The Longstones, Neolithic standing stones in Avebury, England
The Longstones are two large stone monoliths standing in open farmland as the only visible remnants of the Beckhampton Avenue, an ancient ceremonial approach to the main Avebury circle. Archaeological work has revealed post holes and traces of a prehistoric pathway beneath the surface where these stones mark their former positions.
The stones were erected during the Neolithic period as part of a planned ceremonial landscape that extended from the Avebury stone circle. Archaeological studies suggest they were positioned along a deliberate route that connected different parts of this ancient ceremonial complex.
The two stones captured local imagination and were given names by people living nearby, becoming woven into the folklore of the surrounding community. These simple names show how ancient sites become part of everyday culture and memory through ordinary people's stories.
The stones are accessible by foot across open farmland, with the site left unplowed to protect buried archaeological remains beneath the surface. Visitors should wear appropriate footwear for walking in rural terrain and prepare for exposed weather conditions in open countryside.
These two stones are the last visible remnants of what was once a longer line of monoliths stretching over several kilometers across the landscape. Their isolation makes them poignant markers of a much larger ceremonial avenue that has largely vanished from view.
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