Stonehenge of the North\u2019, Thornborough consists of three identical, large circular earthwork enclosures.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s incredible to think that 4,500 years ago, Neolithic farmers organised themselves to build this unique monument.<\/p>\n

Read on to learn all about this complex of henges.<\/p>\n

Looking for more ancients sites to visit in the UK? Read our guides to Castlerigg Stone Circle<\/a> in the Lake District, Rollright Stones<\/a> in Oxfordshire and Avebury<\/a> in Wiltshire.<\/p>\n

\"Thornborough\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Thornborough Henges consists of three larges henges\/Credit: David Tyers, Geograph<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n\n

Thornborough Henges<\/h2>\n

Where is Thornborough Henges?<\/h3>\n

Thornborough Henges sits on a plateau above the River Ure<\/a> and is one of a number of monuments in the area.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s incredible when you consider that these henges are aligned with a similar henge at nearby Nunwick and with the Devil\u2019s Arrows at Boroughbridge, which are more than 10 miles away.<\/p>\n\n

Why was Thronborough Henges built?<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s thought that Thornborough was used for ceremonies and funerals and that the henges were in use for over 2,000 years.<\/p>\n

The location has long held significance for early human history as the henges were built over an earlier cursus monument.<\/p>\n

Just under a mile in length, the three henges are aligned on a broadly north-west\u2013south-east axis.<\/p>\n

\"Thornborough\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The central henge of Thornborough Henges\/Credit: Mick Garratt, Geograph<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Each henge is 250m in diameter and they once stood 4m high. It is considered that this was to ensure attention was focused on the sky and the stars above. Excavations on site suggest the earth banks were also lined with brilliant white gypsum, which was quarried locally.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s almost certainly by design that each of the three southern entrances line up with where the brightest star Sirius rises in the night sky. The southern entrances of the northern and central henge are also aligned with the midwinter sunset and midsummer sunrise and it\u2019s interesting to speculate as to whether this was for spiritual reasons or for a more pragmatic understanding of the turning of the year.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible that this was a place of pilgrimage as archaeological finds scattered around the area suggest temporary settlements and include discarded flint from the Yorkshire Coast and Wolds and chert from the Pennines. By the Bronze Age, the area was also used for human burials and there are several examples of round barrows nearby.<\/p>\n