Via Ancient Origins.."Neolithic 'Woodhenge' Discovered at Perdigoes Complex Portugal"
I'm trying to separate the sensationalism and novelty of media blitzes from the actual sensational and new discoveries. I've followed Perdigoes (Per-dig-gwah) for quite a while (sidebar), but not quite sure how much is new news.
What is clear is that Perdigoes began as a Neolithic structure, probably a religious center, and then of course in the Beaker Age is appropriated or re-organized toward new customs. According to the Daily Mail article, the piling of timbers in a henge is more directly linked to the Beaker era, although it may not yet be clear if this was done by cultural Beakers or by people who hated Beakers. Certainly the Beaker culture became prominent at this site, towards its end.
What is clear, as stated by Antonio Valera in the articles, is that these structures must have been built with some sort of intense communication, I might say even a common religion.
*update* So yes, it looks like there are another two outer circles of palisades, or weirdly almost like peiring. Exactly what that looked like in Britain isn't know. Most see them as kinds of primitive totems that are just piled into the ground in circular format. A bunch of people with crazy eyes holding snakes.
Some see them as remnants of more sophisticated structures, perhaps piles for decking, seating or roofing. Wouldn't it be messed up if the whole damn thing was a Neolithic/Bronze Age rodeo?
See also:
"Ritualized Ball Games in the Neolithic"
