If Stones Could Speak: Unlocking the Secrets of Stonehenge

As in his contributions to Scott Reynolds Nelson’s Ain’t Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry (2008), Aronson’s focus here is less on presenting the past as a tidy narrative than explaining how a cautious interpretation of historical—or in this case archaeological—clues can connect the dots in less-speculative ways. Aronson investigates the work of archaeologist Mike Parker Pearson and his controversial theory that Stonehenge is but one end of a memorial ritual pathway that would have had an equivalent wooden structure at the other end. Despite the challenges of looking for supporting evidence that would be at least as old as the Egyptian pyramids and that was left by a society with no written records, the painstaking digs of Pearson’s Riverside Project have turned up roadways, signs of a large prehistoric settlement, and insights into how some of the henges, mounds, and other ancient human works in the area might have been created and used. Aronson briefly mentions the 2009 discovery of an earlier stone circle (dubbed “Bluestonehenge”) nearby, sums up previous archaeological studies, and closes with an impassioned restatement of his theme—that fresh eyes can shed light on the deepest secrets of science. Time lines, resource lists, and photos of researchers at work add even more value to this informative, thought-provoking study. A uniquely perceptive look at how real science works, this covers a topic whose fascination derives in no small part from the interplay between the mysteries of the unknown and the excitement of new discovery.

Gr 5-8. This title is not just an examination of recent breakthroughs at Stonehenge, but rather an essay on the process of archaeology and a hopeful reminder to future archaeologists that all the great sites are not yet dug or fully understood. In 2005, the Riverside Project, led by Mike Parker Pearson, made several significant discoveries that placed Stonehenge within a much larger Neolithic complex. Pearson began with a hypothesis, suggested by a retired archaeologist from Madagascar, that, as in Madagascar, the stone of Stonehenge was to honor ancestors and the dead, and that there would be a sister complex made of wood for the living. This idea was radically different from the previously accepted theory of Stonehenge being used as a temple. The ongoing work of the Riverside Project has revised the long-accepted dates of when Stonehenge was built and found much to support Pearson's hypothesis. Aronson writes in a casual style and addresses readers directly, which effectively conveys the excitement of this research, although it does occasionally assume some background knowledge that seems unlikely. The story of how Pearson became involved in archaeology and came to work at Stonehenge gets nearly as much attention as the work currently being done there and underscores one of Aronson's central themes that we are constantly adding to our understanding of the past. Large, colorful photographs complement the text and several shots capture what archaeology-in-progress looks like. A useful, attractive, and highly readable book."Caroline Tesauro, Radford Public Library, VA" Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.