Authenticity, Artifice and the Druidical Temple of Avebury (Chapter 5)

William Stukeley's 1743 work, Abury: A Temple of the British Druids, has significantly influenced perceptions of Avebury and shaped authenticity claims about the site. This study reveals how Stukeley’s text transitioned from being seen as a primary record to a constructional blueprint and eventually an unassailable authority on Avebury. The research demonstrates that Abury acted as a material agent, around which various groups—scholars, artists, and religious communities—constructed competing narratives of authenticity. By analyzing the reception history of Stukeley’s work, the study highlights its enduring impact on interpretations of Avebury’s significance.

Gillings, M., & Pollard, J. (2014). 5. Authenticity, Artifice and the Druidical Temple of Avebury. Landscape Biographies, 117–142. https://doi.org/10.1515/9789048517800-007