Stonehenge. Mystery of Great Britain

Stonehenge is a stone megalithic structure built during the Neolithic era on the territory of modern England. It is approximately 130 km southwest of London, approximately 3.2 km west of Amesbury and 13 km north of Salisbury. Stonehenge consists of several dilapidated stone circles. The most noticeable is the outer stone circle, consisting of U-shaped ones, and the inner one in the form of a horseshoe, consisting of giant trilithons.

The name Stonehenge comes from Old English and means "hanging stones". The second part of the word "Henge" is currently used as an archaeological term for a class of Neolithic circular structures. Since 1918, Stonehenge has belonged to the English state.

The Stonehenge complex was built in several stages. Its construction lasted approximately 2000 years. The site of Stonehenge was used by ancient man long before the appearance of stone megaliths. Some finds in the area of ​​the complex belong to the Mesolithic era and date back to approximately 8000 BC. Also in this area, soil samples contained the remains of ash from cremations belonging to the period from 3030 to 2340 BC. e. These finds indicate that the Stonehenge area served as a burial site before the appearance of the stones. The latest burial found at Stonehenge dates back to the 7th century. n. e., and belongs to the headless body of an Anglo-Saxon.

In 1986, Stonehenge and surrounding areas were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

1 - Altar Stone, a six-ton ​​monolith of green mica sandstone from Wales
2 and 3 - mounds without graves
4 - fallen stone 4.9 meters long (Slaughter Stone - scaffold)
5 - Heel Stone
6 - two of the originally four vertically standing stones (on the plan of the early 19th century their position is indicated differently)
7 - ditch (ditch)
8 - internal shaft
9 - external shaft
10th Avenue, that is, a parallel pair of ditches and ramparts leading 3 km to the River Avon (Hampshire); now these shafts are barely visible
11 – ring of 30 pits, so-called. Y wells; in the 1930s the holes were marked with round posts, which have now been removed
12 - ring of 30 holes, so-called. Z holes
13 - a circle of 56 holes, known as Aubrey holes (John Aubrey - Aubrey holes)
14 - small southern entrance

The location of the Stonehenge megaliths is such that on the morning of Midsummer, when the sun rises directly above the Heel Stone, its rays fall into the center of the structure, passing between the edges of the horseshoe. It is unlikely that this arrangement of megaliths was chosen by chance. The northernmost point of the rising sun directly depends on latitude. Thus, the alignment of the stones must be precisely calculated according to the latitude at which Stonehenge is located. The heel stone is now considered part of the solar corridor.

The altar stone is a block about 5 meters long made of green sandstone. All the other stones in the circle are dolerites, mined in the mountains of southwest Wales, about 240 km from Stonehenge. The stone blocks of the outer circle had to be brought on sleighs, which had to be pulled by 250 a, on inclines of up to 1000 men. The altar stone is located slightly away from the geometric center.

Origin of Stonehenge.

The various elements of the Stonehenge complex system were built in several stages over a period of 2,000 years. This fact is confirmed by radiocarbon dating of the stones carried out in 1995. Based on an analysis of the measurements taken, archaeologists identified three phases in the construction of Stonehenge.

The area before the construction of Stonehenge (8000 BC)

Archaeologists have found four large Mesolithic stone pillars (one of which may have once been a tree) that date back to around 8000 BC. This find was made in a place where there is now a parking lot for tourists. Three of the four pillars were positioned in an east-west plane, a position that may have had ritual significance. There are no similar sites in the UK, but similar sites have been found in Scandinavia. At that time, what is now Salisbury Plain was covered with forest, but later the area began to be cleared for farmers' fields. Around 3100 BC. BC, Stonehenge was built 700 meters (2,300 ft) north of where the first farmers began clearing land for fields.

The first phase of the construction of Stonehenge. (3100 BC)

The monument originally consisted of an earthen rampart and ditch running along its outer part, approximately 110 meters (360 ft) in diameter, with a large passage in the northeast and another smaller one in the southern part. The builders placed the bones of deer and oxen at the bottom of the ditch, as well as some flint tools. The soil taken from the ditch was used to build the rampart. This first stage dates back to around 3100 BC, after which the ditch began to silt up naturally.

