Thornborough Henges

 neolithic age, henge, bronze age

The Thornborough Henges are an unusual complex of three aligned henges near the village of Thornborough and close to the town of Masham in North Yorkshire, England. The henges are thought to have been part of a Neolithic and Bronze Age 'ritual landscape' comparable with Salisbury Plain and date from between 3500 and 2500 BC. This triple henge alignment has been called 'The Stonehenge of the North' and has been described by English Heritage as the most important ancient site between Stonehenge and the Orkneys.

The three henges are almost identical in size and composition, each having a diameter of approximately 240 metres and two large entrances situated directly opposite each other. The henges are located around 550m apart on an approximate northwest-southeast alignment, although there is a curious 'dogleg' in the layout which is similar to the 3 stars in Orions Belt. Altogether, the monument extends for more than a mile.