Era 1: Mesolithic activity 8500-6700BC

Time travel

Era 1: Mesolithic activity 8500-6700BC

In the first era in the history of Stonehenge humans lived as hunter gatherers in a wild landscape. The first evidence of activity was the discovery of four pits, possibly used for totem poles.

Countryside
Early post-glacial woodland of mixed pine and hazel with local clearings of grazed grassland.

Totem poles
Four large pits contained upright pine posts - possibly similar to American and Canadian totem poles. The holes were discovered during extension of the visitor car park in 1966 and 1989. The poles probably contained tribal symbols as a mark of respect for dead chiefs. Their locations were an area for ritual and dance, rather than a focus for settlement.

People
Humans hunted game animals and foraged for fruit and berries. Tools were primitive.

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