The second phase of the construction of Stonehenge. (3000 BC)

No physical evidence of the second phase of construction has survived. There are suggestions that at the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC, there were wooden buildings inside the earthen rampart, in addition, there were gate-like structures at the northeastern entrance and a wooden corridor leading inward from the southern one. During the second phase, silting of the ditch continued, and the earthen rampart was deliberately reduced in height. However, thirty burials from this period with cremated remains have been found. It is therefore generally accepted that Stonehenge was used as a cremation and burial site during this period, being the first known such site in the British Isles.

The third phase of the construction of Stonehenge.

The third phase was divided by archaeologists into 6 periods. Excavations have shown that around 2600 BC, builders abandoned wooden structures in favor of stone ones and dug two rings of holes (Q and R holes) to install them in the center of the site. Many of the stones were brought by ancient builders from the Preseli Hills, located in West Wales, 240 kilometers (150 miles) from Stonehenge. According to another theory, the stones were brought here by a glacier. The megaliths weighed about four tons and consisted mainly of dolerite with inclusions of tuff, volcanic and calcareous ash. Each monolith measured approximately 2 meters (6.6 ft) high, approximately 1–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) wide, and was 0.8 meters (2.6 ft) thick. The stone known today as the Altar Stone almost certainly came from the Brecon Beacons National Park in southern Wales and was most likely installed in a standing position.

During the next major phase of construction, 30 huge megaliths were brought to Stonehenge. The stones were set in U-shaped portals in a circle 33 meters (108 ft) in diameter. The portal lintel stones were installed using a giant wooden wheel and ropes. Each stone set was about 4.1 meters (13 ft) high, 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) wide and weighed about 25 tons. The average thickness of the stones is 1.1 meters (3 ft 7 in) and the average distance between them is 1 meter (3 ft 3 in). A total of 75 stones were needed to complete the outer ring and the trilithon horseshoe, 60 to complete the circle and 15 to complete the trilithl horseshoe. It was thought that the ring had been left unfinished, but a dry summer in 2013 revealed areas in the scorched grass that may correspond to the location of missing stones. The trilithons inside the circle are located symmetrically. The smallest pair of trilithons was about 6 meters (20 ft) high, the next pair is slightly taller and larger, the last great trilithon in the southwest corner was 7.3 meters (24 ft) high. There is only one stone left of the great trilith that still stands today, rising 6.7 meters (22 feet) high with another 2.4 meters (7 feet 10 inches) underground.

An “Avenue” was also built, two parallel rows of ditches and ramparts with a length of 3.2 km leading to the River Avon.

How Stonehenge was built.

There is no direct evidence that the creators of Stonehenge used sophisticated construction techniques. Over the years, various authors have suggested that the builders of Stonehenge used supernatural forces to move the stones, arguing that they could not have been moved otherwise. However, traditional methods used during the Neolithic era were quite effective in moving and placing stones of this size.

It has been suggested that a wooden frame similar to a double wheel, driven by ropes and hand power, was used to set the cross stones. Another method of installation could have been a wooden structure in the form of a ramp, from which the upper stone blocks were pushed onto the lower ones.

Archaeologist Aubrey Burl suggested in his works that the megaliths of Stonehenge were not brought by a glacier, but were transported to the construction site from the quarries of Wales, using wooden structures and ropes. Based on his claims, an experiment was carried out in 2001 to transport a large stone from Wales to Stonehenge. Volunteers dragged it part of the way on a wooden sleigh, then the stone was loaded onto a replica of a prehistoric boat. On the boat, the stone was supposed to travel part of the way across the sea, but this was not destined to happen and the stone sank in Bristol Bay.

According to some estimates, to complete all stages of the construction of Stonehenge, the ancient builders needed a total of several million hours of work. For example, phase one of Stonehenge required approximately 11,000 hours of work, phase two required 360,000 hours of work, and all phases of phase three required 1,750,000 hours of work. Processing the stone blocks, given that the builders used primitive tools, would have required 20 million hours of work. For construction of such a scale and the implementation of complex associated work (careful planning, detailed study of the location of stones, transportation and processing of stone blocks, providing food for people involved in construction), society had to have a fairly complex social structure and a strong central government.

The purpose of Stonehenge.

More recently, a new theory has been proposed. Geoffrey Wainwright, professor and president of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and Timothy Darvill, MBE, have suggested that Stonehenge was a sacred healing site similar to Lourdes in France. As proof of their version, they cite the fact that a large number of burials with traces of trauma were found in the Stonehenge area.

