The most famous and enigmatic of all ancient monuments, Stonehenge is a circular stone ring which stands on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. It has baffled archaeologists since the early days of the 18th century.
The main structure was constructed between 3100 BC and 1500 BC, but there were other structures added over time, including a large ditch around the periphery. The stones are arranged in an apparent circle with five trilithons (two pairs of trilithons) within it, along with numerous smaller stones called sarsens, each weighing up to 7 tons. The monument is thought to have been used for burial ceremonies, although this remains unproven. There may also have been astronomical significance associated with its alignment, though this too is uncertain.
There are many theories about stonehengevisit.co.uk. One theory is that the builders were trying to create a massive calendar, or perhaps a solar observatory. Another idea is that the site was a giant grave yard or cemetery. Yet another theory suggests that the structure marks a place where prehistoric people met annually to worship the sun god. But whatever the purpose of Stonehenge, it is undeniably one of our planet’s oldest landmarks and deserves our respect.
How to get there:
It is possible to visit Stonehenge from London by train using services provided by Chiltern Railways. The journey takes approximately two hours. Alternatively you can catch a coach from Reading in Berkshire and then take a taxi into the heart of the site.
Visitors should be wary when travelling at night as it gets very dark in the middle of winter. You might want to bring your own torch as well as something warm to keep yourself warm.
Why go?
The reason why we should visit Stonehenge is because it is so mysterious and unique. Its age makes it one of the world’s best-preserved archaeological sites and its appearance is awe-inspiring. So even if you don’t know anything about archaeology, the opportunity to see a piece of history for yourself will be enough.
But what exactly is Stonehenge? Why do we find it so fascinating? What does it mean? And how did it come to be built? For answers to these questions, read on.
History of Stonehenge
Like many of our ancient monuments, Stonehenge was built long before anyone could even dream of writing down what happened. This is because it took thousands of years for humans to develop literacy. When Stonehenge was first recorded in the 17th century, it was described as ‘the wonder of the world’. Today, it remains a mystery and, in some ways, a symbol of our fascination with the past.
Archaeologists believe that Stonehenge was built during the late Bronze Age (around 2400 – 1600 BC). During this period, Britain was part of the British Empire. The area was controlled by the Celts, who worshipped their gods through rituals. Archaeologists believe that Stonehenge was built by Druids, priests and druidesses. They may also have been responsible for building other monuments such as Avebury.
Other theories suggest that the site was used for burials, possibly for members of royal families. If true, this would explain why there are no bodies in the centre of the monument. Other archaeologists think that it was a ceremonial site for the Celts and that the sarsen stones were transported from Wales.
What do we know about Stonehenge?
We know that the monument was built sometime between 3000 and 1500 BC and that it lasted for hundreds of years after that date. We also know that there were lots of other buildings near Stonehenge, including the Amesbury Archery Area, Durrington Walls and Silbury Hill.
We have no way of knowing whether Stonehenge was used for religious purposes or not. However, there is evidence that it was used for funerals, and that the site might have had astronomical significance. Some historians speculate that Stonehenge was used for funerals of high ranking individuals, while others believe it was used by the Druids, who performed human sacrifices.
Another interesting fact about Stonehenge is that it appears to have been built by different peoples. For example, the outer circle of stones was created by people working out of the Amesbury area, while the inner circle was made by people living further west. This suggests that there were different groups living in different parts of Britain at the time, and that Stonehenge was built by several different cultures.
How did Stonehenge end up like this?
After the construction of Stonehenge, it seems to have fallen into disuse. It is thought that there was a change in social circumstances which meant that the monument was abandoned. This is supported by the discovery of a number of graves in the area. These included a child buried in a wooden box, and skeletons found under a henge. Another theory suggests that the monument was destroyed by invading Romans.
Today, Stonehenge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts millions of visitors every year. It is regarded as an important relic of our ancient past, and we owe it a great debt for this.
