Seahenge - ancient wooden circle Please Note: The Seahenge timbers are now being conserved in Portsmouth by the Mary Rose Trust
to ensure that they will be preserved for the future.
In the Spring of 1998 a circle of prehistoric timbers, exposed by the receding tide, was found projecting from the sands at Holme-next-the-Sea in Norfolk. The site, soon to become known as 'Seahenge', would prove to be the most remarkable controversial and highly publicised archaeological find in Britain for many years.
What is Seahenge?Seahenge is a unique early Bronze Age timber circle with an upside down oak tree stump at its centre.
The oak stump, with its roots in the air, was first spotted in spring 1998. As the sea eroded the land, a complete circle of timber posts gradually became visible around it.
The findings were reported to the Castle Museum in Norwich, who passed the news to the Norfolk Archaeology Unit, who were fascinated to know what had been found.
The local environmentIn January 1999 a marvelously evocative photograph of the circle appeared on the front page of The Independent. Thousands of people headed for the beach at Holme.
This caused problems as the beach is part of the Holme Dunes National Nature Reserve, one of the most important sites in Britain and Europe for over-wintering birds. It is a vital refuge in particular for Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plovers and Knot. Virtually the entire migratory population of Knot - 220,000 birds – were recorded in Holme one November.
Crowds of visitors to Seahenge were a potential threat to the safety of the birds – an issue often overlooked by the press.