Remains of 4,500-year-old sauna discovered

[Still Waters]

The remains of a 4,500-year-old sauna have been discovered by archaeologists excavating a Stone Age temple.

They unearthed the foundations of the building at Marden Henge, near Devizes in Wiltshire.

Located close to the River Avon, the neolithic ‘sauna’ was in a key position overlooking a ceremonial area at the site.

English Heritage’s Jim Leary said: ‘The building brings to mind the sweat lodges of the native North Americans and the reason for that sauna or sweat lodge interpretation is that the floor plan was utterly dominated by a large hearth – so large in fact there does not appear to be any space for living, cooking or doing anything much at all.

‘It is also located very close to the River Avon and would have had a ready source of water, which is a necessary criteria for a sweat lodge.

‘If it was a sweat lodge then perhaps one could envisage it being used for purification ceremonies within the henge.

‘Unfortunately we’ll never know exactly what it was for – that’s the nature of archaeology.’

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[UFO_Monster]

Perhaps they thought it felt nice and decided to use it to their advantage?

[tipotep]

Why have this in the title....

The remains of a 4,500-year-old sauna have been discovered by archaeologists excavating a Stone Age temple.

and then .....

Unfortunately well never know exactly what it was for thats the nature of archaeology.

Faulty advertising i say , why not say that they have found a structure that COULD be an early example of a sauna

TiP.

Edited March 1, 2011 by tipotep