Avebury
Quick Summary
Avebury is a significant archaeological site in Wiltshire, England, renowned as one of Europe's largest prehistoric sites. It features a massive circular bank and ditch, enclosing several rings of large sandstone pillars. Originally, there were more stones, but many have been lost or damaged over time.
The site includes an outer ring of sarsen pillars, with remains of two smaller inner stone circles. A central obelisk was at the heart of one inner circle, while the other had a U-shaped stone structure. An avenue of stones once connected Avebury to a wooden temple called the Sanctuary, located about a mile away. The purpose of these structures is not fully understood, though astronomical significance is suspected. Many stones were destroyed in Anglo-Saxon times, but those that remain have been excavated and preserved. Avebury, along with Stonehenge, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.1
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