Avebury is a Neolithic henge monument containing three stone circles, around the village of Avebury in Wiltshire, in south-west England. One of the best-known prehistoric sites in Britain, it contains the largest megalithic stone circle in the world. It is both a tourist attraction and a place of religious importance to contemporary pagans.
South Inner Circle of Avebury in May 2014
Aerial photo of the site and village
The north-west sector of Avebury
Part of the outer ditch
The Neolithic period in the British Isles lasted from c. 4100 to c. 2,500 BC. Constituting the final stage of the Stone Age in the region, it was preceded by the Mesolithic and followed by the Bronze Age.
Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England, built c. 3000–2500 BC
The Neolithic site of Silbury Hill in Wiltshire, southern England (c. 2400 BC), is one example of the large ceremonial monuments constructed across the British Isles in this period.
Thornborough Henges, Yorkshire, England, 3500–2500 BC
Avebury, Wiltshire, England, c. 3000–2600 BC