The Stonehenge Hoax – The Ditch

Introduction

When is a ditch not really a ditch? …………………………………

The Problem

The Stonehenge ditch is something the archaeologists don’t frequently (if at all) discuss or publicise as it is not a ditch as we commonly know it, which has baffled them since its first excavation.  The fact that this Ditch is ‘unique’ in the world, which you would imagine would be promoted as such, but they prefer to hide their lack of understanding of this feature and say nothing, for the Stonehenge Ditch is not a ditch but a series of pits with walls, seats and stone holes in the base that goes against the current theories about the site.

The Solution

If groundwater was contemporary in the past, then some evidence should still be present.  Consequently, one of the more fascinating facts found when studying any prehistoric site is that the constructors spent disproportionate time digging ditches to surround their monuments, whether around henges or barrows.

This practice would be considered strange, even if the prehistoric builders had practical, modern, labour-saving tools. But unfortunately, our ancestors only benefited from stone tools, bones, and antlers, making such excavation exceptionally slow, cumbersome, and even more bewildering. 

Looking at Avebury (a henge monument) as an example, the most conservative archaeological estimation suggests that the ditches surrounding Avebury would have taken 1.5 million working hours to build.  That’s equivalent to 100 people working 12 hours daily, every day, for 3.5 years.  On the other hand, making a wooden palisade using the same tools would have taken less than one month, merely 2% of the time and exhaustion.

Current archaeological theories surrounding these ditches maintain that they were used either as a defensive fortification and/or a landscape feature to keep animals in/out, or, more recently, as a ‘ceremonial’ feature to ward off evil spirits.

This shows the levels of desperation the archaeologists have descended into in recent years in an abortive attempt to understand basic structures, such as a moat. Moreover, these quaint ideas strike me as somewhat flawed, as a ditch is significantly less effective than a palisade (a long line of sharpened wooden stakes planted into the ground), which would have been considerably more straightforward, quicker to construct and more effective.  As for evil spirits, would not a tiny 6-inch channel achieve the same symbolic purpose as a huge five-metre ditch? (The Stonehenge Hoax – The Ditch)

Lt-Col William Hawley was one of the amateur archaeologists employed by the Ministry of Works to undertake excavations at our famous monuments, Stonehenge and Avebury, in the 1920s.  But unfortunately, he was not the most ‘careful’ of archaeologists.  This was a view shared by colleagues such as Atkinson in his book, ‘Stonehenge’, 3rd edition, London 1979, where he suggests that Hawley’s methods were somewhat ‘inadequate’.

Despite this accusation of carelessness, he could still find some strange features, which can be seen as evidence of a moat.  For example, below a layer of chalk rubble infill (chalk which would have fallen naturally into the Moat when it was disused) under a layer of flint, he discovered ‘foot-trampled mud’ (Cleal et al., 1995,p.68) – found in an area of chalkland which has no natural mud/clay, with an associated ‘layer of struck flint’ – which he found in many segments.

Now, this sounds quite interesting, if not conclusive as evidence of the existence of a moat, until you look for other landscape features with similar foundations, which, when analysed, start to build up a much more conclusive picture.   Such landscape features can be found in ‘dew ponds’. (The Stonehenge Hoax – The Ditch)

 

A dew pond is an artificial pond usually sited on the top of a hill, intended for watering livestock.  Dew ponds are used in areas where a natural supply of surface water may not be readily available.  The name dew pond (sometimes cloud pond or mist pond) was first found in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1865.  Despite the name, their primary source of water is believed to be rainfall rather than dew or mist.

The mystery of dew ponds has drawn the interest of many historians and scientists, but until recent times, there has been little agreement on their early origins.  It was widely believed that the technique for building dew ponds had been understood from the earliest times, as Kipling tells us in Puck of Pook’s Hill.  The two Chanctonbury Hill dew ponds were dated to the Neolithic period by nearby flint tools and by their similarity to other dated earthworks.

They are usually shallow, saucer-shaped, lined with puddled clay, chalk or marl on an insulating straw layer over a bottom layer of chalk or lime.  To deter earthworms from their natural tendency to burrow upwards, which would, in a short while, make the clay lining porous, a layer of soot would be incorporated or lime mixed with the clay.  The clay is usually covered with straw to prevent cracking by the Sun, and a final layer of chalk rubble or broken stone to protect the lining from the hoofs of sheep or cattle.

