Seahenge is a prehistoric monument originally built around 2049 BC during the Early Bronze Age in Britain. It is located at Holme-next-the-Sea in Norfolk, England. The monument consists of a circle of oak trunks surrounding an inverted tree stump. The timbers were originally located on a salt marsh, but due to coastal erosion, they were excavated in 1999 and are now on display at the Lynn Museum in King’s Lynn, Norfolk. A replica of Seahenge has been erected near the original site.
The purpose of Seahenge has long been a mystery. Until recently, it was thought that the monument may have been a memorial site or a place for sky burials. However, a new theory has been proposed by archaeologist David Nance of the University of Aberdeen. Nance believes that Seahenge was built as part of a ritual to bring an end to a period of extreme cold and to hasten the arrival of summer.
Nance’s theory is based on several observations. First, he notes that Seahenge is aligned with the summer solstice sunrise. Second, he points out that the monument is shaped like a cuckoo’s nest. The cuckoo was a symbol of fertility for the ancient people of Britain, and they may have believed that its song could bring warm weather.
Actually there are two Seahenge monuments, not just one. The first, which he calls “Holme 1,” is the cuckoo’s nest. The second, “Holme 2,” is a Venus-like fertility goddess shrine where sacrifices were made to appease the goddess and restore cosmic harmony.
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