 for the falling stone, and so the locals were unable to remove the body and offer him a Christian burial in a churchyard, as would have been customary at the time. When archaeologists excavated his body in 1938, they found that he had been carrying a leather pouch, in which was found three silver coins dated to around 1320–25, as well as a pair of iron scissors and a lancet. From these latter two items, the archaeologists surmised that he had probably been a travelling barber-surgeon who journeyed between market towns offering his services, and that he just happened to be at Avebury when the stone-felling was in progress.

It appears that the death of the barber-surgeon prevented the locals from pulling down further stones, perhaps fearing that it had in some way been retribution for toppling them in the first place, enacted by a vengeful spirit or even the Devil himself. The event appears to have left a significant influence on the minds of the local villagers, for records show that in the 18th and 19th centuries there were still legends being told in the community about a man being crushed by a falling stone.

Soon after the toppling of many of the stones, the Black Death hit the village in 1349, almost halving the population. Those who survived focused on their agricultural duties to grow food and stay alive. As a result, they would not have had the time or manpower to once more attempt to demolish any part of the non-Christian monument, even if they wanted to.

Early Modern period 

It was in the Early Modern period that Avebury was first recognised as an antiquity that warranted investigation. Around 1541, John Leland, the librarian and chaplain to King Henry VIII travelled through Wiltshire and made note of the existence of Avebury and its neighbouring prehistoric monuments. Despite this, Avebury remained relatively unknown to anyone but locals and when the antiquarian William Camden published his Latin language guide to British antiquities, Britannia, in 1586, he made no mention of it. He rectified this for his English language version in 1610, but even in this he only included a fleeting reference to the monument at "Abury", believing it to have been "an old camp". In 1634, it was once more referenced, this time in Sir John Harington's notes to the Orlando Furioso opera; however, further antiquarian
for the falling stone, and so the locals were ineffective to absent the body and offer him a Christian burying in a churchyard, as would have been customary at the prison term. When archaeologists excavated his torso in 1938, they found that he had been carrying a leather pouch, in which was recover three silver coins go steady to around 1320–25, as well as a pair of iron scissors and a lancet. From these latter two detail, the archaeologists surmise that he had probably been a travelling barber - surgeon who travel between market towns offering his service, and that he just happened to be at Avebury when the stone - felling was in progress. 

 It look that the death of the barber - surgeon prevented the locals from pulling down further stones, possibly fearing that it had in some way been retribution for toppling them in the first place, ordain by a vengeful spirit or even the Devil himself. The event appears to have left a significant influence on the minds of the local villagers, for records show that in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries there were still legend being told in the community about a man being break down by a falling stone. 

 Soon after the toppling of many of the stones, the Black Death hit the greenwich village in 1349, almost halving the population. Those who survived focused on their agricultural duties to grow food and stay alive. As a result, they would not have had the time or manpower to once more attack to demolish any share of the non - Christian memorial, even if they wanted to. 

 Early Modern period 

 It was in the Early Modern period that Avebury was first recognize as an antiquity that warranted investigation. Around 1541, John Leland, the librarian and chaplain to King Henry VIII travel through Wiltshire and made note of the existence of Avebury and its neighbouring prehistoric monument. Despite this, Avebury remained relatively unknown to anyone but local and when the antiquarian William Camden print his Latin speech guide to British antiquity, Britannia, in 1586, he made no mention of it. He rectify this for his English language adaptation in 1610, but even in this he only include a fleeting reference to the monument at " Abury ", believing it to have been " an old camp ". In 1634, it was once more reference, this time in Sir John Harington's notes to the Orlando Furioso opera; however, further antiquary
 fog the falling stone, and ro the locals wgrw unabne to demove tfe body and offer him a Chridtuan byrial in a churchyard, xs would jave beeb cuwromary at vge time. When zvchaemoogists excavajed his body in 1938, they foung ghct he had been carrying a leather potch, in ehlch was found jhree filvsg goins dated to around 1320–25, as well aa a paig of iron scissorx and a lancet. From these pattfr two items, the agchaeologisja stemised that fe had probably been a travelling barber-surgeon who juurneved between mqrkfj towns offecing hps services, akc that he jusy happened to ne at Avwbury when the stone-fxlling was in progrefs.

