Stonehenge is a megalithic structure located on Salisbury Plain in England. It is probably the world's most famous megalithic monument of its kind. Similar structures, which are several vertical oblong stones (menhirs) arranged in a circle or spiral, can be found all over Europe, in the Caucasus and in other parts of the world. In Great Britain and Ireland such cromlechs are not rare. And the theory that on the territory of Britain these cromlechs represented a single system is quite probable.
Stones of Stonehenge
Stonehenge is an area of about a hundred metres in diameter surrounded by a moat and an earthen rampart. In the centre is the Altar Stone, a multi-tonne sandstone monolith. It is surrounded by five pairs of stones with lintels on top (trilithons), set in a horseshoe shape and facing north-east. At the base of the horseshoe are the tallest stones, towards the ends of the horseshoe their height decreases. The horseshoe is surrounded by a ring of so-called blue stones. They are bluish on chipping and turn blue if you get them wet. Further sarsen trilithons form a ring with a diameter of 33 metres. There are 30 such stones in total, an arc of 13 stones has been preserved together with the upper stones. They were set in a groove-and-spike pattern. These stones are surrounded by two concentric rows of 30 holes (the so-called Y and Z holes). Closer to the ramparts and ditch is a circle of 56 holes known as the "Aubrey holes" - after the surname of the explorer who discovered them. There is a small entrance to the south and the main entrance is considered to be the north-east entrance, which opens onto an avenue bounded by parallel ditches and ramparts and leading to the River Avon. On the avenue stands the so-called "Heel Stone".
There is no consensus on the dating of Stonehenge, but many scholars tend to believe that the first phase of construction - the ditch and ramparts - should be dated to ~3000 BC, although the earliest traces of human activity on the site date to 8000 BC. The bluestones are set around 2600 BC. Remarkably, the deposit of this stone was only recently discovered in 1923. This is the Presley area of south-west Wales, 200 kilometres from Stonehenge. It is possible that the Altar Stone also came from there. How they were transported is a mystery to archaeologists and historians, who list a variety of techniques: wooden rollers, skids, the "walking stones" method, and transporting the blocks by water. Over the next 200 years, sarsen trilithons were installed, the northeast entrance was widened, and the walkway was paved.
Sanctuary or observatory?
The purpose of Stonehenge also remains a mystery. Various versions are put forward, the most common being that it is a sanctuary and burial ground. Also very likely hypothesis that Stonehenge was used as an observatory - it is quite accurately orientated by the Sun and Moon in several directions, which can not be a mere coincidence. Along with these there are also the most fantastic versions: for example, that Stonehenge is a landing pad for alien spaceships, or that it is the ruins of a nuclear power plant of the Atlantean civilisation.
On a side note
- Location: Off A344 Road, Amesbury, Wiltshire. More convenient to get to by Wilts & Dorset Stonehenge Tour bus from Salisbury.
- Official website: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk
- Opening hours: daily 9.30 am - 6 pm.
- Tickets: cost - £7.50 adult, £4.50 child, £6.80 concessionary, £19.50 family.