In 1877, Mr H. P. Slade discarded the term ” dew-ponds ” in favour of ” artificial rain-ponds” and scouted the idea that dew had any part in filling ponds.  His remarks dealt practically with one pond, the greatest diameter of which was 69½ feet, which was constructed in 1836 at the cost of £40.  It was bedded in the Thorpe Downs, near Loughborough, on the Berkshire Hills, at a height of 450 feet above the sea level.  Being “fed from the heavens,” this probably gave rise to its being classed as a dew-pond.  The base of this pond was a layer of thick clay (mixed with lime to prevent the working of earthworms, a coating of straw “to prevent the Sun cracking the clay,” and, thirdly, a layer of loose rubble.  Moreover, for 40 years, until 1876, the pond had been dry only once.

Nonetheless, Hawley can be forgiven for not recognising that this clay lining feature was being used to stop the water from being absorbed through the porous chalk back into the bedrock, as he was not looking for a moat, as he was ‘reliably’ informed by his geologists, that the surrounding area, (Stonehenge Bottom) has been dry for over half a million years and therefore did not have a raised water table in the past.

Hawley also found evidence of what he called a strange ‘dark soil layer’ which existed within the primary fill; in many parts of the ditch, I would strongly suggest that this ‘dark soil layer’ consisted of decayed remains and sediment, possibly the hay which is traditionally lined with the clay to stop cracking.  Moreover, organic matter would have naturally settled to the bottom (as in a pond) over time, especially if it had not been cleaned regularly.  This would naturally have left a lining of dark soil at the bottom of the moat, if it fell into disuse and became dry

By 1923, Hawley reported that this ‘ubiquitous dark layer’ was found throughout his excavations, sometimes up to 8″ thick, suggesting its existence in water would have been for some considerable length of time, and it was resting directly at the bottom of the moated ditch.  This ‘Dark Layer’ was also observed by Atkinson in 1954 when they recut a piece of Hawley’s trench (segment 98) and found the same dark layer – not flint this time, but a stone layer.  Moreover, he described the soils above as loamy (sand and clay) (Evans et al., 1984, 7-30) and that this layer (like the construction of dew ponds) was “often associated with a ‘layer’ of struck flint, which was found in many segments” (Cleal et al., 1995, p.68), to protect the clay lining. (The Stonehenge Hoax – The Ditch)

It has now been established that Stonehenge had, at some stage, a layer of waterproofing, the ‘layer of foot-trampled mud’ plus a ‘layer of struck flint’ added to the ditch.  It’s also been established that this ditch was, at some point, filled with water for quite some considerable amount of time, as evidenced by the deep ‘dark layer’ sediment.

The Ditch is really a series of Pits

It is commonly agreed amongst both geologists and archaeologists that ‘dew ponds’ could be used in areas without natural springs for drinking water, so why didn’t our ancestors build a “dew pond”– why go through the enormous and challenging task of building a 100-foot ring ditch full of freshwater pits?

Moreover, from the archaeological evidence, I would suggest that the active moat from the start of the Phase 1 period at Stonehenge (when the water table was at its highest) and the river Avon was 30m higher than today, changed as the river levels dropped in the Neolithic Period, so did consequently, the height of the Moat.   Therefore, this civilisation decided to line the moat with clay and flint to keep the waters high and preserve its use, but eventually it became impossible to maintain it. Phase 2 of the site, involving the introduction of the massive sarsen stones and the construction of the avenue, marked the beginning of the site’s adaptation and its purpose.

However, the mystery of this ring ditch/moat deepens when you look at the other ditches in the prehistoric world, which show that the ditch is not a single cut, but a series of individual pits interlinking to each other, with walls and seats cut into the chalk, which is not seen anywhere in the prehistoric world.

Hawley’s finding of other moats that surrounded the north and south mounds, which ‘connected’ to the Stonehenge moated ditch, escalated this use of the ditch as a moat. 

On the shallow associated banks of the ditches, he finds lots of what he calls ‘yellow marl’ – “there was a quantity of the yellowish marl within the ditch and about the site of the palisade” (Cleal et al., 1995, p.278) – Marl was originally an old term loosely applied to a variety of materials, most of which occur as loose, earthy deposits consisting chiefly of an intimate mixture of clay and calcium carbonate, formed under freshwater conditions; specifically an earthy substance containing 35–65% clay and 65–35% carbonate.  (Pettijohn, F. J. (1957). p.410)

As this marl contained fragments of Blue and Sarsen stones, this clearly shows that ‘freshwater’ was in the moat and present at the time of construction.

