Many years ago 'henge monuments' were identified as a distinctive kind of prehistoric monument but their interpretation still poses problems. When were they first built and how long did they remain important? How were they used and did their roles change during the course of their history? The results of excavations at Broomend of Crichie in Aberdeenshire, Pullyhour in Caithness and Migdale and Lairg in Sutherland are brought together in a new account of the henge monuments of Northern Britain, which places a special emphasis on their distinctive character and their extended history.