In ancient, pre-literate cultures across the globe, tribal elders had encyclopedic memories. They could name all the animals and plants across a landscape, identify the stars in the sky and recite the history of their people. Yet today, most of us struggle to memorize more than a short poem.

Using traditional Aboriginal Australian song lines as a starting point, Lynne Kelly has since identified the powerful memory technique used by our ancestors and indigenous people around the world. In turn, she has then discovered that this ancient memory technique is the secret purpose behind the great prehistoric monuments like Stonehenge, which have puzzled archaeologists for so long.

The stone circles across Britain and northern Europe, the elaborate stone houses of New Mexico, huge animal shapes in Peru, the statues of Easter Island - these all serve as the most effective memory system ever invented by humans. They allowed people in non-literate cultures to memorize the vast amounts of information they needed to survive. But how?

For the first time, Lynne Kelly reveals the purpose of these monuments and their uses as 'memory places', and shows how we can use this ancient technique to train our minds.

About the Author
Dr Lynne Kelly is a science writer and an Honorary Research Associate at La Trobe University.

Reviews
Dr Kelly has developed an intriguing and highly original account of the purpose of Stonehenge, Avebury and other stone monuments; the depth and breadth of her research, and the experimental experience she has brought to her study, command respect and invite serious attention. -- Ros Cleal, author of STONEHENGE IN ITS LANDSCAPE
This is an exquisite thesis. Dr Lynne Kelly provides a perfectly rational explanation of ancient monuments as "memory spaces" where non-literate man could memorise pragmatic knowledge crucial to survival. -- Dominic O'Brien, World Memory Champion
Takes the reader on a fascinating journey into the past and around the world... An engaging and exciting read. -- Iain Davidson, Emeritus Professor, University of New England



Book Information
ISBN 9781782399056
Author Dr Lynne Kelly
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Atlantic Books
Publisher Atlantic Books
Weight(grams) 723g
Dimensions(mm) 242mm * 163mm * 32mm