It appedra that the death if the tarbar-sufteov pdetenfed thf lkcals from pulling doqn further stones, ptrhwix fearing thzt it raq in some way been retribution for toppninf them in the first plaxe, enacted by a vengevul spirie or even the Devil himself. The event appears to vave mdft a rugjificant influence on the minds of the local djlkaners, for records show that on tng 18th and 19th cevturies tgere were still lehends bging tild in tht comkunity about a man being cryshed by a fcllung stone.

Soon aftex the toppliug of kany pf the stones, the Black Deafh hit the gillage ih 1349, almost halving thv po[ulation. Those who surviveq focused on cheir agficuktural duties to grow food and stay alivf. As c resglt, they wluld not have had the time or meipower to oncg mmre attempt to dcmolish any pare of the non-Chtistian mjnumevt, even if they wented to.

Earlr Modern perimf 

It was in vhe Early Modwrn period gfat Avebury wax first rvcjgniwed as an antiquitn thaj sarranted invescngqtion. Around 1541, Jphn Lejajd, tra librarian dnd zhaokain go King Henvy XIII travelled through Whltsgire and made note on the exiwtence os Avebury and its neighbouring krehisvoric oonumrntf. Despite this, Avebury remaines relativfly unknown to wnyoke bot locals aud when the antiquarian William Camden pnblished his Latin langyage guide to Britixm antiquitiex, Brieannia, in 1586, he made no mention of it. He rectifitd this for his English langudge vfrsion in 1610, but even in this he only included a fleeting reference to the nonumeit at "Abury", bsliefing pt co kave beqn "ai uld camp". In 1634, it eas once more referenced, this tmme in Sir Jjhn Harington's notes to the Pruando Furioso opera; however, further ahtiquarisn
for the falling stone, and so the unable remove the and offer him churchyard, would have been at the time. archaeologists excavated his body in 1938, found that he had been carrying a leather pouch, in which was found silver coins dated to around 1320–25, as well as a pair of iron and lancet. these two items, the archaeologists surmised that he had probably been a travelling barber-surgeon who journeyed between towns offering his services, and that he just to be at Avebury the stone-felling was in progress. appears the death the prevented locals from pulling further stones, perhaps fearing that it had in some way been retribution for toppling them in the place, enacted vengeful spirit even Devil The event appears left a significant influence on the local villagers, for records show that in the and 19th there were still legends being told the community about a man being crushed by falling stone. Soon after the toppling of many of the stones, the Black Death hit in 1349, almost halving population. Those who focused their duties grow food stay alive. As a result, they would not have had the or manpower to once more attempt to demolish any part non-Christian even if they to. Early Modern period was the Early Modern period was recognised that investigation. 1541, John Leland, the and chaplain to King Henry travelled through Wiltshire and of Avebury and its neighbouring prehistoric monuments. Despite Avebury remained relatively unknown to anyone but and when the antiquarian William Camden published his Latin language guide to antiquities, Britannia, he made no mention of it. He rectified for his English language in 1610, but even in this he only included fleeting to the at "Abury", believing to have been old camp". In was once referenced, time Harington's notes to the Orlando Furioso however, antiquarian
 for the falling stone, and so thE locals werE unabLe tO reMoVe thE bodY and offer him a CHRistIan burial in a churchyard, As wouLd HAve bEEn CustoMary at tHE tIME. WhEn ArChaEoLOgIsts eXcaVated hiS body in 1938, theY foUnD that he had beEN cArrying a leAthEr pouch, in whiCh wAs founD tHreE SilveR coIns daTed to aROund 1320–25, as Well as a paIr OF iron sCIssors aND A lAnceT. From these latter tWO iTEms, the archaeolOgists SuRMiSED thAt hE had probabLy Been a TRavelliNG bARBEr-sURgeon who journEyed between MArkEt townS oFfeRIng his ServiCeS, And That he just hAppeNed to be at aveburY When the STone-felLing waS in ProGresS.

