Unravel the enigma of Stonehenge, a prehistoric marvel etched against the backdrop of Salisbury Plain in southwestern England, in this captivating exploration of one of Europe's most significant megalithic monuments. Journey back to the late Stone Age and Bronze Age to witness the construction of this awe-inspiring structure, meticulously crafted with concentric arrangements of towering sarsen stones and enigmatic bluestones sourced from distant lands. Delve into the mysteries surrounding its purpose, contemplating its potential as a tribal gathering place, a religious center, or an astronomical observatory aligned with celestial events. Discover the intricate arrangement of the stones, from the outer circle of colossal sandstone blocks capped with lintels to the inner circle of smaller bluestones, all surrounding the enigmatic "altar stone." Explore the surrounding landscape, dotted with ancient barrows and the remnants of a processional causeway known as the Avenue. Trace the history of Stonehenge through the ages, from its humble beginnings as a henge monument to its transformation into the iconic structure we know today, bearing witness to the impact of Roman occupation and subsequent restoration efforts. Unearth the calendrical theories that suggest Stonehenge may have served as a sophisticated tool for predicting solstices, equinoxes, and eclipses, connecting its builders to the rhythms of the cosmos. Consider the monument's symbolic significance, reflecting the cyclical nature of life, death, and the seasons. While science and archaeology have illuminated many aspects of Stonehenge, its ultimate secrets remain shrouded in mystery, beckoning us to ponder the ingenuity and spiritual beliefs of our ancient ancestors. Explore the enduring allure of Stonehenge, a timeless testament to human ingenuity and our eternal quest to understand the universe. This book provides an amazing look at perhaps one of the most fascinating structures in the world.
Stonehenge is a prehistoric ritual monument which is situated on Salisbury Plain in south-western England. Stonehenge was built in the late Stone Age (called Neolithic) and the Bronze Age. It is the most famous of the megalithic monuments in England, and the most important prehistoric monument in the whole of Europe. Although its precise purpose is unknown, experts think that it it could have been a tribal gathering place or maybe also religious centre that was connected with astronomical observations.
Arrangement Of The Stones
The Stonehenge-monument consists of four concentrical arrangements of stones. In the outermost range, very big rectangular-shaped sandstone blocks (sarsen stones) that are 4 m high above the ground, form a circle which is 33 m in diameter!!!
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They were originally capped with lintel stones of which only a few still remain in their place today, that also formed a large continuous circle. Within this outer range is another circle of smaller bluestones, which are consisting mainly of dolerite, a coarse basaltic rock having a beautiful blueish colour. They enclose an arrangement of bluestones capped with lintels. These trilithons (means an assemblage of two uprights capped by a lintel) are about 6.5 m high. Within these trilithons stands a slab of sandstone, which is known as the “altar stone”.
The entire assemblage is surrounded by a circular ditch (104 m in diameter). On its inner side it rises into a bank. In there is a ring of 56 pits known as the Aubrey holes (named after their discoverer, the antiquarian John Aubrey) and used at a later stage as cremation burial pits.
On the north-eastern side, the bank and ditch are intersected by the Avenue, a processional causeway (23 m wide and nearly 3 km long) that is bordered by a ditch. Near the entrance to the Avenue is the Slaughter Stone (a sarsen stone) that maybe originally have stood upright.
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Almost opposite is the Heel Stone, which may have played a part in sightings of the sunrise at the summer solstice.
History of Stonehenge
Experts know that Stonehenge was built in several stages. The beginning was a henge monument (a ritual enclosure) which was surrounded by a bank and a ditch, similar to many others in southern England. It was around 2200 BC that it took on its unique appearance. 82 bluestones were transported from the Preseli Mountains (mountains in south-western Wales). The Altar Stone is believed to have come from a region near Milford Haven which is called Dyfed.
Stonehenge was undoubtedly built by people who must have had widespread trade connections and who established their principal settlements in the area between 1600 and 1300 BC. Its importance is reflected by the fact that the landscape around the monument is dotted by some 400 barrows, circular mounds enclosing burials, dating from between 2000 and 1500 BC. Excavation of some of these barrows has revealed rich grave goods as well as chips of bluestone similar to that found in the concentric ranges of the stones.
Between 55 BC and AD 410 the Romans tore down a number of the In addition, two uprights and a lintel west of the Altar Stone fell in January 1797, and another upright and its lintel fell in 1900. It was in 1958 when these five stones were raised and gave the monument the approximate appearance that it had during the Roman occupation of Britain. In 1953 shallow carvings were found on some of the fallen stones depict bronze axeheads of a type used in Britain between 1600 and 1400 BC and a hilted dagger of a type used in Mycenae, Greece, between 1600 and 1500 BC.
Calendrical Theory
The function of Stonehenge has long been interpreted. It could have been used to predict the summer and winter solstices, the vernal and autumnal equinoxes but also eclipses of the sun and moon. It may also have functioned as a mean of predicting the positions of the sun and moon relative to the Earth, and thereby the seasons, and therefore also as a calendar. As such it might have been the gathering place for religious ceremonies connected with the sun and moon. At Stonehenge as at other Bronze Age sites, the emphasis on the circle may also reflect the circular nature of birth and death, and the passage of the seasons.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Stonehenge
What is Stonehenge?
Stonehenge is a prehistoric ritual monument located on Salisbury Plain in southwestern England. It was built during the late Stone Age (Neolithic) and Bronze Age and is considered the most famous megalithic monument in England and a significant prehistoric site in Europe.
What is the arrangement of the stones at Stonehenge?
The monument consists of four concentric arrangements of stones. The outermost range is a circle of large, rectangular sarsen sandstone blocks, originally capped with lintel stones. Inside this is a circle of smaller bluestones. Within the bluestone circle are trilithons (two uprights capped by a lintel), and inside the trilithons is a slab of sandstone known as the "altar stone." The entire structure is surrounded by a circular ditch and a bank, including pits called Aubrey holes.
What is the Avenue?
The Avenue is a processional causeway that intersects the bank and ditch on the northeastern side of Stonehenge. It is bordered by a ditch and leads towards the monument.
What is the Slaughter Stone and Heel Stone?
The Slaughter Stone is a sarsen stone located near the entrance to the Avenue, possibly originally standing upright. The Heel Stone is located almost opposite and may have been used to sight the sunrise at the summer solstice.
How was Stonehenge built?
Stonehenge was constructed in several stages, beginning as a henge monument (a ritual enclosure surrounded by a bank and ditch). Around 2200 BC, bluestones were transported from the Preseli Mountains in Wales. The Altar Stone is believed to have come from near Milford Haven.
Who built Stonehenge?
Stonehenge was built by people who had widespread trade connections and established settlements in the area between 1600 and 1300 BC.
What happened to Stonehenge during the Roman period?
Between 55 BC and AD 410, the Romans altered a number of the stones. Restoration work was done in 1958 to return the monument to its Roman occupation state, and additional carvings have been found on stones of axeheads and daggers.
What is the calendrical theory of Stonehenge?
Stonehenge may have been used to predict the summer and winter solstices, the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, and eclipses of the sun and moon. It may also have functioned as a calendar by predicting the positions of the sun and moon relative to the Earth, and therefore the seasons. It might have been the gathering place for religious ceremonies connected with the sun and moon, representing the circular nature of birth and death, and the passage of the seasons.
Is the purpose of Stonehenge known?
Although much has been discovered about Stonehenge, its precise purpose remains an unsolved mystery.
- Quote paper
- Dani Funk (Author), 2001, A very Brief Overview of Stonehenge. History and Calendrical Theory, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/101195
