Photo: MikPeach / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Avebury is an archaeological site in Wiltshire, cared for by the National Trust. Read about its history and architecture, plus how to visit and what's nearby.
About Avebury
Avebury's outer stone circle is the largest megalithic stone circle in the world, built in Wiltshire during the third millennium BC.
The monument is a henge—a great bank and ditch enclosing the stones, with two smaller circles set inside it.
Unusually for a prehistoric site, a working village has grown up within its boundary, with houses, a pub and a church standing among the stones.
The National Trust looks after the site.
Read more on WikipediaHistory of Avebury
The henge was raised over several centuries during the Neolithic period, part of a wider ceremonial landscape that also includes Silbury Hill and West Kennet Long Barrow nearby. Many of the original stones were toppled and broken up by local people between the medieval period and the early modern era, for religious and practical reasons. Antiquarians recorded what survived during the 17th and 18th centuries, and restoration work in the 20th century re-erected dozens of fallen stones.
Architecture of Avebury
The monument is formed from a massive earthwork bank and ditch enclosing an outer circle of sarsen stones, with two smaller circles inside. The stones were set upright unworked, straight from the ground, which makes the scale of labour involved in the third millennium BC all the more striking.
Worth knowing
Avebury forms part of the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites UNESCO World Heritage Site. It remains an active site of worship for modern pagan and druid groups, as well as a major draw for archaeologists and visitors.
Facilities
Plan your visit to Avebury
Nearest station: Pewsey Rail Station (7 miles)
Part of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape: see all the National Trust places there, with a map and day-trip routes.
Places to visit near Avebury
Alexander Keiller Museum
View Alexander Keiller Museum on heritage mapWest Kennet Avenue
View West Kennet Avenue on heritage mapWindmill Hill
View Windmill Hill on heritage mapWest Kennet Long Barrow
View West Kennet Long Barrow on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Avebury there are 8 historic properties, including 3 historic buildings and 3 archaeological sites, across English Heritage, National Trust and Churches Conservation Trust sites.
Within 10 miles of Avebury there are 13 historic properties, including 4 historic buildings, 3 archaeological sites and 3 historic houses, across English Heritage, Historic Houses and National Trust sites.
Within 20 miles of Avebury there are 51 historic properties, including 18 historic buildings, 10 historic houses and 9 archaeological sites, across English Heritage, National Trust and Historic Houses sites.
Facts
The world's largest stone circle, with a village and pub built right inside the monument.
- Type
- archaeological site
- Location
- Wiltshire, England
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