is orientated to the midsummer sunrise, and points 50° east of north
point. It leads uninterruptedly to the circular space formed by the
earth circle in which Stonehenge stands, the enclosing bank being
discontinued in this direction. It is noteworthy that the sun stone, as
well as the slaughter stone, are not placed in the centre of the avenue
or approach, but lie towards the eastern side of it. The avenue is made
by two parallel lines confining ditches, the earth having been thrown
inwards so as to slightly raise the roadway. These ditches, though
shallow, are distinct. The avenue thus formed descends the gradual
incline of the Down, until at about one thousand five hundred feet from
the sun stone the ditches become indistinguishable. Here the descent is
more rapid and leads to a gentle valley in the Down, where the avenue
divided into two branches. It is now impossible to trace this point of
division with any certainty.