Many ancient historians were influenced by various mystical stories in their explanations. So in 1615, Inigo Jones argued that Stonehenge was a Roman temple dedicated to a pagan god.

A group of British researchers led by Mike Parker Pearson from the University of Sheffield believe that Stonehenge was built as a symbol of “peace and unity.” To prove their theory, they cite the fact that during the Neolithic era, the peoples living on the territory of modern Great Britain experienced a period of unification of cultures.

The first scientific attempt to explore and understand the site was made around 1740 by William Stukeley. He took measurements and drawings of the Stonehenge site, which allowed him to better analyze its shape and purpose. In his work, he was able to demonstrate the relationship between astronomy, the calendar and the arrangement of stones at Stonehenge.

As a result, archaeologists have come to the conclusion that Stonehenge is an ancient observatory, although the scale and possibilities of its use are a controversial issue. Some other theories suggest that Stonehenge symbolizes the female womb, is an ancient computer, or even a spaceport for alien ships.

Exploring Stonehenge.

Throughout history, Stonehenge and its surrounding monuments have attracted the attention of archaeologists. John Aubrey was one of the first to explore Stonehenge in 1666 and sketched out its plan. William Stukeley continued Aubrey's work in the early eighteenth century, but his interest was more directed towards the surrounding monuments. He also began excavating many of the mounds in the area.

William Cunnington was the next to explore the area in the early nineteenth century. He excavated 24 mounds surrounding Stonehenge and discovered charred wood, animal bones, pottery and urns. He also identified the recesses in which the altar stone was set. Cunnington's finds are on display at a museum in Wiltshire.

An exact replica of Stonehenge was built in Maryhill (Washington State, USA), serving as a war memorial.

In 1901, the first major restoration work was carried out under the leadership of William Gowland. The work was aimed at restoring the position of stone No. 56 of the outer ring of Stonehenge. As a result, the stone was installed in a vertical position, but was displaced by about half a meter relative to its original position. Gowland also took the opportunity to conduct archaeological excavations at Stonehenge. The results of his work revealed more about the construction of stones than in the previous 100 years of research. During further restoration work in 1920, William Hawley discovered the bases of six more stones and an outer ditch. His work helped rediscover Aubrey's holes and the location of two rows of holes surrounding the outer circle of stones, called Y and Z holes.

Richard Atkinson, Stuart Piggott and John F. S. Stone discovered images of axes and daggers carved into the stones of the outer circle in the 1940s and 1950s. Atkinson's research contributed to a better understanding of the three main stages of the monument's construction.

In 1958, restoration work was carried out again when three stones of the outer circle collapsed. They were re-erected and installed in concrete foundations. The last restoration was carried out in 1963 after stone No. 23, standing in the outer circle, fell.

Later excavations from 2003 to 2008, led by Mike Parker Pearson as part of the Stonehenge Riverside Project, revealed a circular area at the point where Stonehenge's "avenue" meets the river. Four stones were probably placed in this area to mark the beginning of the "avenue".

On September 10, 2014, the University of Birmingham, led by Vincent Gaffney, released a video highlighting current research and its results. The film tells about research carried out over an area of ​​12 square kilometers (1,200 hectares) and a depth of about three meters using radar equipment, about the mounds and stone or wooden structures found. The film also talks about the discovery of seventeen new monuments reminiscent of Stonehenge, which can be attributed to the late Neolithic period.

Legends about Stonehenge.

"Monk's Heel"

The Monk's Heel stone lies to the northeast of the Stonehenge stone circle, near the beginning of the "Prospect". A folk tale dating back to the seventeenth century explains the origin of the name of this stone.

The devil bought the stones from a woman in Ireland and took them to Salisbury Plain. One of the stones fell into the Avon River, and he scattered the rest of the stones across the plain. The Devil then shouted, “No one will ever know how these stones got here!” The monk answered him: “That’s what you think!” The devil got angry and threw one of the stones at him. The stone hit the monk's heel, bounced off and got stuck in the ground. This is how the stone got its name.

"The Legend of Merlin"

In the twelfth century, Geoffrey of Monmouth tells a bizarre story in his work Historia Regum Britanniae, which attributes the construction of a monument to Merlin.