If you look at the remains of the Stonehenge moat today, it appears very shallow and uneven, but when excavated, it looks very different.  It is, in fact, a series of ‘individual pits’, which, in places, are connected by shallow walls.

This opens up a series of fascinating unanswered questions:

• Was the ditch half-finished, for the pits differ in size, shape and depth, or perhaps they were ‘dodgy Welsh builders’ who did not know what they were doing?
• If the ditch is defensive or symbolic, as some archaeologists suggest, why not pile the chalk on one side rather than both sides?
• Why are their seats or shelves left in the ditch?
• Why are there stone holes at the bottom of the moated ditch?

The ability to build defensive structures was available to our ancestors.  Still, they decided not to use it on this occasion, as clearly it was made for another purpose, and that purpose was as a groundwater-filled moat. 

The only reason you would cut the ditch down to different levels is to search for the groundwater level under the chalk bedrock.   As chalk is a porous substance and water travels freely through it, the groundwater table over an area like Stonehenge can vary by a metre or so depending on the makeup of the chalk, as water runs through the fault lines in the chalk strata, leading to varying groundwater levels over an area.

This variation in groundwater tables would also explain why the builders left shallow walls and why none of the walls reached the surface, so water could flow between the individual pits.

Why did the builders then choose the Stonehenge area to build a site?

CHALK

Our ancestors needed a place with chalk subsoil because it has two exceptional properties – its porosity and its resistance to dissolution in water.

The problem with chalk is that it’s difficult to excavate, almost impossible.  So, if Mesolithic Man wanted an easy time and needed a large defensive ditch, he would have chosen a site with soft soil, unless he was insane or had nothing better to do for the next few years!

These builders were attracted to chalk and its unique characteristics.  Not only is it porous, but it is SLOW porous, which means that a pit or hole below the local groundwater table would gradually fill with or empty with water at a consistent rate.  In addition, because it’s part of the limestone family, it would not crumble and dissolve.

If these moats are used in conjunction with natural groundwater reeds (Phragmites australis is one of the main wetland plant species used for phytoremediation water treatment) and placed on the shelves within the ditch, the result is pure, clean freshwater good enough to drink, comparable to modern tap water.  This type of water purification would not be seen in Britain for another 8,000 years.  It would also leave Hawley’s unidentified ‘dark layer’.

Ground Water

Groundwater tables were much higher than they are today due to meltwater from the last ice age, which raised them.  For a site like Stonehenge, this would mean the monument would have been surrounded by groundwater on three sides, as the springs at the bottom of Stonehenge would have leaked thousands of litres of water per second over thousands of years.

Recent geological studies have recognised the multitude of Springs and groundwater in this area “Geology has a great influence on landscape, including the shape of the ground, vegetation and groundwater in terms of potential springs and water sources….. Stonehenge is located on a plateau area with groundwater draining east towards the River Avon and south towards and beneath dry valleys, including Stonehenge Bottom (Fig. 28). Water supply would have been plentiful… Having discovered this new geology in the Chalk at Stonehenge, further studies are required to assess its implications for landscape evolution and habitation.” Rory N. Mortimore, et. al. Stonehenge—a unique Late Cretaceous phosphatic Chalk geology: implications for sea-level, climate and tectonics and impact on engineering and archaeology, Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, Volume 128, Issue 4, 2017

So much groundwater was found that the paper pointed out that: “Cancellation of the original proposed A303 Stonehenge Tunnels and the Amesbury to Winterbourne Stoke improvements was in large part due to the unexpected geology and unexpected groundwater conditions around Stonehenge, which led to construction costs more than doubling to £470 million in July 2005.

