William Stukeley (1687–1765), an English antiquarian, physician, and pioneering archaeologist (best known for his studies of Stonehenge and Avebury), is connected to Stanton Drew through his visit to the site's famous prehistoric stone circles in 1723.
Stanton Drew, in Somerset, England, features one of Britain's largest stone circle complexes (including the Great Circle—the second-largest after Avebury—plus smaller circles, avenues, and a cove). Stukeley visited on July 23, 1723, during a tour that took him from London through sites like Newbury and Marlborough, then to Stanton Drew, before continuing to Bath, Exeter, and elsewhere.
During this brief visit, he:
- Produced the first detailed plan/map and accurate drawings/sketches of the stone circles and the cove (a three-stone arrangement possibly from a chambered tomb).
- Described the site, sometimes referring to the stones as "The Weddings" (a local folk name) and interpreting them in his characteristic Druidic/Celtic temple framework.
- His illustrations appeared in works like Itinerarium Curiosum (published posthumously in parts), and they remain valuable records because the site's layout has changed little since his time.
His work built on earlier mentions (e.g., by John Aubrey in 1664) but provided the most comprehensive early documentation. In 2023, the village of Stanton Drew held events (including the "Stukeley 300" festival and guided tours) to mark the exact 300th anniversary of his visit on July 23.
This makes Stukeley one of the key early antiquarians to document and popularize the Stanton Drew stone circles, contributing to their recognition as a major Neolithic monument.
No comments:
Post a Comment