According to Geoffrey, the stones of Stonehenge are life-giving stones, called "giant's dance", which the Giants brought from Africa to Ireland. King Aurelius Ambrosius wished to erect a memorial to the 3,000 nobles killed in battle with the Saxons and buried in Salisbury. On Merlin's advice, he chose Stonehenge. The king sent Merlin, Uther Pendragon (King Arthur's father) and 15,000 knights to carry him out of Ireland. But no matter how the knights tried to move the stones, they failed. Then Merlin, using his skills, easily moved Stonehenge to Great Britain. After it was installed near Amesbury, Aurelius Ambrosius, Uther Pendragon, and Constantine III were buried inside Stonehenge's giant ring.

Excursions to Stonehenge.

Not far from Stonehenge there is a small tourist complex, which includes: a small restaurant, parking, souvenir shop, museum, toilets. You can also book a tour here. You only need to pay for parking if you are not visiting Stonehenge and do not have an entrance ticket. Parking costs £5 (approximately RUB 350). Tours can be booked in several languages: French, Italian, Spanish, German, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Dutch and Polish.

It is advisable to get to Stonehenge as early as possible, because it won’t take much time to explore it, but you will be able to explore other monuments in the area. The best view of Stonehenge is from Amesbury Hill, 2 kilometers away on the A303. From here a walking trail leads to a burial ground 1 kilometer away from the 3rd millennium BC. e. in West Kennet Long Barrow. The A4 continues (westwards) to Avebury. There is also a megalithic prehistoric monument here. It is constantly and free of charge open to tourists. Local stones are smaller than Stonehenge, but the area they occupy is larger. Historians date the complex to approximately 2500 BC. e. At the entrance there is a museum that provides information about the excavations and theories regarding the meaning and purpose of the complex. The museum is open daily. From April to October from 10 to 18 hours. From November to March - from 9 to 16 (except Sundays). A regular ticket costs £3.70 (approximately RUB 250).

How to get to Stonehenge.

Stonehenge is located 130 km southwest of London. You can get there by car via the M3 and A303, which leads to Amesbury. Waterloo Station has trains to Andover and Salisbury, from where buses run to Stonehenge. From Salisbury - Wilts & Dorset Stonehenge Tour bus, fare 11 GBP, journey 40 minutes; or taxi for 30-35 GBP. From Andover - bus number 8 (Activ8).

In addition, you can buy a group tour in London, the price starts from 65 GBP (entrance fee and transport from the hotel included). There is also a Stonehenge Tour bus (17 GBP) from Salisbury, which picks up tourists at the railway station, in the city center and in Amesbury. The ticket is valid throughout the day, buses depart every half hour to an hour.

However, keep in mind: it is bus tours to Stonehenge (especially in the summer months!) that most tourists use.

The easiest and cheapest way to get there is by regular bus from Salisbury. Public transport to Stonehenge runs from the station on the pathetically named Endless Street (as well as from the train station) every hour, daily from 9.45 to 16.45. A ticket costs £5 (Explorer Ticket type, that is, round trip). In addition, various bus and travel companies compete for the favor of tourists, providing tours costing about £12.50 (including the cost of the “entrance” ticket).

You can get to Stonehenge in other ways: rent a car, order a taxi or rent a bicycle in Salisbury. Bike hire costs around £12 per day, or around £70 per week. The distance from the center of Salisbury to Stonehenge is about 18 km, the road passes through beautiful places along the Avon River, so for tourists accustomed to cycling, the excursion can be very pleasant.

Opening hours and cost of visiting Stonehenge

Huge stones, mounds, ditches, pits and ramparts - for many centuries Stonehenge has been of interest to historians, astronomers, and astrologers, who put forward various theories about the reasons for its origin and purpose.

Many people wonder how old this structure is and what is the history of Stonehenge. In terms of age, it is not much younger than the Egyptian pyramids - according to the latest data, it was built almost four thousand years ago. The ancient inhabitants called it “The Dance (or Round Dance) of the Giants,” and just by looking at it, it immediately becomes clear why.

It has long been known where Stonehenge is located and what it looks like. The building is located in Wiltshire in the UK. According to the latest data, its construction began around 1900 BC. e. (at the end of the Stone Age), and ended after three centuries (at the same time it was rebuilt three times).

