Stonehenge, a Temple Restor'd to the British Druids

Name: Stonehenge, a Temple Restor'd to the British Druids
Author: William Stukeley

By William Stukeley

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Archaeology & Anthropology History - Ancient History - British History - Religious

About This Book

An antiquarian study that interprets Stonehenge and other British stone circles as temples of an ancient druidic or patriarchal religion derived from eastern or Phoenician traditions. The author combines measured plans, engravings, and excavation reports with comparative readings of calendars, hieroglyphs, and classical and biblical sources to argue for ritual, funerary, and astronomical functions of monuments. The work details construction, dimensions, burial mounds, cursus works, and proposed dating, and offers broader reflections on the origin of alphabetic signs and the continuity of ancient religious ideas in Britain.

About the Author

William Stukeley

William Stukeley (1687–1765) was an English antiquarian and physician, best known for his pioneering studies of prehistoric monuments in Britain. His works, including "Stonehenge, a Temple Restor'd to the British Druids," reflect his deep interest in the ancient Druids and their religious practices. Stukeley's detailed observations and illustrations contributed significantly to the understanding of megalithic structures and their cultural significance. He also authored "Abury, A Temple of the British Druids, With Some Others, Described," where he explored the ceremonial landscape of Avebury. His writings blend archaeology, history, and philosophy, marking him as a notable figure in the early development of archaeology as a discipline.