Stonehenge: the Story So Far Hardcover – December 31, 2007

This is another edition of Julian's 2007 book on Stonehenge which includes up-to-date information on the recent excavations and published reports on Stonhenge and it's environment including the excellent Stonehenge Riverside Project. It is very well written and includes numerous photographs, drawings and illustrations and for the price, it's good value. It's also a very good read.Many people have dug into Stonehenge over the centuries - without leaving a record of what was found - and Julian makes a pertinent observation when he laments that even as late as the 1950's and 1960's, eminent archaeologists have been allowed to dig into this iconic site without subsequently publishing a record.Archaeology is by is very nature a destructive activity and it follows that every effort must be made to get the findings and analysis into print as quickly as possible afterwards. I was appalled to read that some of Atkinson's (unpublished) site drawings have been "lost", that neither he nor Stuart Piggott (who ought to have known better) wrote up a site diary at the end of each day, that an archive of 2000-odd photographic negatives was found under Atkinson's bed with no idea of what the photographs were taken of, that no adequate record was made of the underground conditions relating to fallen stones that were then "restored" in concrete..... Atkinson completely excavated about 70% of the central area inside the trilithons, yet there was apparently an archive of "finds" with no accurate documentation of where they were found and no attempt at analysis whatsoever. A truly sorry tale. Atkinson did, however, publish a popular layman's book outlining a construction sequence which cannot now be confirmed because of his lack of records.Historic England commissioned the archaeologist Ros Cleal to put a team together and collect all the available information on the 20th Century excavations, starting with Gowland in 1901 (who did publish his findings, promptly in 1902) Ms Cleal did manage to publish a lot of previously unavailable material in "Stonehenge in its landscape: Twentieth century excavations (1995) " Julian's description of her difficulties in fulfilling this commission and publishing her findings make very sobering reading indeed.Julian's book gets four stars because like most current archaeologists, he does not wish to discuss the astronomical aspects of the site in detail due to the past, controversial nature of the subject:- horizon astronomy and spherical trigonometry are difficult subjects to grasp. The physical engineering of the stones is most impressive, but his treatment of the absolutely essential standard unit of measurement necessary to construct it is superficial. He suggests that a central post and rope was used to draw out the circular arrangement of sarsens and bluestones and the ditch, but this would not provide adequate accuracy that matches the stone arrangements as rope stretches, particularly when wet. He also suggests that "pacing" was used to set out the monument, which is frankly silly.Nevertheless, Julian's book is very interesting, especially the chapter on the settlement town at Durrington Walls - which made the people who built Stonehenge come alive - but a previous excavation there using huge earth moving JCB's had missed the Neolithic houses and much else. In my view it is essential that no more damage is done to this iconic site; at all costs archaeologists should be kept away from Stonehenge and the only form of investigation of the remaining un-excavated areas must be by using non-destructive geophysical methods.

This is a wonderful book. It summarises what we know about Stonehenge so far and offers the reader superb diagrams and atmospheric photos to complement the excellent text. Julian Richards has a relaxed and straightforward style and explains specialist terms where he needs to do so for those of us who are arm chair archaeologists. Having said that, I do NOT find it short on the interesting details that bring Stonehenge and its wider landscape to life with purposeful commentary on the finds that have led to the current theories. His inclusion of findings from the recent Stonehenge Landscape Project with geophysics is particularly welcome.

This has got to be the best book on Stonehenge. Its packed full of information,illustrations,photographs. Well researched with the latest on Stonehenge. I recommend this book unreservedly.

Nice book to look at. Great book to read. Love prehistory and this was one of the best books I have read on the subject. Very thorough for the Stonehenge monument and all the surrounding prehistoric sites.

The book does not spare detail and yet provides an interesting and often humorous account of Stonehenge and its environs. Very amenable to laymen.