First, the builders dug a ditch in the shape of a circle, then installed blocks and pillars of wood, dug and placed 56 holes in a circle. The central element of the building was the Heel Stone, seven meters high, right above which the Sun still rises on the day of the summer solstice. This is exactly what the ancient building looked like.

UK structures are extremely resistant to seismic activity. Studies have shown that builders achieved this thanks to special platforms designed to soften or even dampen tremors. Another feature is that they do not cause so-called “soil shrinkage”.

The structure itself has the following description:

1. 82 stone blocks (megaliths). According to recent research, the blue or greenish-gray volcanic stones of Stonehenge weighing 5 tons were most likely brought here from Carn Goedog, which is very far from Stonehenge - a distance of 250 km. Scientists still put forward different theories about how the ancient British dragged a large number of five-ton blocks over such a distance.
2. 30 stone blocks. The ancient builders placed blocks of stone weighing 25 tons each, four meters high, about two wide, in the shape of a circle, the diameter of which was 33 m. They were connected to each other using a “mortise and tenon” method, with transverse stones placed on top. Each such stone is a little more than three meters in length. The distance between the top of these jumpers and the ground turned out to be about five meters. In our time, an arch consisting of thirteen blocks with crossbars has been preserved.
3. 5 trilithons. The weight of each trilith is 50 tons. They were located inside this circle and formed a horseshoe. They were installed symmetrically - the height of one pair was six meters, the next one was higher, and the height of the central trilith reached 7.3 m. By the nineteenth century, only two south-eastern trilithons remained, as well as one curved support of the main stone. At the beginning of the twentieth, experts restored one northwestern trilith and straightened the support of the central one, thereby bringing its appearance closer to the original one.

Construction versions

Many people wonder who built Stonehenge, how Stonehenge was built and how old it is. Stonehenge was built over several centuries and a huge number of people worked on the construction (it should be taken into account that very few people lived in Great Britain at that time). Therefore, many scientists believe that all the peoples living in this area at that time were involved in the construction.

To build such a structure, the ancient British used dolerite, volcanic lava, volcanic tuff, sandstone and limestone.

Half of the monoliths were delivered from a site located more than two hundred kilometers from the building. According to some assumptions, they were delivered first by land, then by water; according to others, they themselves sailed here naturally.

Experiments were even conducted that showed that in a day twenty-four people are able to move a one-ton block just one kilometer. This means that it most likely took ancient people several years to deliver one heavy monolith.

The stones were processed in several stages in order to obtain the desired look and shape. First, even before moving, they were prepared for transportation by blows, fire and water, and after delivery they were already processed and polished, after which they acquired the desired appearance.

In order to install a block, they dug a hole, lined it with stakes, along which they rolled the monolith. After this, ropes were installed in a vertical position and fixed.

The crossbars were much more difficult to install. According to some assumptions, in order to place them on parallel stones, earthen elevations were made, along which the monoliths were pulled. According to others, they were raised using logs. First, they were placed at the same height, a block was dragged onto them, then a higher pile of logs was built nearby, a stone was lifted onto it, etc.

Purpose

Considering how many years and centuries were spent on the construction of Stonehenge, the number of people involved (according to some sources - at least a thousand) and efforts, the question arises why Stonehenge was built in Great Britain.

At first its construction was attributed to the Druids. In the Middle Ages, most people believed that Merlin erected it in one night after the British king's victory over the Saxons. During the Renaissance, historians decided that the Druids could not erect such a building, so it was most likely built by the Romans.

Now some scientists are convinced that this building is the burial place of Queen Boadicea. Moreover, the remains of ancient people were discovered here, according to scientists, who belonged to 240 representatives of the local elite. Moreover, most of the human bones date back to 2570-2340. BC, and the oldest are another thousand years older.

Most researchers are inclined to think that buildings of this type were not only ritual, but also astronomical structures, since here they could intensively study other planets, stars, sunrises and sunsets.

Astronomical theory

Nowadays, few people doubt the fact that Stonehenge was a huge observatory from which the sky was observed. Here they determined on what day the summer and winter solstices would occur (at this time the Sun rises directly above the Heel Stone), and began to keep an annual countdown.

Also, during the research, scientists noticed that on the day of the winter solstice, the Sun is perfectly visible through one trilith, and the sunsets of celestial bodies are visible through the other two. And two more were used to observe the Moon.

