I realize it's not YOUR article, but I think I have a few bones to pick with it.

archaeo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > "Professor Timothy Darvill, Head of the
> Archaeology Group at Bournemouth University, has
> breathed new life into the controversy surrounding
> the origins of Stonehenge by publishing a theory
> which suggests that the ancient monument was a
> source and centre for healing ..."

My recollection is that of those buried near it, there were no unusual pathologies in the remains that would suggest they'd been hauled there for a healing.


> “In the case of Stonehenge, I suggest that the
> presiding deity was a prehistoric equivalent of
> the Greek and Roman god of healing, Apollo.
> Although his main sanctuary was at Delphi in
> Greece, it is widely believed that he left Greece
> in the winter months to reside in the land of the
> Hyborians – usually taken to be Britain...."
>

I'm familiar with this, however, the Hyperborean connection is not as well established. The Greeks believed it to be north of Thrace (not northwest.) If it's related to the Greeks then there should be artifacts and other traces related to what they had at their own temples of healing.

Since it was in use for over a thousand years, this is a significant dearth of material.

It also doesn't take into account that it was built in stages from 2800-1800 BC. Surviving temples to Apollo aren't that old (around 500 BC, I think), so if there was any transferrence (unlikely, IMHO) there would be a transfer of the culture from the north (Hyperboreans) to the south (Greece.)

I don't think there are any similar artifacts in the two areas that could link them to each other at a particular date. Each culture has its own style of art, etc... where cultures meet and trade and exchange ideas we see exchange of cultural goods (pots, bowls, jewelry, etc) as well.

There was trade in tin, I know, but an article indicates that the Bell Beaker culture wasn't trading bronze into anywhere near Greece until 2500 BC. Apparently the European groups didn't move into Greece until 2000 BC (so there wasn't any connection there until 2000 BC or so) and the dominant culture is the Mycenaean Greeks and Minoans.
[community.middlebury.edu]

As far as I can tell, niether Minoans nor Myceneans worshipped Apollo (early):
[en.wikipedia.org]

So, I don't think the evidence fits.