Pagan Britain

Britains pagan past, with its mysterious monuments, atmospheric sites, enigmatic artifacts, bloodthirsty legends, and cryptic inscriptions, is both enthralling and perplexing to a resident of the twentyfirst century. In this ambitious and thoroughly uptodate book, Ronald Hutton reveals the long development, rapid suppression, and enduring cultural significance of paganism, from the Paleolithic era to the coming of Christianity. He draws on an array of recently discovered evidence and shows how new findings have radically transformed understandings of belief and ritual in Britain before the arrival of organized religion.Setting forth a chronological narrative, along the way Hutton makes side visits to explore specific locations of ancient pagan activity. He includes the wellknown sacred sitesStonehenge, Avebury, Seahenge, Maiden Castle, Angleseyas well as more obscure locations across the mainland and coastal islands. In tireless pursuit of the elusive why of pagan behavior, Hutton astonishes with the breadth of his understanding of Britains deep past and inspires with the originality of his insights.