What is Stonehenge?
Stonehenge is a very large man-made stone circle. This monument was built by our ancestors for centuries, thousands of years ago. This is one of the most iconic prehistoric landmarks in the world, and also one of the biggest mysteries that has not been solved yet.
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| By Caskination - Source: Wikimedia Commons |
Where is Stonehenge?
This famous monument is located in the
Salisbury plains in Wiltshire, England. A distance of 8 miles from Salisbury,
and is located not far from Amesbury Bypass (A303) on the left side of the road
to Andover.
When was Stonehenge built?
Do you know how old is Stonehenge? Work of
this monument began around 5,000 years ago during the New Stone Age, but it
took more than thousand years to be build over four stages. Archeologists found
that the final changes were made around 1,500 BC, at the start of the Bronze
Age.
Stonehenge Facts: History & Origins
1. Stonehenge was built over four stages spanning centuries.
The prehistoric monument underwent various transformations from over 5,000 years ago and did not start as a circle of stones. It was originally a simple earth-moving enclosure where the prehistoric buried their dead. The circular earth bank and the ditch that surrounds the stones, can be dated approximately before 3,100 BC, while the inner stone circle of the monument, was erected at the end of the Neolithic, around 2500 BC.
Over the following few
hundred years, the stones were re-arranged and new ones added, with the
formation as we know it today, being finalized between 1,930 and 1,600 BC.
Source: English Heritage
2. Its made of two different types of stones.
There are two types of
stones used in Stonehenge: Sarsen stones are larger outer stones, and
blue-stones form smaller inner stones. Sarsen stone is a type of sandstone found
naturally in the surrounding area, about 20 miles from the location.
Blue-stones, however, came from the hills of Preseli in South West Wales. More
than 140 miles away.
3. Transporting the stones remains a mystery.
One of the biggest mysteries
about Stonehenge is how large stones arrive at the location from a distance.
The average sandstone weighs 25 tons while Blue-stones weighs between 2-5 tons
each. There are many theories about how these stones arrived in Stonehenge,
including the idea that Blue-stones were brought by glaciers. The most likely
theory is that they are transported by humans using water channel networks and
transporting them on the ground.
4. Construction required incredible feats of engineering.
It needs ingenuity merely to
make stones stand tall. The Builders finally used closer techniques related to
wood than stones. They created the Mortise Hole and united the standing tenon
to unite the stones, using the tongue and groove joints. When the hole is dug
up for the stones, the wooden pole is the place behind the hole as a brace
buffer. The stone is then transferred to position and transported up with a
rope while debris is packaged into a hole to secure the stone in its place.
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| By Jlert Joseph Lertola - Source: Wikimedia Commons 3D Rendering of Stonehenge. Blue = stone. White = earthworks. Solid red arrow points towards the rising Sun at solstice |
5. Roman artifacts have been found at the site.
Various Roman artifacts
including pottery, stone and metal, and coins have been found during many
excavations in Stonehenge.
Weird & Fascinating Facts about Stonehenge
6. Stonehenge is historically linked with Astronomy.
Stonehenge has a long and
interesting relationship with astronomy, according to the 2010 British Heritage
Report. This is mainly due to the fact that this monument is in line towards
the sun rising from the turning point of the summer sun and the sunset from the
winter sun's turning point. This was first discovered in 1720 by a British
archaeologist who was pioneering William Stukeley. Since then, many famous
fortune tellers have studied Stonehenge, trying to find a connection between
construction and stars.
7. It was built by people who left no written records.
This is the main reason why
there are so many mysteries and so many questions that have not been answered
around the site.
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| By TobyEditor - Source: Wikimedia Commons The Heel Stone with the stone circle in the background |
8. Stonehenge is linked to an Arthurian legend.
According to legend, the
Merlin sorcerer withdrew Stonehenge from Ireland, where it had been built by
ancient giants, and rebuilt it on the plain of Salisbury as a memorial of 3000
nobles killed in combat with the Saxons.
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| By Unknown artist - Source: Wikimedia Commons |
9. It may have been a burial ground.
In 2013 the remaining 50,000
bone cremation was excavated at the location, owned by 63 men, women and
children. These bones come from 3,000-2.500 BC. This shows that Stonehenge can
be a burial land at the beginning of its history.
10. Theories suggest Stonehenge was part of a larger sacred area.
Salisbury plain land, where
Stonehenge is located, is the limes land that stretches more than 300 square
miles. Although Stonehenge might have become a burial site, this is not the
first holy monument in the area. Three large wooden poles that were erected on
the location of more than 10,000 years, which showed that Salisbury Plain had
become a sacred area long before Stonehenge.
Following a four-year
scientific study using radar and non-invasive techniques to survey the area,
the results of 2014 revealed a number of hidden Neolithic holy places that gave
more evidence to the theory that Stonehenge was one of the small parts of a
much larger puzzle.
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| By Caskination - Source: Wikimedia Commons |
11. The stones are called “ringing rocks” with healing powers.
Monument stones have unusual
healing and acoustic properties. When stuck, they vibrate and produce sounds
loudly. This might explain why they were transported remotely. The frequency of
vibration is often praised for healing nature, and in many ancient cultures
such rocks are believed to contain the power to heal. In fact, MaenClochog
means "Ringing Rock".
12. The earliest known realistic painting of Stonehenge was produced in 16th century.
Although the stones have
existed for thousands of years, the first realistic painting drawn on site was
only produced in between 1573-1575.
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| By Lucas de Heere - Source: Wikimedia Commons |
13. Charles Darwin discovered why stones are sinking.
In the 1880s, Charles Darwin
conducted a number of excavations that were first scientifically recorded at
that location, and after noting that the monument was sank, he concluded that
the earthworms were mostly blamed for rocks that were sinking through the ground.
14. Stonehenge was in a pitiful situation by the 20th century.
At the beginning of the 20th
century, there were more than 10 excavations recorded which had resulted in
several sarsens to be slim, and the site became 'sorry', according to British
heritage. As a result, the Society of Antiquaries lobbies the site owner, Sir
Edmond Antrobus, and offers to help with conservation.
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| By Mabbett (Stationers) of Salisbury - Source: Wikimedia Commons Stonehenge postcard published by Mabbett of Salisbury. Others in series are postally used, circa 1907. |
15. It draws more than 1 million visitors a year.
Ancient myths and persistent
questions about Stonehenge make this site very popular and one of the most
famous UNESCO world heritage sites on Planet.
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