author
William Stukeley
1687–1765
A vivid early explorer of Britain’s ancient past, this 18th-century antiquary helped turn Stonehenge and Avebury into subjects of serious study. He was also a physician and Anglican clergyman whose curiosity ranged from fieldwork and history to biography and natural philosophy.
5 Audiobooks
Abury, A Temple of the British Druids, With Some Others, Described
by William Stukeley
The Philosophy of Earthquakes, Natural and Religious or, An Inquiry Into Their Cause, and Their Purpose
by William Stukeley
Stonehenge, a Temple Restor'd to the British Druids
by William Stukeley
About the author
Born in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, in 1687, William Stukeley studied at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, trained as a physician, and later became an Anglican clergyman. He is best remembered as one of the earliest serious investigators of Britain’s prehistoric monuments, especially Stonehenge and Avebury, which he visited, measured, drew, and described in unusual detail for his time.
Stukeley’s books and illustrations preserved valuable evidence, including features that were later damaged or lost, and they helped shape the later development of archaeology. He also served as the first secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of London and wrote on a wide range of subjects, including Roman Britain and the life of Isaac Newton.
Some of his interpretations now seem speculative, especially his efforts to connect ancient stone circles with the Druids. Even so, his mixture of careful observation, energetic travel, and imaginative thinking made him a distinctive figure in the history of archaeology. He died in London in 1765.