Britain's 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 twenty-first
century. In this ambitious and thoroughly up-to-date 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 well-known sacred sites--Stonehenge, Avebury, Seahenge,
Maiden Castle, Anglesey--as 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 Britain's deep past and inspires with the originality
of his insights.