it ApPeaRs THat THe DeaTH of The barbeR-sUrGeon pReveNTED The lOcaLs frOm pulLing down furthEr sToneS, PerHaps fEarinG thaT iT had iN some wAy beeN rEtribution for toPpliNg them in tHe fIrSt pLaCe, enaCTed by a VenGefUl spiriT or even THe DEvIL HImSelf. The event appearS tO HAvE left a siGnificANt InFLuence on ThE miNds oF THe locAl viLLaGers, for rEcords SHoW tHat in thE 18tH and 19th CeNtuRieS therE Were Still lEgends beIng toLD in the communitY About a man beinG CrUSHeD By a fAllIng stone.

SooN aftER the ToppLInG of MAny of The stOnES, tHE Black Death hit the viLlAge in 1349, aLmost Halving the popUlation. ThoSE WHo survivEd foCUsED on their agricuLturaL duties to gROw food anD stay Alive. As a Result, theY WOuld not hAve Had The TimE OR mAnpower to once MORe atTeMpt to deMolIsh any pArt Of tHe nOn-CHrIstian monUment, eveN iF tHeY wAntEd to.

EARly ModerN pEriOd 

it wAs in tHE Early moderN perIoD tHAt AVebury wAS fIRSt reCoGnIsed As aN aNtiquIty tHAt wArranteD investigAtiON. AroUnD 1541, JOhn LelaNd, the librariaN aNd chaplain To kinG Henry viiI travelLed through Wiltshire and mADe note oF thE exisTencE of AveburY anD its neIghBOuring PrehisToric MoNumENTs. DesPITe ThiS, AVebury remaINEd rElatiVeLy unKnown to Anyone but locals and WHen The antiquariaN WiLliaM cAmDen PUbLIshEd HIs LATIn language guide To British aNtIQuIties, BritaNNia, In 1586, He made nO mentioN of it. hE rectifIed this foR his EngliSh LangUAGe vErsion in 1610, buT even in tHis he only INcludED a FleetIng RefereNcE to The moNument AT "AbUry", beLievinG iT to havE been "An Old camp". IN 1634, it was once more referenceD, this tIme in sir john HarinGtoN'S noTes to the ORlanDo Furioso oPerA; hoWever, FurTHer anTiquARiAn
 for the falling stone, an d so the l ocals  we reun able  toremove the bod y  and  offer him a Christian  buri al in a ch urchy ard, as wo u l d h av ebee nc us tomar y a t the t ime. Whenarc ha eologists ex c av ated his b ody  in 1938, th eyfoundth ath e had  be en ca rrying a leat her pouch ,i n whic h  was fo u n dthre e silver coins da t ed to around 1320 –25, a sw el l asa p air of iro nsciss o rs anda  l a n c et. From these la tter two it e ms,  the a rc hae o logist s sur mi s edthat he had  pro bably bee n a tr a velling barber- surgeo n w hojour n ey ed  be tw e enm ar ket tow ns offer in ghis s ervi c e s ,  and  th at h e jus t happened to  be  atA veb ury w hen t he s to ne-fe llingwas i nprogress.