A303 Stonehenge tunnel area conceptual groundwater flow regime. Stonehenge Bottom acts as a drain to the area, with a spring located downstream at Spring Bottom. A farm and a seasonal pond in Lake Bottom close to the River Avon. During the rapid rise in groundwater levels in 2002, the floor of Stonehenge became flooded up to the A303 crossing and Trial Pits on the west side, partly filled with water

This high groundwater would permeate into any pits or ditches dug below the water table, and this water would be FILTERED by the chalk; as recent findings at Blick Mead have found, the water temperature is fixed at a constant 50F throughout the seasons, even in the coldest winters, where the water would steam in the colder atmosphere.  Therefore, the ditches surrounding Stonehenge were deliberately cut by our ancestors below the groundwater table to allow them to fill with warm, filtered, clean drinkable water.

It is commonly agreed amongst both geologists and archaeologists that ‘dew ponds’ could be used in areas without natural springs for drinking water, so why didn’t our ancestors build a “dew pond”– why go through the enormous and challenging task of building a 100-foot ring ditch full of freshwater pits?

Moreover, from the archaeological evidence, I would suggest that the active moat from the start of the Phase 1 period at Stonehenge (when the water table was at its highest) and the river Avon was 30m higher than today, changed as the river levels dropped in the Neolithic Period, so did consequently, the height of the moat.   Therefore, this civilisation decided to line the moat with clay and flint to keep the waters high and preserve its use until, eventually, it was impossible to protect, and at this point, Phase 2 of the site involved the introduction of the massive sarsen stones and construction of the Avenue, as they adapted the site for a new purpose.

However, the mystery of this ring ditch/moat deepens when you look at the other ditches in the prehistoric world, which show that the ditch is not a single cut, but a series of individual pits interlinking to each other, with walls and seats cut into the chalk, which is not seen anywhere in the prehistoric world.

Unearth the Astonishing Secrets of Stonehenge (The Stonehenge Hoax)

Introduction

Video

The Book

Synopsys

Stonehenge, a timeless enigma etched in stone and earth, has stood as a formidable puzzle challenging the intellects of archaeologists and historians alike. Despite the myriad attempts, including books, TV programs, and academic conferences, the secrets of these ancient stones and their encircling ditches have proven elusive. Against this backdrop, we scrutinise the existing thirteen hypotheses, each presenting its narrative but collectively lacking a coherent thread.

In adopting the deductive reasoning akin to Sherlock Holmes, we endeavour to weave these disparate threads into a unified tapestry that not only unravels the mystery of Stonehenge but also shakes the foundations of established academic narratives. This intellectual journey may induce some discomfort as we challenge conventional perceptions and invite a reevaluation of our understanding of the past. Apologies are extended in advance for any cognitive dissonance, but the pursuit of truth and reason mandates an unfiltered presentation of the facts.

So, fasten your seatbelts for an expedition into the archaeological unknown.

As we navigate this intellectual rollercoaster, be prepared for a revelation that might reshape our understanding of Stonehenge and question the foundations of our historical narratives. The dawn of a new archaeological era awaits promising insights that could leave even the most curious minds astonished. As we delve into this intellectual rabbit hole, be ready for a revelation that could astonish Alice.

Robert John Langdon (2023) – (The Stonehenge Hoax)

Author’s Biography

Robert John Langdon, a polymathic luminary, emerges as a writer, historian, and eminent specialist in LiDAR Landscape Archaeology.

His intellectual voyage has been interwoven with stints as an astute scrutineer in government and grand corporate bastions, a tapestry spanning British Telecommunications, Cable and Wireless, British Gas, and the esteemed University of London.

A decade hence, Robert’s transition into retirement unfurled a chapter of insatiable curiosity. This phase saw him immerse himself in Politics, Archaeology, Philosophy, and the enigmatic realm of Quantum Mechanics. His academic odyssey traversed the venerable corridors of knowledge hubs such as the Museum of London, University College London, Birkbeck College, The City Literature Institute, and Chichester University.

In the symphony of his life, Robert is a custodian of three progeny and a pair of cherished grandchildren. His sanctuary lies ensconced in the embrace of West Wales, where he inhabits an isolated cottage, its windows framing a vista of the boundless sea – a retreat from the scrutinising gaze of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, an amiable clandestinity in the lap of nature.

Exploring Prehistoric Britain: A Journey Through Time

My blog delves into the fascinating mysteries of prehistoric Britain, challenging conventional narratives and offering fresh perspectives grounded in cutting-edge research, particularly LiDAR technology. I invite you to explore some key areas of my research. For example, the Wansdyke, often cited as a defensive structure, is re-examined in light of new evidence. I’ve presented my findings in my blog post Wansdyke: A British Frontier Wall – ‘Debunked’, and a Wansdyke LiDAR Flyover video further visualises my conclusions.

