Centering Stonehenge: Aspects of modern social history, 1900 – 2020.

Abstract

Stonehenge is the most well-known Neolithic monument surviving from Britain’s prehistoric past. It has become an internationally recognized icon of ancient times. The research reported here considers aspects of the modern social history of Stonehenge, focusing on the period between 1900 and 2020, producing a relativist narrative that places Stonehenge firmly in the centre of the story. This research begins with the widely held idea of Stonehenge’s contested landscape. Its aim is to look at how the site is both a catalyst and a crucible for social change. The study analyses how events at the monument, bring together sub-cultures of society. The work will also evaluate the extent to which Stonehenge’s social history can tell us about the contemporary use of ancient monuments. The research draws on three main sources. An examination of the literature, consideration of the media and a public perception survey of 143 participants, leading to a series of interviews. Also included is a small photo archive and a sample of Stonehenge paraphernalia. These data sets are brought together using eight intersecting themes that form a relativist view of Stonehenge and an insight into its’ importance to society today. Analysis of the data shows that many individuals have strong emotional connections to Stonehenge and its surrounding landscape. This influences their ideas about the monument. Most have firm opinions about its future. The nature and character of Stonehenge paraphernalia highlights the importance of Stonehenge in popular culture. It is evident that Stonehenge can be a useful tool that the heritage sector can use to their advantage to engage the public in archaeology. It can also be used as a platform to expose and explore social issues. Stonehenge is a strong presence throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries, bringing together a range of diverse sub-cultures. It is the centre for many broad debates which orbit round its circle. This thesis provides a narrative of the monument’s recent social history and contributes to an emerging new generation of research related to Stonehenge in the modern world.