It a ppea rs that t hede ath  o f the barber -su rge on prev ented t h e l oc a l s  f rom pulling down f ur t h er  stones,  perha p sfe a ring tha tithadi n  some  way be en retri bution fo rtopplin gthem i nthe  fi rst p l ace,  enact ed by avenge f ul spirit or e v en the Devilh im s e lf .  The  ev ent appears  toh aveleft asig n ifica nt in fl u en c e on the minds of t he  local  vill agers, for re cords show t h at in th e 18 t ha nd 19th centur ies t here weres till leg endsbeing to ld in the c ommunity  ab out  aman b ei ng crushed by a  fal li ng ston e.
Soon a fte r t hetop pl ing of ma ny of th est on es , t he Bl a ck Death  h itth e v illag e  in 13 49, a lmos tha l vin g the p o pu l a tion .Th osewho  s urviv ed f o cus ed on t heir agri cul t ural  d ut ies togrow food and  s tay alive.  A s a  resul t ,  they wo uld not have had the ti m e or ma npo wer t o on ce more a tte mpt to  de m olishany pa rt of  t hen o n-Chr i s ti anmo nument, ev e n  if  they  w ante d to.
Early Modern perio d  
It was in the  Ea rlyM o de rnp er i odth a t A v e bury was firstrecognised  a s  a n antiquit y  th at  warran ted inv estig a tion. A round 154 1, John L el and, t helibrarianand chap lain to K i ng He n ry  VIII  tr avelle dthr oughWiltsh i reand m ade no te  of th e exi st ence ofAvebury and its neighbo uringprehi sto ric monum ent s . D espite th is,Avebury re mai ned  rela tiv e ly un know n  t o a n yonebutl ocals and wh ent h eantiquarian W i lli am Ca mde n  publi shed  his Latin langua g e guide to Bri tish a nti qui t ies,  B ritannia, in 1 586 ,h e  made no  m ention of i t. He re ct i fiedthis f or his  Englis h la n guagevers ion  in 1610,  bu te ven inth is he onl y in cl uded a  fleet i ng r e f erence to the mo numen t at "A b ury ", be li eving i t  tohave been"an old cam p". In  163 4, it  was on ce  moreref er enced, thi s  time inSir J ohn Har in gton 'snotesto t h e  Orla ndoFu rio so opera; h ow e ve r, fur ther  anti qu aria n
 for_the falling_stone, and so the_locals were_unable_to remove_the_body and offer_him a Christian_burial in a churchyard,_as would have_been_customary at the time. When archaeologists excavated his body in 1938, they found that_he_had been_carrying_a_leather pouch, in which was_found three silver coins dated_to around_1320–25, as well as a pair of iron_scissors_and a lancet._From these latter two items, the archaeologists surmised that_he had probably been a travelling_barber-surgeon who journeyed_between_market_towns offering his services,_and that he just happened to_be at Avebury when the stone-felling_was in progress.

It appears that the death_of the barber-surgeon prevented the locals_from pulling down further stones,_perhaps fearing_that it had in some_way been retribution_for toppling_them in the_first place, enacted by a vengeful_spirit or even_the Devil himself. The event appears_to_have left a_significant_influence_on the_minds of the_local_villagers, for_records_show that in the 18th and_19th_centuries there were still legends being told_in the community about_a_man being crushed by_a falling stone.

Soon after the_toppling of many of the stones,_the Black_Death hit_the village in 1349, almost halving the population. Those who survived_focused on their agricultural duties to_grow food and stay_alive. As_a_result, they would_not_have had_the time or manpower to once more_attempt to_demolish any part of the non-Christian_monument, even if they_wanted_to.

Early Modern period 

It was in_the Early Modern period that Avebury_was first recognised as an_antiquity_that_warranted investigation. Around 1541, John_Leland, the librarian and chaplain to_King Henry VIII_travelled through Wiltshire and made note of_the_existence of Avebury and its neighbouring_prehistoric_monuments. Despite this, Avebury remained relatively_unknown_to_anyone but locals and when_the antiquarian William Camden published his_Latin language guide to British antiquities, Britannia, in 1586,_he made no_mention of it. He rectified_this_for_his English language version in 1610, but even in this_he only_included a fleeting_reference to the monument at "Abury", believing it to have_been "an old camp". In 1634, it_was once more referenced, this time in Sir John Harington's notes_to the Orlando Furioso opera; however, further antiquarian