In 1998 archaeologists were made aware of a timber structure that had been uncovered by erosion of sands and peat deposits on the beach, near the village of Holme-next-the-Sea in northwest Norfolk, England (Figure 1). The local press quickly named the site "Seahenge" after the famous Stonehenge. Although it is not a henge nor was it originally constructed close to the sea, the name has stuck.

Seahenge consisted of an ellipse of some fifty-five large oak posts surrounding a huge oak tree-trunk stuck upside-down in the ground. Archaeological evaluation in the autumn of 1998 showed that it dated from the Bronze Age, and was under serious threat from erosion. The timbers had been erected under freshwater conditions and subsequently sealed by freshwater peat, but encroachment of the sea had resulted in the removal of this protective covering. This had left the wood exposed to marine salts, attack from wood-boring mollusks, twice-daily alternate immersion and drying leading to stress in the organic structure, abrasion, accidental damage, and risks of loss due to storms.

Following discussion with the landowner, local agencies, and the local authority, (1) it was decided to excavate the structure and remove the timbers for conservation. Public and media interest was intense from the outset, some of it vocal in criticizing a lack of public consultation prior to the decision to excavate, criticism which led to occasional protests during the course of the excavation.

In the spring and summer of 1999, a technically difficult operation not only successfully removed all the timbers and made such discoveries as a knotted rope made of honeysuckle, but revealed the number of trees used in construction, the numbers and types of axes used to trim the timbers, and the how the posts were erected. It was also possible to date the felling of the timbers most probably to the spring or early summer of 2049 BCE. (2)

On lifting the central upturned stump, it was hoped that items would be unearthed that would help to answer the question: "why were the timbers erected?" Unfortunately, neither human remains nor personal belongings were discovered. As a result, many and varied interpretations of the site have been proposed. The most frequently voiced theory among archaeologists relates to the skyward-pointing roots of the central oak as an excarnation platform, with the enclosed circle offering privacy for the deceased.

Other interpretations have been built around the placing of certain key timbers. Within the elliptical surround, only one half-split timber was positioned with its cut side outermost, placed opposite a distinctive forked timber. These features,...