Avebury Post-Glacial Flooding

January 4, 2024 Trebor2510

Introduction

Recently, I received a message from my friend Chris at Lambourne Photography who shared new winter photos of Avebury. The landscape, experiencing recorded rainfall, has begun to flood, capturing my keen interest. This flooding aligns with the predictions in my prehistoric Avebury maps, considering the post-glacial flooding during the Mesolithic period (10k to 4k BCE) – Avebury Post-Glacial Flooding

Copyright – Lambourne Photography (Avebury Post-Glacial Flooding)

It’s intriguing to note that Avebury received 70mm (3 inches) of rain in the last 30 days. However, reflecting on the end of the Ice Age and the substantial melt, Avebury would have encountered the equivalent of 98,425 inches of rain. Common sense implies that this area would have experienced significant flooding, corroborated by the British Geological Maps, albeit not entirely accurate, illustrating the extent of post-glacial flooding with the Kennet River ten times wider than its present size. (Avebury Post-Glacial Flooding)

The photographs depict the flooding extending West around the Avebury Stone circle—as indicated on both British Geological Survey (BGS) map but more precisely with the area indicated in my LiDAR maps. This serves as empirical evidence supporting the Post-Glacial Flooding Hypothesis and reinforces my assertion that LiDAR stands as the paramount landscape mapping tool, regrettably underutilised by archaeologists, to their disadvantage.(Avebury Post-Glacial Flooding)

The significance of this was underscored in the recent episode of ‘Digging for Britain,’ where a settlement was discovered. The attempt to justify its location and function relied on a modern OS map, leading to an absurd and inaccurate conclusion—a ceremonial purpose rather than a functional trading place at the river’s edge. This further underscores the limitations of traditional mapping methods and the value that LiDAR brings to understanding past topologies. (Avebury Post-Glacial Flooding)

Avebury through time

In the heart of Wiltshire, England, lies the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Avebury, shrouded in mystery and wonder. For years, archaeologists and historians have delved into its enigmatic past, uncovering secrets buried beneath layers of time and earth. Yet, Avebury still held one final, astonishing revelation waiting to be unearthed, and it was the relentless pursuit of author and cartographer Robert John Langdon that would shed light on this long-forgotten secret.

Avebury, with its iconic stone circles and ancient monuments, has fascinated explorers and scholars for centuries. Among its well-known features are ‘West Kennet Avenue’ and ‘Beckhampton Avenue,’ both adorned with colossal stones that still stand as silent sentinels to an age long gone. These avenues have been pivotal in our understanding of Avebury’s past, connecting the spiritual and historical aspects of this sacred site. However, Langdon’s unrelenting quest to unravel Avebury’s mysteries led him down an uncharted path, one that would challenge conventional wisdom and rewrite the history of this remarkable place.

Langdon’s journey was marked by meticulous mapping and years of research, culminating in a hypothesis that would reshape our understanding of prehistoric Britain. He proposed that much of the British Isles had once been submerged in the aftermath of the last ice age, with these ancient sites strategically positioned along the ancient shorelines. His groundbreaking maps offered a fresh perspective, suggesting that Avebury had functioned as a bustling trading hub for our ancient ancestors. This audacious theory challenged the prevailing notion that prehistoric societies were isolated and disconnected, instead highlighting their sophistication in trade and commerce.

At the heart of this newfound understanding was the colossal enigma of Silbury Hill, the largest man-made monument in prehistoric Europe. Silbury Hill had confounded archaeologists for generations, with theories ranging from religious symbolism to ceremonial significance. Yet, Langdon boldly proclaimed that Silbury Hill had a far more practical and ingenious purpose—an ancient ‘Lighthouse’ that guided seafarers to the trading port of Avebury.

This notion, while revolutionary, was not without evidence. Langdon explained that his research indicated that Silbury Hill had indeed flooded in the distant past, making it logical to assume that it was repurposed as a harbor when the waters receded from the main Avebury site. The construction of Silbury Hill in stages, starting small and gradually growing taller, suggested a pragmatic approach rather than a symbolic one. According to Langdon, the height of the mound would have served as a beacon to attract ships and boats to the trading center, making it an essential feature for maritime navigation.

To many, Langdon’s claims may seem audacious, but they align with the findings of dowsers in 2011. At the top of the newly discovered Stone Avenue, these dowsers located a series of stone holes precisely where Langdon’s photographic evidence indicated their presence. The convergence of these findings strengthened Langdon’s case, providing compelling support for his audacious theory.

While confirmation through excavation is the next logical step, Langdon’s research has already ignited a vibrant discussion within the archaeological and historical communities. His perspective challenges our preconceived notions of prehistoric Britain, revealing a thriving civilization that engaged in far-reaching trade and commerce. The idea of Avebury as a bustling trading hub paints a picture of interconnectedness and shared culture, where societies traded not only goods but also ideas, beliefs, and traditions.

In the realm of historical discovery, it is often the audacious thinkers, the mavericks who dare to question established narratives, who propel our understanding forward. Robert John Langdon is undeniably one of these thinkers. With a deep passion for history and an unyielding commitment to his research, he has unearthed a hidden chapter in the story of Avebury—one that transcends the boundaries of time and offers fresh insights into our shared human history.

As Langdon’s trilogy, ‘The Stonehenge Enigma,’ continues to explore these groundbreaking theories, it beckons us to embark on a journey of discovery, to challenge our assumptions, and to embrace the possibility that the past is far more complex and interconnected than we ever imagined. Avebury, with its ancient stones and enigmatic avenues, continues to whisper its secrets to those who dare to listen, inviting us to see history through a new lens—one illuminated by the audacious vision of Robert John Langdon.

Introduction

Further Reading

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