Located in Wiltshire England, Stonehenge is a World Heritage site consisting of 4,500 year-old stones with some reaching heights up to 4.5m (15ft). Ever since the Middle Ages, the site has been one of the greatest mysteries in Europe being subject to multiple speculations and theories.
Scientific discoveries indicate to us that the sites major construction first began in approximately 3000 BC. Neolithic builders are believed to have laboured for 1500 years. We now know that the Stonehenge was built in three stages [23 & 24]:
• FIRST STAGE: Built in around 3000 BC, the first variation of Stonehenge (known as the earthwork enclosure) consisted of the Aubrey holes (fifty-six chalk pits, approximately one metre wide) and a ditch. Inside the
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Archaeologists and historians are yet to determine what it was used/built for, however there are multiple interpretations. Some of these interpretations include but are not limited too:
1. A Burial Ground: According to a study by archaeologists back in 2013, Stonehenge served as a ‘giant burial ground’ [15]. After working at the site for years, Professor Mike Parker Pearson led an excavation and study into the 50,000 bone fragments belonging to 63 bodies buried around the site. This study uncovered not only uncovered that Stonehenge was built around 2500 BC rather than the previously thought 2700 BC, we now have evidence that the first monument’s (smaller stones [bluestones]) purpose was to serve as a graveyard for a community of what where known as elite families. Research on the sexing of the remains has told us children were buried and that the number of women almost matches those of men. Professor Parker Pearson spoke about the use of DNA extraction on the remains and he said: “At the moment the answer is no to extracting DNA, which might tell us more about these individuals and what the relationship was between them – but who knows in the future?”
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It has allowed us to date the construction of Stonehenge and establish theories on what the site was constructed/used for. It is suggest by the results of radiocarbon dating, that construction on Stonehenge continued until roughly 1600 BC.
Excavations carried out on Stonehenge led to the discovery of multiple human remains which where later uncovered to be majority female. The bones had been sexed, uncovered further details about the role and importance of women in ancient England. The number of women’s remains found buried at the monument so close to those of the male counterpart, it’s suggests women may be been of importance and or value to their society.
Evidence of almost 100 of the stones has revealed without the need to excavate the site, due to remote sensing, ground-penetrating radar and geographical imaging technologies. These advancements in science and technology allow researchers to discover the historical monuments full extent. Fragments of bones, stones and the foundation pits in which they were situated have all been uncovered during excavations and technological mapping indicating the true size and importance the site was to the Neolithic
The last area of Stonehenge was started about 2000BCE and had the most cosmetic work done to it. Unlike the other stones that were placed in stone hedge, the people who built this area had hammered the sides of the stone down making them smooth. In the structure there were 30 of these stones that were 7 feet tall and 50 tons each. Today there are only 17 still standing. The stone tops were kept together by dovetailed joints that held the rectangle like archways together. There was a fourth horseshoe that was built in the middle of the second area and the outer area. For this area there were 10 stones paired together with stone tops as well, however only 8 of these stones remain. Then about a century later 20 blues stones were taken out to build a “sarsen horseshoe” not more than half remain today. Archeologists upon finding this new bluestone also stumbled across holes that were dug for other bluestones to be placed in them. They date this event about 1500BCE. The biggest stone out of all of them is called the altar stone which was extended to the river Avon around 1100BCE; just proving that Stonehenge was still in use. Each entrance of Stonehenge amazingly enough is in alignment with the sunrise during Midsummer Eve. Archeologists assume that building Stonehenge took a good 20 million hours that is
Over a span of 2,000 years, monuments have been added to Stonehenge. While most are buried today, they are still visible and well preserved. Stonehenge’s features include the Aubrey Holes, 350 burial mounds, Cursus, Woodhenge, Durrington Walls Henge, Stonehenge Avenue, and West Amesbury Henge. The Aubrey Holes were the first monuments in Stonehenge, built around 3,000 BCE. The Aubrey Holes were 56 pits inside of a circular enclosure formed by a bank and a ditch. Its main purpose was to store cremated ashes of dead bodies. After the Aubrey Holes were made, bluestones and sarsens were dragged from long distances to construct the circular stone monument. The 350 burial mounds were long barrows meant to cremate and bury the dead. The Cursus, built from 3600 to 3400 BCE, were two long earthwork enclosures. Both Woodhenge and Durrington Walls Henge were timber circle monuments built in 2,300 and 2,500 BCE, respectively. Stonehenge Avenue was an ancient road that lead to Stonehenge monument and was built from 2,500 to 1,700 BCE. Finally, West Amesbury Henge was a stone circle monument built in 2,400
“Parchmarks at Stonehenge” talks about how the parched ground during a drought in July of 2013 brought about a discovery in a set in an outer stone ring patches. These were only discovered by the drought because of how the grass was different in color. The color signaled that the soil was affected differently by what was underneath. There was also a discovery of new features that were never seen before by the original excavator of Stonehenge. This discovery lead to more completion of the outer rings and offered new insight into the trenches at Stonehenge.
