New Research Suggests Seahenge Was Built for Ancient Climate Rituals

The Bronze Age structures in Norfolk, England, may have aimed to combat severe weather through symbolic practices involving the cuckoo bird.

Seahenge and its sister structure, Holme II, were constructed around 2049 BCE during a period of severe climatic deterioration.
The monuments feature an upturned tree root and split oak trunks, aligned with the summer solstice sunrise.
Researcher David Nance theorizes that the structures were meant to extend summer by 'capturing' the cuckoo, a symbol of fertility.
Holme II might have served as a site for ritual sacrifices to ensure cosmic harmony and agricultural fertility.
Both structures reflect early societies' attempts to mitigate the impacts of prolonged harsh winters and climate instability.