You have all heard about the marvelous Stonehenge which shocks everyone and raises questions like how and why Stonehenge came into existence. These giant stones, which weigh 25 to 30 tons, are located in Wiltshire, England. With its massive structure and secretive origin, Stonehenge has fascinated the eyes and hearts of many historians, archaeologists, and travelers for centuries.
These stones were raised on the land of Wiltshire even before the pyramids of Egypt were built. Let's answer all your questions related to history, construction, astronomical significance, myths, modern research, and how they are preserved today.
If we talk about the historical background of Stonehenge we come to know that it was built in several phases from 3100 to 1600 BC. This all began as a simple circular ditch or you can call a bank, known as a henge, with some wooden structures and posts. Around 2500 BC, the large sarsen stones were transported to the site from Marlborough Downs, about 20 miles away.
Stonehenge consists of tall, upright stones of sarsen, each stone is 13 feet high and 7 feet wide, and if we talk about the weight then it is 25 tons. The horizontal stones called lintels connected these large stones from the top. If you go inside this outer circle you will see a circle of smaller bluestones. Over 150 miles away, the smaller bluestones came from the Preseli Hills in Wales and were also added to the site. This built a small circle inside the larger one.
The concentric circle of the site is made of megalithic known as large stones. The small stones and large stones are known as bluestones and sarsen. These were carved and raised during this period. In the very center, you will find a pair of even larger sarsen stones each with a single stone laid across the top, known as trilithons. Over the centuries, the stones of Stonehenge were modified and rearranged with stones being moved and added. In 1986 this site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
There are as many theories of Stonehenge as the stones in Stonehenge. When you see these massive stones, especially if you're on a Stonehenge tour, you might wonder: How and why do these massive stones need to be created? Why its construction need to be compulsory during the era when there is no modern technology to move or raise such heavy stones? Following are some of the theories related to how Stonehenge was constructed:
One of the most widely accepted theories is that Stonehenge was built through sheer human efforts combined with simple tools and techniques. Workers are likely to use wooden sleds and rollers made from tree trucks to move these stones to a particular place. If this theory is true, then it will be nearly impossible to drag these 25 tons of stones from the Marlborough Downs using thick ropes, wooden sleds, and possibly tracks greased for easier and smooth movement. If you want to explore these stones closely, a Stonehenge half-day tour is a great way to see its history and how it was built up close.
The second theory related to the construction of these stones is water transfer. Some theorists think that water transfer might be the best theory to transfer, particularly for the smaller bluestones, which are transported from Wales. If you are thinking that they were floated along rivers or the coast on rafts before being gathered on the ground and raised to the site, then it can be possible.
If we talk unseriously then Alien or supernatural things might be involved in the construction. These ideas are based on the impressive nature of the construction and the mystery surrounding its exact methods and purpose. Besides this, a large group of people deny this theory.
There are various mythologies and legends behind Stonehenge's construction. One famous legend is the Wizard Merlin. In medieval times, Geoffrey of Monmouth, the Roman writer, claimed that the stones were originally from Africa and were moved to Britain by the magical powers of Merlin, the Legendary Wizard.
Another myth involves that in the 17th century, John Aubrey claimed that Stonehenge was constructed by the Druids. Druids were the Celtic priestly class. In this myth, Stonehenge is considered as their worshipping site. In today's time, modern archaeologists do not support this theory as the druids lived much later than the construction of Stonehenge.
The famously acknowledged reason for the Stonehenge construction is to align with the movement of the sun. people in the ancient era did not have any tools to have a record of all the days, months, and seasons so that's why they constructed this massive structure to be able to know everything related to astronomical effects. On the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, the sun rises directly above the Heel Stone.
It is one of the stones located outside of the main circle. This alignment shows that the stones of Stonehenge were used as a kind of calendar to track seasons. The calendar would have been important for agricultural societies. If this theory is real then we should probably be grateful to have a calender of a small size and even in mobiles.
Stonehenge is not the only site where these astronomical alignments have been seen. There are also other historical sites from around the world such as the pyramids of Egypt and the Mayan ruins in Central America where you can find almost the same alignments. These things enable researchers to figure out that ancient peoples used structures and these were the common astronomical practices among different cultures.
There are two groups of people, one believed that the site is a scientific base and the other believed that the site is divine and has religious importance. According to this, some researchers argue that Stonehenge was a scientific or astronomical observatory. The particular alignment of the stones with the sun, moon, and other celestial bodies suggests that it was used to track the solar and lunar cycles.
The construction and layout of Stonehenge might have been designed to provide accurate astronomical data, which helped with agricultural planning. Decides this many believe that Stonehenge is more of a religious and spiritual site than a scientific base. It is said that this site is used as a burial site, ceremonial site, pilgrimage destination, final resting place, or memorial to simply connect with the souls of ancestors.
One of the religious perspectives of this site is that people believe that it is the place of healing. This idea is related to the bluestones that possess the massive power of healing and if you touch them you will be healed by them. It is a place of burial in the sense that when excavations were done at Stonehenge the researchers found a large number of bones that were buried here for many centuries.
With the advancement in technology, discoveries have been made related to Stonehenge. Various techniques have allowed archaeologists to explore the site without causing any disturbance like Ground-penetrating radar and other non-invasive techniques. Discoveries such as hidden structures and additional stone circles have expanded our understanding of the site.
A secret discovery has been made by the Department of Geography and Earth Science at Aberyst University UK, that stone 80 which is known as the Alter Stone, does not come from the same material or source as the other stones. Another recent research says that these stones were not transported by humans from Wales.
In 2020, the researchers found a circle of shafts around Durrington Wall. When they analyzed this it revealed that the sarsen stones likely came from West Woods which is 15 miles away. So, ongoing research and technology advancements will provide even more accurate answers in the future.
There are a lot of troubles that have been faced during the preservation of Stonehenge because it's a challenging task. There have been many recoveries on this site. Some stones were removed and replaced in taking care of the site. The site is subject to natural erosions, human activity, and environmental changes.
Besides the various measures to protect the historical site, the best measure among them all is the restriction to access to certain areas. Now it is prohibited to enter the circle without a ticket. You cannot go and wonder among the stones independently. There are tickets to enter the circle for better tourist impact and the preservation of the site. Nowadays, in the UK, a visit to Stonehenge has become one of the most popular tourist attractions.
If you go there as a tourist or on a guided tour you will be able to learn a lot about its history and significance while ensuring that their presence does not harm the site. The visitors center has almost everything related to Stonehenge to increase and enhance the interest and experience of the visitors.
Besides these multiple theories about who built these megalithic stones and what the reason behind this, we come to the conclusion that still there is no definitive answer that fully explains their purpose or the specific patterns of their arrangement. Some believed they might have served as a solar calendar, but this remains uncertain. As research progresses and discoveries are made we gain a deeper understanding of the reason behind this monument.
Stonehenge was constructed over several phases, starting around 3000 BCE and continuing until about 1600 BCE.
Stonehenge is made of large stones known as megaliths. The inner circle is composed of a type of sandstone called sarsen, while the outer circle includes bluestones, which were transported from Wales.
Stonehenge is mysterious because no one knows exactly why it was built or how the massive stones were moved. Its alignment with the sun adds to the intrigue
Yes, archaeologists and researchers continue to study Stonehenge to uncover more about its purpose and how it was built. New discoveries are still being made!
Yes, it’s likely! The stones are aligned with the sun’s movements, suggesting it was used to mark important events like solstices and equinoxes.
