Pearson and his team undertook a huge project at and around Stonehenge spanning several years, some of this work was captured on the popular TV show 'Time Team'. Pearson developed a theory that Stonehenge's stone construction was specifically reflective of the site's purpose relating to the dead. This was inspired by Pearson's close colleague Ramilisonina with deep knowledge of stone traditions in Madagascar. This theory suggested that a nearby site at Durrington Wall, containing precursor structures made specifically from timber, was used as a a site for the living to help construct Stonehenge. Durrington Walls and Stonehenge, it is essentially argued, had a symbiotic 'the living and the dead' relationship and included that the river Avon was used to join the two sites.

Pearson and colleagues undertook excavations at Durrington Walls and uncovered evidence that supported their theory at an early stage. By 2005, the team had uncovered evidence for two timber circles, a very large Neolithic settlement and an area called 'the avenue'. This allowed the team to make a strong case for further funding to broaden the scope of the project.

Interestingly, Pearson describes the discovery of Sarsen chippings near to one of the timber circles and subsequently came to the view that there had been at least two enormous Sarsen stones at the Woodhenge which were laid in a formation similar to that seen at the famous site of Avebury.

Pearson also describes an intriguing similarity of house design between structures identified in Skara Brae, Orkney to the Woodhenge site in Wiltshire that appeared to follow a 'standard form', raising fascinating questions as to how this form may have been transmitted geographically.

That said, the use of Sarsens at the Woodhenge site at Durrington Walls may appear to test the original idea of the separation of the sites being along the symbolic lines of the living and the dead. Pearson also makes mention of 'lithification' (replacing wooden monuments with stone) as a potential explanation which appears contrary to the symbolic theory. An estimation for the deterioration of the timber posts is provided as around 60 years that might suggest the original purpose should not have been forgotten. Pearson's work is clearly extensive and detailed and the scales involved are truly vast.

Pearson's book succinctly titled, "Stonehenge" was first published in 2012. This can be purchased from Amazon by clicking on the book below:

The underlying theory proposed by Strachan is that Jesus visited Britain, likely with Joseph of Aramathea in the 1st Century.

The key basis for this idea centres around the Christian church built in Glastonbury. This serves as a reference point for Jesus and Joseph having visited and then perhaps having been influenced by megalithic architecture returning to Judea where a similar albeit linear megalithic structure was located in a geographic location bearing similar congruency to the geography in Britain.
Strachan points to the notion that the South-West via Amorica and Cornwall was an established trade route into first century Britain and that Christianity would in general logically ripple outwards from trade routes when transmitted by travelling Christians.

Strachan's theory is often considered speculative, is not widely accepted but remains intriguing on many levels. History teaches us that there have been weak theories that have later come to be accepted; the theory of continental drift is now commonly integrated into tectonics.

However, the foundation of the theory appears to require an acceptance that it is not possible to disprove it and that the emergence of historical references to a visit in the 1st century that only emerged in medieval times could be attributed to reliable oral transmission passed down over the centuries whilst hidden from common view.

Aspects that promote intrigue are interactions the Strachan suggests Jesus may have had with the Druid class in Britain. The author describes druids as key to the education system at the time.

As a rigorous academic, Mike Parker Pearson would likely be interested in the conflation of druids with Stonehenge in general. Pearson also explains that Druids were religious persons named as such by Romans in Britain in the century prior to Christ. Druids were considered important figures but the role they performed within society points to a belief in multiple gods and that they held religious authority that might be considered inconsistent with a peer like or collegiate relationship with Jesus.

That of course does not mean Jesus could not have directly enjoyed the creations of the Neolithic as the older works of god through human hands thousands of years prior.

Strachan's fascinating book titled, "Jesus the Master Builder: Druid Mysteries and the Dawn of Christianity" was first published in 1998. This can be purchased from Amazon by clicking on the book below: