Adam Thorpe is a novelist and poet, whose books include the ground-breaking Ulverton.

Written by two experts with unrivalled information and knowledge of Silbury Hill, and combining scholarly research and readable narrative, this book sets out the archaeological story of Silbury: from an early recognition of its importance to antiquarian and archaeological investigations of the hill. The book describes each event, setting it within its own historical and political context; the story of the monument is juxtaposed with the enigmatic and eccentric characters of the time. The collapse on the summit in 2000, leading to the opening of the hill's famous tunnel in 2007 to much media fanfare, is covered. For the first time the results of the recent work are set out in detail, describing early activity on the site, the origins of the monument and the construction techniques used. Numerous new and vivid reconstruction drawings present a unique interpretation of this iconic prehistoric monument. The book also describes how the monument was seen and used by later communities, from the Roman small town that grew up around the hill - the inhabitants quite literally living in its shadow - to medieval buildings on the summit. The final chapter discusses what Silbury means to people today: its power and spirituality for locals, visitors, New Agers and Druids alike.

Silbury Hill is an enormous earthen mound that is situated in the heart of the Marlborough Downs, and set today within the Avebury World Heritage Site. This academic monograph will provide a full account of the recent archaeological investigations.

Silbury, the biggest mystery in prehistoric Britain, here solved and enhanced

Avebury in Wiltshire is best known as the world's largest stone circle, but surrounding it is a wealth of ancient monuments. Captivated by its unique atmosphere, many visitors form a personal, often spiritual, connection to Avebury and its 'sacred landscape'. What was it that first attracted people to the Avebury area more than 5,000 years ago?Beautifully illustrated with over 400 photographs, maps and diagrams, Exploring Avebury invites us on a journey of discovery. For the first time the importance of water, light and sound is revealed, and we begin to see Avebury through the eyes of those who built it.

"Avebury parish in Wiltshire contains the most amazing collection of Stone Age monuments to be found anywhere in the world. Taking into account recent discoveries, this new edition of Michael Dames's acclaimed study explores the mystery of the Avebury monuments and reveals their collective purpose. Making skillful use of archaeology, ethnography, and folklore, Dames argues that the monuments were key elements in the worship of the Great Goddess, each representing a different aspect of the annual fertility cycle corresponding to the chronological year"--Back cover.

First published in 1992, a novel whose various voices describe the waxing and waning of history, of the land, and of the ways in which society regards itself and the world it disposes of. From the author of Mornings in the Baltic and Pieces of Light.

A newly ancient vision of the English landscape from one of its most revered mythographers. In an age of ecological turbulence, our understanding of the hills, rivers and fields we live among is more critical than ever. But what might the academic study of geography fail to teach us, and what relationships to the land might be revealed by reinvestigating the neglected knowledge practices of myth, history and legend? Michael Dames sets out to reconnect with the hallowed landscapes of Britain and Ireland, and finds them populated by ancient goddesses, strange rites, and embedded energies. As he voyages beneath the Neolithic immensity of Silbury Hill, past the chalk horses of Uffington, and the ravaged cliffs of Land's End peninsular, Dames meets a wild community of holy cows, industrious bees, Sheila-na- Gigs, and Salmon women, channeling the peculiar folk tales they have to tell. Presented as a series of insightful and lyrical vignettes beautifully illustrated by artist Natalie Kay-Thatcher, each chapter of this far-roaming book conducts a pilgrimage along the tracks and byways of dimly remembered lore, renewing connections with customs that underscore our relationship to the lands we inhabit. It offers a pagan's progress towards re-enchanting and deepening our sense of belonging to a landscape both strange and sacred.