25 
at its first publication to present a theory like this in an 
absolutely perfect state. I will only say that I think that originally 
the four stars, to which the outlying stones and mounds pointed, 
were observed from stations slightly different from those I 
have hitherto considered. I think two of the four stars first used 
were not stars mentioned in this paper, and I think all the four 
stars were observed from the East edges of No. 51, and of No. 
60, also that after a time the stars being observed to have shifted, 
the observers shifted their stations, and the huge cantle or 
triangular piece was cut off from the lower portion of No. 5 
to enable the alignment to be obtained from the South stone ; 
and the stations whence they were observed were shifted in or 
about the year B.c. 891. 
Whether the date of Stonehenge be ultimately fixed at 
900 or at 1,000 years B.c., is a matter of comparatively small 
importance. What is of consequence is that we should recognise 
that Stonehenge was built about nine or ten hundred years B.C., 
and not 700 A.D., as many writers would have us believe. For 
instance, Dr. W. M. Flinders Petrie, in his book ‘‘ Stonehenge,” 
1880, states his opinion that it was erected aD, 700 + 200, that 
is between A.D. 500 and 900. In his chapter, “ Midsummer 
Sunrise,” he gives the data on which his opinion is founded. But 
with regret 1 have to acknowledge that I cannot understand these 
data, and as I do not know what the Azimuths he uses refer 
to, I cannot discuss the date to which they have led him. 
The date of Stonehenge will be of great interest if there shall 
be found at Avebury remains sufficiently perfect to enable us 
to determine astronomically the date when that monument was 
erected. For it cannot but be interesting to ascertain when the 
two cults—that of the Sun, pure and simple, as exemplified in 
the original Temple at Stonehenge, and the cult of the Sun in 
connection with the Serpent, as exhibited at Avebury— 
respectively prevailed in this country. 
