Why Stonehenge isn't a henge and what is a henge anyway?

[@jimmyviaductophilelawley5587]

19:05 I refer you to my suggestion of the word "Hengey" in a previous video..."The site was very Hengey", "It was hengier than the surrounding landscape, in fact it was the hengiest site I'd seen all day"

[@hesterwright3674]

"This site is a 6 on the scale of 0 to henge. Quite hengey"

[@jimmyviaductophilelawley5587]

@@hesterwright3674 😁👍

[@laurence7181]

Your friend Brophy's proposal to use the verb, "hengeing", as in "they henged the sight", is very clarifying. So, in the end, your discussion was very helpful. Thanks.

[@TheDanEdwards]

[Channeling my inner-Oprah] Michael gets a henge, Rupert gets a henge, you get a henge, I get a henge, we all get a henge!

[@DavidBridger1]

Thank you, Guys, for another delicious discussion. I know you're focusing here on the word's frankly daft development in modern times, but when early on in this film you mentioned the etymology of Stonehenge, Michael, that's where my synopses started firing. Because along with prehistory and particularly regarding the ancient people who lived with and worked in stone, etymology is very much a thing of mine. Here's what I know of the etymology of Stonehenge. It comes, as the Etymology Dictionary says, "from the early 12th century Stanenges, literally Stone Gallows, perhaps so called because of fancied resemblance to old-style gallows with two posts, with the second element related to the verb hang." Before the 12th century? Allegedly, some people called it The Giant's Dance. At least, that's what Geoffrey of Monmouth says in his 1136 History of the Kings of Britain, for what that's worth bearing in mind the unreliable "history" we often get from old Geoffrey. So, yeah. But there's still the possibility that he did hear of someone, somewhere, calling it by that name. Before then? We will never know. Stonehenge, whatever its successive waves of builders over thousands of years called it and however its successive generations of users over thousands of years used it, simply is. Oh, and also, I share your opinion of the word monument. For me, Stonehenge is a magnificent stone circle, and needs no more speculative a description than that.

[@malcolmscally1533]

they were named after the ancient entertainers who built them, Henge and Bracket 😁

[@kariannecrysler640]

Fieldscapes, loop-d-loop’s & ringer’s are my alternative suggestions lol. It’s rather difficult to think of a name that isn’t “henge”. It’s so deep seeded 😊

[@williamjohnson1618]

Yes it's so deep seeded

[@jimmyviaductophilelawley5587]

Hi guys...I might have missed it but you didn't actually explain that the word "Stonehenge" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon meaning "hanging stones" referring to the lintels?

[@erpthompsonqueen9130]

Thank you. Love the proposition of noun vs verb.

[@mkrmkr3805]

As usual, a superb lesson in critical thinking from the naughty corner. My definition of a henge; a tourist trap then and now. Have fun gent's. 🌻

[@amberliseleger900]

Thanks!

[@paulking54]

Very enjoyable episode. Thanks.

[@AdamMorganIbbotson]

There's a variety of henge in Ireland (sometimes called an "Irish style henge"), with no inner ditch and far higher embankments. The only two examples in the UK are Mayburgh Henge in Cumbria, and a lost example at Catterick. Neither are true henges, yet they assume the name.

[@steveterry1824]

The bank at Mayburgh was constructed with boulders (from the nearby River Eamont) rather than earth, so there was no need to dig a ditch. Is this the case with the Irish 'monuments'?

[@AdamMorganIbbotson]

@@steveterry1824 Cumbrian monuments are generally built using stones. A bit of a regional quirk. Cumbrian stone circles like Castlerigg, Swinside and Long Meg are thought by some to be stone-built henges. Also, the stone embankment doesn't preclude a ditch.

[@juliehovar5488]

Let us speak on your terms.....

[@judyhawkins6584]

There's a way of thinking about language as using prototypes, instead of cut-and-dried definitions with strong boundaries; because words do often gray into one another, or change in meaning over time.

[@Willy_Tepes]

Love your content. Has anyone noticed that there are no neolithic monument below a certain altitude and that this varies from region to region? Sea level rise is not equally distributed. In southern Britain there are no neolithic monument below 90 meters, and most are just above. That indicates a shoreline, which drastically chages the landscape.

[@badgerpa9]

I learned a second use for graben, western USA has horst and graben or rift valleys. The graben is the lower area or ditch. Doubt I will remember kreisgrabenanlagen past a day or two though.

[@ianbruce6515]

It's interesting that the ditch is on the inside and the bank on the outside--precisely the opposite of a defensive works.

[@juliehovar5488]

To begin with: so much appreciations for "this" sufferance on Your behalf. Be clear and more, gentlemen. Your total Team is The Best. Humor, logic and science do prevail with all that is presented here. Very Well stated.....till next

[@helenamcginty4920]

The woodworking mortice and tenon and tongue and groove joints of Stonehenge suggest that maybe the construction was copied from previous wood henges. The large posts at woodhenge near Durrington walls are evidenced only by the size of the post holes but were large enough to have supported lintels. I am put in mind of lych gates in old parish churches with their little rooves.

[@davidgreg4713]

I pray to God to give you a lot of beautiful days and you know God loves us so much, So where are you originally from? I am David originally from Spain Granada but currently in Texas now and you?

[@GaryR55]

I've encountered another term, i.e, "stone circles," used to refer to Stonehenge, Avebury, etc. Is there any distinction made between a "stone circle" and a "henge?" Are there any henges that don't incorporate stones?

[@helenamcginty4920]

Yes. Most of them.

