Indiana Jones: Myth, Reality And 21st Century Archaeology

Stonehenge remains a source of endless fascination for archaeologists and the general public. The most compelling interpretations have been a maze of fact and, more commonly, speculation and intrigue. The astronomical aspects of the site are typically cited in elaborate explanations of the advanced achievements of the unique Neolithic populations that descended upon the Salisbury Plain after 3000 B.C. Recent advances in research suggest that the site’s surface manifestation, the Megaliths, represent a more evolutionary pathway that follows its function as a ceremonial burial ground, and earlier, as a habitation site. Today’s guest, Dr. Mike Parker Pearson, is the Principal Investigator of Stonehenge Riverside Project. Our interview explores how our concepts of Stonehenge have evolved in response to changing theories of cultural evolution and how the recently exposed material cultural record reflects an increased understanding of Neolithic adaptations to landscape and geography.