My work also often challenges established archaeological dogma. I argue that many sites, such as Hambledon Hill, commonly identified as Iron Age hillforts, are not what they seem. My posts Lidar Investigation Hambledon Hill – NOT an ‘Iron Age Fort’ and Unmasking the “Iron Age Hillfort” Myth explore these ideas in detail and offer an alternative view. Similarly, sites like Cissbury Ring and White Sheet Camp receive re-evaluations based on LiDAR analysis in my posts “Lidar Investigation Cissbury Ring through time” and “Lidar Investigation White Sheet Camp,“ revealing fascinating insights into their true purpose. I have also examined South Cadbury Castle, often linked to the mythical Camelot56.

My research also extends to ancient water management, including the role of canals and other linear earthworks. I have discussed the true origins of Car Dyke in multiple posts, including Car Dyke – ABC News Podcast and Lidar Investigation Car Dyke – North Section, which suggest a Mesolithic origin 2357. I also explore the misidentification of Roman aqueducts, as seen in my posts on the Great Chesters (Roman) Aqueduct. My research has also been greatly informed by my post-glacial flooding hypothesis, which has helped explain landscape transformations over time. I have discussed this hypothesis in several posts, including AI now supports my Post-Glacial Flooding Hypothesis and Exploring Britain’s Flooded Past: A Personal Journey

Finally, my blog also investigates prehistoric burial practices, as seen in Prehistoric Burial Practices of Britain and explores the mystery of Pillow Mounds, often mistaken for medieval rabbit warrens, but with a potential link to Bronze Age cremation in my posts: Pillow Mounds: A Bronze Age Legacy of Cremation? and The Mystery of Pillow Mounds: Are They Really Medieval Rabbit Warrens?. My research also includes astronomical insights into ancient sites, for example, in Rediscovering the Winter Solstice: The Original Winter Festival. I also review new information about the construction of Stonehenge in The Stonehenge Enigma.

Further Reading

For those interested in British Prehistory, visit www.prehistoric-britain.co.uk, a comprehensive resource featuring an extensive collection of archaeology articles, modern LiDAR investigations, and groundbreaking research. The site also includes insights and excerpts from the acclaimed Robert John Langdon Trilogy, a series of books that explore Britain during the Prehistoric period. Titles in the trilogy include The Stonehenge Enigma, Dawn of the Lost Civilisation, and The Post-Glacial Flooding Hypothesis, which offer compelling evidence of ancient landscapes shaped by post-glacial flooding.

To further explore these topics, Robert John Langdon has developed a dedicated YouTube channel featuring over 100 video documentaries and investigations that complement the trilogy. Notable discoveries and studies showcased on the channel include 13 Things that Don’t Make Sense in History and the revelation of Silbury Avenue – The Lost Stone Avenue, a rediscovered prehistoric feature at Avebury, Wiltshire.

In addition to his main works, Langdon has released a series of shorter, accessible publications, ideal for readers delving into specific topics. These include:

• The Ancient Mariners
• Stonehenge Built 8300 BCE
• Old Sarum
• Prehistoric Rivers
• Dykes, Ditches, and Earthworks
• Echoes of Atlantis
• Homo Superior
• 13 Things that Don’t Make Sense in History
• Silbury Avenue – The Lost Stone Avenue
• Offa’s Dyke
• The Stonehenge Enigma
• The Post-Glacial Flooding Hypothesis
• The Stonehenge Hoax
• Dawn of the Lost Civilisation
• Darwin’s Children
• Great Chester’s Roman Aqueduct
• Wansdyke

For active discussions and updates on the trilogy’s findings and recent LiDAR investigations, join our vibrant community on Facebook. Engage with like-minded enthusiasts by leaving a message or contributing to debates in our Facebook Group.

Whether through the books, the website, or interactive videos, we aim to provide a deeper understanding of Britain’s fascinating prehistoric past. We encourage you to explore these resources and uncover the mysteries of ancient landscapes through the lens of modern archaeology.

For more information, including chapter extracts and related publications, visit the Robert John Langdon Author Page. Dive into works such as The Stonehenge Enigma or Dawn of the Lost Civilisation, and explore cutting-edge theories that challenge traditional historical narratives.

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