Researchers at Bournemouth University (BU) have spent an entire year exploring the moon’s position in the sky and its connection to the architecture of Stonehenge during a unique period that only occurs every 18.6 years, called a ‘Major Lunar Standstill.’
English Heritage who manages Stonehenge have given Bournemouth University exclusive access to the stones to study this unique astrological phenomenon along with other academics from Oxford University, the University of Leicester, and the Royal Astronomical Society.
A Major Lunar Standstill happens when the moon's position can be viewed in the northernmost and southernmost positions. During this time, the moon is seen rising above the horizon in one position and setting below the horizon in another, with these positions at their furthest apart along the horizon. The phenomenon can be explained in the following YouTube video.
The study which began in the Spring of 2024 has involved a series of investigations to research the alignment of the stones with the moonrise and moonset during this time.
Dr Fabio Silva, Deputy Head of the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology at Bournemouth University and Co-Founder and Managing Editor of the 'Journal of Skyscape Archaeology' said, “We already know that the architecture of Stonehenge is one of the earliest examples of prehistoric people investigating and documenting the position of the sun. This year we have a rare opportunity to investigate a Major Lunar Standstill and understand whether the architecture of the stones was also influenced by those early humans observing the positions of the moon.”
Bournemouth University postgraduate archaeology researchers and undergraduate archaeology students visited Stonehenge throughout 2024 to document the moonrises and moonsets at key moments in the year when the moon can be seen in alignment with the Station Stones. Dr Fabio Silva said: “During our investigation we were able to visit the site at various times of the day and night throughout 2024 to see the moon at different phases. We were able to observe the moon during its crescent moon phase and full moon phase in relation to the position of the Station Stones.”
Natasha Crocker-Horn, a BU Mres (Master of Research) student, who helped with the research said: “It was a great opportunity to be part of the research of the moon at Stonehenge and see the stones up close. It was also rewarding to pass on some of our knowledge to members of the public at the events we held at the Visitor Centre and to inspire the next generation of archaeologists.”
As part of the study BU have been involved in a series of events throughout 2024 starting with a livestream of the 2024 Major Lunar Standstill at Stonehenge in the Summer where viewers from around the world could witness the phenomenon on English Heritage’s YouTube channel.
At the end of October BU’s academics and students were on hand to help take part in the ‘Moon and Megaliths at the Stonehenge Planetarium’ event which took place during the half-term period at English Heritage’s Stonehenge Visitor Centre. Over nine days, 3,000 visitors enjoyed an inflatable planetarium pop-up display which ran 30-minute shows introducing visitors to skyscape archaeology. This included solar and lunar alignments as they would have been seen by people as far back as 2500BC.
Over 10,000 visitors got to interact with BU’s undergraduate students and post-graduate researchers, who helped answer questions from younger members of the audience at the ‘Foamhenge’ installation, a foam replica of what Stonehenge looked like 5000 years ago. Children had the opportunity to dress up as either the moon or the sun and have their photos taken at the installation.
The BU research team will continue to observe the stones into 2025 to capture a full year of research. They hope to publish the data they have found later on in the year to help understand the relationship between the landscape, stones and the moon.
For further information about BU's Archaeology courses, please visit the BU website.
