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Friday, March 29, 2019

History and Hypothesis of Stonehenge and Easter Island

bill and Hypothesis of St whizhenge and easter IslandStonehenge is a set of earthworks and an ancient monument hardened in Wiltshire, England. It is considered the most famous and vi spotd site in the world and is one of the mysteries in the world which has never been revea conduct. However, many throng consecrate created many myths and fables to explain mysteries rat it. Despite the numerous myths and fables, at that place has been limited instruction regarding Stonehenges creation/development. Most researchers and theorists refer to it as a treasure pit monument, a giant or ancient megalith.Archeologist microphone Parker Pearson has proposed a subroutine of hypothesis regarding Stonehenge and its surrounding. He indicated that Stonehenge was utilize as a burial solid ground from historical beginnings. In other words, Stonehenge represented a place of the dead. The cremated body open up at the site acted as differentiate and they indicated that burials took place at the site as early on as 3000 BC (Gargen 112). Mike Pearson tho indicated that the placement of artifacts and graves about Stonehenge provided good evidence that the site was speechless as a domain of the dead. New radio coke dates of human trunk dug from the ancient Stonehenge in Southwest England indicate that the monument was used as a cemetery.Initially, archeologists had believed that Stonehenge had acted as burial grand as early as 2700 and 2600 BC (Gargen 114). People buried at Stonehenge were believed to have been the selected of the surrounding society an early royal British dynasty. This hypothesis appears to be scientific due to the evidence provided by pertly radio carbon dates of human keep ons found in the monument.Parker Pearson also held the hypotheses that Stonehenge was a center field for ancestor worship that was connected by River Avon and two other observation avenues to a matching wooden circle near Durrington Walls. The reason as to why he held the h ypotheses is due to the declamatory settlements of houses found nearby Stonehenge. This fortify his belief that two the settlement and Stonehenge created a part of a large ancient ceremonial complex. He went ahead and indicated that the two circles with permanent and flitting structures made a clear representation of the living and the dead domains respectively. He also pointed out that the orientation of the stone circle pointed to sunrise and sundown on key seasonal dates which clearly indicated it was a place of ceremony.On his hypotheses, Mike Pearson stated that Stonehenge was not a monument in isolation rather it was actually one of a pair implying that it was made of both stone and timber. The theory behind this is that Stonehenge is a type of spirit plateful to the ancestors. This hypothesis appears to be pseudo-scientific since there is no scientific evidence behind it. lengthinessGargen, Josphath. Theories behind Stonehenge. 2nd ed. New York New York Press, 2003.2 B ) expose the basic cultural features and evolution of the Mound create Cultures of easterlyn northeastward America (and especially distinguishing between the Woodland and Mississippian Cultures), and explain why they were attributed to a muzzy race by nineteenth century scholars.It is believed that mould builders were greatly involved in building of earth works as good as mounds. The ceremonial and burial structures were characteristically flat topped pyramids or flat topped cones and at some times a florilegium of other forms. Some mounds took after unusual shapes such as the delineate of cosmologically signifi plundert animals and were branded effigy mounds name. Monks mound is one of the best know flat topped pyramidal earthen ware at Cahokia, eon Serpent mound found in southern Ohio is 5 feet tall, 1330 feet considerable and 20 feet wide takes the shape of a serpent (Ian 86). The mound builders include numerous contrary tribal groups and chiefdoms that held unto a bew ildering collection of beliefs and exclusive cultures which were get together together by the shared architectural practice of mound take inion. The sign mould building was an early marker of just beginning goernmental and social complexity among the cultures in the eastern United States.Woodlands culture a prehistoric culture of easterly North America dates back in the 1st century. It is used to refer to ingrained American societies staying in eastern United States. Adena and Hopewell were the earliest woodland groups who inhabited Mississippi river valleys and Ohio between 800 BC and 800 AD. Adena and Hopewell are usually known for their massive burial mounds, often circumscribed with finely crafted grave items. Initially, Adena were hunters and gatherers sequence Hopewell lived in villages.The Mississippian culture was developed around 700 A.D. It was developed by a population of farmers who practiced agricultural acres and planted crops such as corns, beans and squash. They also engaged in a day to day hunting. Mississippian culture was initially a mound building Native American culture. However, from approximately 800 CE to 1500 CE, it greatly flourished in what is commonly known as eastern, Midwestern and Southeastern United States (Ian 76).Mississippian culture is considered different from the woodland culture on the basis that the Mississippian mounds appear to be rectangular or square, large, flat topped, mesa like platforms on which temples or houses were built. On the other hand, the woodland mounds are conical, earthen structures covering burials in which marvelously carved stone pipes and mica cutouts that are found along with skeletal remains. In addition, burial mounds were dominant during the woodland period (100 B.C. to 400 A.D.), while temple mounds predominated during the Mississippian period (1000 AD).Both Mississippian and woodland cultures were attributed to as a lost race by the 19th century scholars due to the fact that t he new euro-American settlers were not willing to accept the fact that the mounds had been built by the Native American People. They were therefore displacing and destroying most of the mounds so as to plow aside evidence. Consequently, the cultures came along as a lost race in America. addressIan, Bridgeston. The Mould Building Cultures. California Anvil Press, 2000.3B) Describe the history of Easter Island as it has been reconstructed by archaeologists is this history a useful fable for the Earth? Is it similar or different from what happened in to other acculturations, and what can be learned from studying it?Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui is one of the worlds famous but least visited archeological sites located in the Pacific Ocean. The island is mostly famous due to its 887 existing monumental statues (moai) which were created by Rapanui volume. It is a tiny, currently treeless, hilly Island of volcanic nature rising over 10,00ft from the floor of Pacific Ocean. Pete rson (23), states that Easter Island is among the youngest inhabited territories in the world, and a larger part of its history is that it was one of the most isolated inhabited territory.Easter Island was discovered three hundred years ago by European explorers amidst the large space in South Pacific Ocean. Dutch explorer, Jacob Roggeveen rediscovered it on Easter day in 1722, hence the acquisition of its name Easter Island. During that time, the Island was inhabited by a populace of Polynesian origin who had arrived from Marquesas Islands many centuries earlier. This has been proven by the DNA extracts that were collected from the location. It is also believed that the inhabitants had come in with various plants, foods, tools and animals such as bananas, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, pigs, and chickens among others so as to pop up a new life.Archeologists hold that there were three cultures which lived on Easter Island around 400 AD. During this time, the island was inhabited by p lenty who specialized in making small stone statues. After some time, another civilization broke down the statues and greatly used them to construct long temple platforms known as ahus. They also carved 600 plus enormous stone busts taking the form of human beings and placed them on the ahus. It is believed that approximately 15 statues are still held by some ahus.Archeological evidence indicates a fast destruction of the forests within a few centuries after the arrival of human beings. This played a major role in the reduction of forests and plantation in the island. The society played a role in the reduction of forests and plantations since they cleared land to plant grasses, cut down trees to construct canoes, they had also come in with rats which devoured the seeds. By the end of fifteenth century, the full(a) forest had disappeared, the fruits had died out and tree species were extinct. The extermination of the animals in the Island was as complete(a) as that of the forest. All species of native land birds became extinct and the shellfish were exploited. This led to the go of Easter Islands society.The history of Easter Island is a useful illustration of the planet earth. The lesson obtained from Easter Island was that inequality and scarcity of crucial resources played a great role in occurrence of genocide. Consequently, a social collapse of the society living in the island took place. David (43), states that during the 7th century, around 50 people arrived on Easter Island and increased to more than 70,000 by 17th century.ReferenceDavid, Myer. The history of Easter Island. 3rd ed. Cambridge Cambridge Press.4) Stonehenge as an ancient centre of betterThis appears to be an interesting topic since Stonehenge is commonly known as a burial site among the archeologists. However, Tim Darvil and Geoff Wainwright have come up with the evidence that the monument acted as a centre of healing. Margaret (57), states that massive numbers of Britons flocked at the sight with the aim of curing their diseases and healing present injuries. Many inhabitants believed that the stone found at the site had magical and healing qualities which greatly attracted numerous pilgrims to the site.A mans Remains at approximately five miles from Stonehenge were discovered by the two archeologists. The remains collected indicated that the man had a knee exhaust hood infection and a severe tooth eruption. This was therefore used as good evidence by the two archeologists and they came up with the theory that the man may have died on his way to the healing grounds (Stonehenge).In addition, a skeleton analysis which was found three miles from the monument indicated that the man had traveled a long withdrawnness and was suffering from a potentially fiendishly dental disease. It was therefore cogitate that he had travelled that long distance as a way of searching for the stones associated with the healing power. Most archeologists remain adamant that the site and the surrounding area were majorly used as a burial ground.To back their healing hypothesis, Darvill and Wainwright studied the blue stones found at the site and which were believed to have been there since 2400 BC and 2200 BC. Having studied 14 samples of organic material such as the bone in the oceanic abyss and carbonized plant remains, they indicated that it was good evidence that the grounds provided excellent healing grounds to the community.The blue stone study undermines the main theory suggested by Mike Parker Pearson that the monument acted primarily as burial grounds and ancestral site where people held ceremonies and offered sacrifices to the ancestors. Other significant discoveries from the dig have been made at the monument. A series of small stones broken down from the larger stand up ones were discovered and the archeologists believed that the stones were used as lucky charms. This provided the evidence that the ancient people believed in the healing proper ties of the stones.The archeologists also believed that the blue stones had numerous healing properties since there were a number of sacred springs in Preseli which were considered to have health give qualities. The two archeologists also quoted the 12th century Monk indicating that the stones were thought to have medicinal property. The evidence uncovered by their digs portrayed that people were chipping and moving off pieces of the bluestones by the roman era through the middle ages. In relation to the discoveries made concerning Stonehenge, it can be concluded that Stonehenge is a popular and powerful place of pilgrimage. However, there is no bind that the monuments healing power really worked.ReferenceMargaret, Katherine. The mystery behind Stonehenge. Harvard Harvard Press, 2002.

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