Stonehenge was built in different stages, it was first built in 2600 B.C in the Neolithic era. The first known structures in the were four or five pits, three of which held large pine totem-poles
Currently, historians and archaeologists have concluded that multiple cultural groups are responsible for Stonehenge, each lending to a particular phase of building. In the beginning Neolithic agrarians, probably natives of the British
There are numerous theories surrounding the mystery of Stonehenge and what it was constructed for. Some of those theories include an observatory, ancient burial grounds, a temple, and even that Stonehenge has no purpose at all. There is a majority, though, that argue that the purpose of Stonehenge cannot ever be determined because there is a lack of evidence surrounding theories. These theories did not just pop out of the earth, however, there are reasons and circumstances that brought them about. Many legends were written about Stonehenge, especially during the Dark Ages, and most of the theories stem from those. There is no documentation of the construction of Stonehenge, and so because of the lack of knowledge theories began to grow more
Most people have heard of the big rocks that are all in one big circle in Wiltshire, England. The Stonehenge is considered as one of the greatest wonders of the world. Everyone knows the basics about the Stonehenge, but they do not know that backstory about it or why it was created. There are so many theories about what the Stonehenge was actually created for, but there are a few theories that actually have some evidence behind themit. Even though some people might argue that Stonehenge was a place for healing, Stonehenge was actually a burial site , because the artifacts discovered there suggest that the people buried in the graves may have been religious or political elite.
During his reign, King James I ordered for a survey of the area. Inigo Jones made the survey but he died before completing it. The survey published by his assistant James Webb. Webb published an elaborately created book which is exclusively about Stonehenge. According to Inigo Jones’ belief Stonehenge must had been built by Romans because British people may had not been built such a beautiful and fascinating monument (Malone, 10). In 17th century Webb’s thesis about Romans broken down by John Aubrey. Aubrey thought that Stonehenge must had been built before Romans.
Stonehenge may have been created as more than just a burial ground though, it also could have had religious significance. There are signs that there were centuries of ritual activity before the stones (Caesar). Stonehenge could have been a sacred religious cemetery because some people believe that the stones surrounding the ditch were a sacred place of healing (Wilford). Many people may have come there to worship and be healed by the stone. The people buried there are the ones that died before they could be healed. Most people believe it had something to do with the sun: “Stonehenge may have been a place of sun worship and magic” (Allman 14). It was a temple for sun worship because of the way the sun rises over the stones, and the magic of the stones healed people.
Stonehenge is located in Wiltshire, UK. The stones date back to 3100 BC. The Stonehenge is made up of Bluestone, Sarsen and Welsh Sandstone. It is estimated that this monument took more than thirty million hours of construction. This ancient monument was built in three stages and is built of almost 100 massive upright stones. Scientists have managed to track the Bluestone to the Preseli hills in Wales nearly 200 miles from where Stonehenge now lays. An average of 1 million people visit Stonehenge per year. Stonehenge has a cultural and religious identification. A few theories have been made to understand more about why the Stonehenge exists. Some of these include a coronation place, a Druid temple, an astronomical solar computer, a place where ancestors were worshipped or a cult centre for healing, to be truthful know one really knows. An interesting fact is that the 1st Duke of Buckingham dug a hole in the centre Stonehenge looking for treasure. Stonehenge makes approximately 6 million pounds per year.
Stonehenge is one of the most iconic landmarks in England and also one of the most historic. Stonehenge is located in Salisbury Plain, England, the home of the Neolithic Britons. The landmark is isolated on a vast plain with few trees in sight, upon a hill. Stonehenge can be scene about from three miles away in all directions. Many researchers have determined that the site was constructed in multiple stages, starting more than 5,000 years ago. The name Stonehenge is from the formation of the monument itself, which is composed of stones and a bank. The monument required manual labor, time, and an abundance of effort. The current structure of Stonehenge is the remains of the last
Stonehenge was built in the Neolithic early Bronze Age era. The human race did not settle in the area of Wiltshire until around 4,000 BCE – 3,000 BCE (Cusack 2012). According to Fagan, local farmers built a simple enclosure (Cusack 2012). There are five stones, which consist of the Heel Stone that is located outside of the north-eastern entrance. The Slaughter Stone, which lies flat on the east side of the entranceway, is considered to be part of a pair that could have created an entrance. The final two Station Stones are located in the bank (Cusack 2012). Over the few hundred years, more timber monuments were built, possibly to assist in the purpose of Stonehenge. Many archaeologists have disputed over the phases of not only the construction of Stonehenge but also the chronology of Stonehenge as well as the possibilities of what it was used for (Cusack 2012). Some people have thought of Stonehenge as being some kind of
So how did these stones appear? With no modern technology such as cranes and other machinery to lift the immensely heavy stones, it’s no wonder scientists are still stumped to this day. It is believed to have been once used as a burial ground and also a place for worship. “Some archeologists believe that Stonehenge - the mysterious arrangement of enormous elongated stones in England - is actually a crude effort by the Druids to build a computing device." (David Berry). Other scientists believe it was the Neolithic and Bronze age people of southern Britain, who inhabited the chalk lands. I believe that unless we have someone who was around during that time or we have written documentation of what happened and how the stones were placed, we will truly never know how this amazing structure was built.
The Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located on Wiltshire, England. the place has continuously evolved over a period of about 10,000 years. The structure that we call "Stonehenge" was built between roughly 5,000 and 4,000 years ago.
Stonehenge is a megalithic monument found in Wiltshire, United Kingdom. It was built in three phases. The first phase was the earthwork monument which begun in 2950BC, the second phase was the timber monument built in 2900BC and thirdly the stone monument that was built in 2550BC.1 This essay will focus on the final phase of the stone monument.