[@stuartmarshall1384]

Stonehenge (n.) early 12c., Stanenges, literally "stone gallows," perhaps so called from fancied resemblance to old-style gallows with two posts, with the second element related to the verb hang. Some antiquarians suggest the notion may be of "supported in the air, that which hangs in the air" (compare henge-clif for Latin præruptum), in reference to the lintel stones, but the order of the elements and the inflection is against this. An ancient name for it was the Giant's Dance.

[@helenamcginty4920]

What happened to the link of the word 'henge' relating to the 'hanging stone' or lintel of various stone constructions from dolmens to Stonehenge?

[@flysubcompact]

I've always suspected Stonehenge is the weatherproof center (post and lentil) of a great roundhouse. The balance of the organic has long rotted away. Roundhouses tend to rot out from their core atriums.

[@lenabreijer1311]

That is a hell of a lot of work for just a house.

[@lemming9984]

I'd love to see a henge built with lentils!

[@mkrmkr3805]

@@lemming9984 That would get your pulse racing eh...

[@flysubcompact]

@@lemming9984 You will rupture yourself following my spelling and grammatical errors. Knock yourself out.

[@lemming9984]

@@mkrmkr3805 LOL!

[@blkrs123]

I​ ​​think they were just pleased to have​ such an impressive hoop.😸😺😼

[@CitizenSmith50]

I'm not sure whether I wasn't paying attention and missed something , but rather than rewatch this video, can someone tell me why Stonehenge is called "Stonehenge" ; what is the etymology of the word; when in History was it first given this title ??

[@helenasplace]

Was this a live that I missed?

[@deormanrobey892]

I don't know if it was live, Could be keep watching

[@amberliseleger900]

I don't think it was , it says uploaded at 4:25.

[@g3heathen209]

A henge is what a door swings on.

[@GaryR55]

What does a henge hinge on?

[@badgerpa9]

Only a Henge can describe what a Henge is. The more you stir the puddle the muddier it gets.

[@RalphEllis]

Apparently ‘henge’ comes from a Germanic word meaning ‘hang’. In other words, it should have suspended cross-beams upon uprights. As in Stonehenge. R

[@Bromley68]

My understanding has always been that a 'henge' is a circular bank, or ditch

[@LiveFreeOrDie2A]

All I think of is Stonehenge I think about it when I dream, The biggest henge that I have ever seen. *What's the purpose of Stonehenge?* A giant granite birthday cake Or a prison far too easy to escape? Stonehenge! Stonehenge! Lots of stones in a row! They were 25 tons each stone, my friend But amazingly they got them all down in the sand. And they moved it, And they dragged it, And they rolled it 46 miles from Wales! *What's the deal with Stonehenge?* You should have left a tiny hint When you made this fucking labyrinth of stone! *Who the fuck builds a Stonehenge?* Two Stone Age guys wondering what to do Who just said: "Dude, let's build a henge or two!"

[@lenabreijer1311]

But the word "henge" obviously has some kind of meaning historically and linguistically because that name was already there. Why was stonehenge called that? Who called it that?

[@knutanderswik7562]

Re: reconstrucitons, I often wonder how anyone, never having seen one, would reconstruct a stavkirke from simply the postholes and foundation trenches. I understand there can be no evidence for lintels but it seems to me the vertical element simply lacks imagination.

[@milliorwallo]

I’m chockad because I’ve always assumed that ”henge” had the same root as the swedish word(s) ”hägn, hängn, hängnad, hage”, which means enclosure?? My brain automatically precieve ”stonehenge” as ”stenhängn” which would translate to something like ”stone enclosure” which made so much sense to me, and now I hear that it’s completely made up 😂😂

[@milliorwallo]

Then again, ”hänga” means ”to hang” so it could well be that those two are related instead I now realize 🤔 But still! Much disappoint….

[@tankej]

Love your channel! I doubt that "henge" was a word before the tortured birth you describe at the outset (in which it appeared as a chapter heading). The word is not in the 2nd edition of the OED. Unless someone can point to historical attestations of the word's pre-archeological use in a geographical or topographical sense, then I think you shouldn't even pretend the word existed.

[@Archangelm127]

An Americanism that seems to apply here is "light fuse, run away." ;)

[@trollforge]

It is a shame that you didn't discuss why Stonehenge was called Stonehenge... Etymology of Stonehenge according to Wikipedia: The Oxford English Dictionary cites Ælfric's tenth-century glossary, in which henge-cliff is given the meaning 'precipice', or stone; thus, the stanenges or Stanheng "not far from Salisbury" recorded by eleventh-century writers are "stones supported in the air"...

[@hashtagvanlife]

Stonehenge dates back to the late Victorian period😉

[@andyk6325]

It is a henge though basically. It wasn't finished. Most of them were changed constantly

[@deborahshirinthuja9107]

"Free Gobekli Tepe!" kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYGxmHqkitd2ga8

[@bozo5632]

Ritual laundry monuments.

[@bonnieskilton3247]

Hinge= theater in the round.

[@steviethemusical]

Not one scrap of evidence.... Wow

[@steviethemusical]

Total lies

[@christopherperry8693]

I am very lucky to have a number of disk barrows in my area. Note how they have the same type of layout as a true henge (inner ditch and outer bank). They are just smaller. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_barrow

[@k8eekatt]

Thanks for sharing that!

[@knutanderswik7562]

This is what happens when you let academics set definitions which are then promulgated by pedants. Very like pandas: for a generation we were scolded that pandas, despite being ursiform, are not true bears -- turns out they are. And the Red Panda is not a true panda, begging the question of whether there are such things as pandas at all.😜

[@rskbug]

Stonehenge - the most overyhyped place on planet earth.

[@lemming9984]

...maybe the 'henge' but not the 'stone'.