Some scientists have put forward the idea that the holes located inside the circle accurately imitate the trajectory of the celestial pole, which existed from 12 to 30 thousand years ago, as a result of which a version has emerged that Stonehenge may well be much older than it is now assume.

For example, University of Wales professor David Bowen conducted research that enabled him to claim that this structure is 140 thousand years old. The theory, of course, is unlikely, but it exists.

It is interesting that when scientists, using a special computer program, reconstructed the primary appearance of Stonehenge, he came to conclusions that surprised everyone: the ancient observatory was also an absolutely accurate model of the solar system, consisting of twelve planets. At the same time, two, unknown to us now, are hiding behind Pluto, another is located between Mars and Jupiter. The model surprisingly confirms the latest hypotheses of modern astronomy.

Eclipse predictor

Eclipses of heavenly bodies always caused an ambiguous reaction among our ancestors - they were simply afraid of them. Therefore, according to one hypothesis, Stonehenge in Great Britain was built precisely in order to warn in time about possible danger.

For example, Gerald Hopkins claims that during the construction of Stonehenge, eclipses occurred when the rising Moon was above the central block in winter. Autumn eclipses of the night light occurred when its rising completely coincided with one of the stones on the outer side of the circle.

It was in this place that the Moon appeared once every eighteen years. This means that three such cycles add up to fifty-six years - the number of holes installed in Stonehenge. Many years ago, when the ancients moved stones from one hole to another after a certain time, they determined when such an event that frightened them would occur, accurate to the time of year.

Stonehenge is a wonderful place that attracts and attracts others who are interested in its description and history. Stonehenge: interesting facts is the most requested question from tourists, which guides happily answer, revealing the secrets of the amazing construction of the ancient inhabitants.

Stonehenge (UK) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

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Shrouded in secrets and legends, Stonehenge is an ancient megalith located in the south of England, in the Salisbury area, 130 km from London. This is a complex of 30 roughly hewn huge pillars and slabs of stone, stacked on top of each other in concentric circles.

The purpose of Stonehenge is still not fully understood by scientists: some consider it a temple, others - an astronomical observatory, some - a tomb, and legends say that Atlanteans, Hyperboreans and the famous wizard Merlin performed rituals here.

This place is one of the most mysterious in the world; it is classified as an archaeological monument and is included in the UNESCO List of Protected Sites. Many tourists who want to see this wonder of the world come to Stonehenge to wander around the stones. It is prohibited to approach the structures, but at dawn or sunset you can enter the center of the circle.

Origin

The main mysteries of Stonehenge are who, how and why built such a monumental structure. Stone blocks were hollowed out in the rock of the Preselian Mountains and brought here several thousand years ago, covering a distance of 200 km!

According to a common hypothesis, the megalith was built by the ancient Celtic priests - the Druids and was used as a temple of heavenly bodies, but it does not agree with the age of the dolmens established by archaeologists - 3-5 thousand years BC. e.

Celtic legends claim that Stonehenge is the sanctuary of the wizard Merlin, which he created with the power of magic.

Another purpose attributed to the megalith is a pagan temple, where sacrifices were made to stone idols and burials were carried out. Scientists are still leaning more towards the version of the observatory of the ancients. Using radiocarbon dating, it was determined that the ditch and earthen ramparts were made around 5000 BC. e. After that, monoliths were delivered here and they were used to create a circular stone structure with a diameter of 30 m. The mass of the largest elements reaches 50 tons, so the delivery and installation of these giants without modern technical devices is a real miracle.

Multi-ton vertical pillars are covered with huge slabs and look like a colonnade. They are fastened together by a system of grooves and tenons, which is why the structure has stood the test of time and almost did not fall apart.

There are other interesting objects not far from the complex. For example, 5 km away there is a burial place of a rich man who lived at the time the megalith was built. Silbury Hill is a 40-meter artificial mound, also on the World Heritage Register, one of the largest in the world and the same age as Stonehenge.

Stonehenge

Practical information

Address: Amesbury, Salisbury SP4 7DE. GPS coordinates: 51.179177, −1.826284. (in English.).

How to get there: With a group excursion from London (cost from 60 GBP), by rented car or by train from Waterloo station to Salisbury station, then 40 minutes by Wilts & Dorset Stonehenge Tour bus or by taxi for 25-31 GBP.

Opening hours: from 9:00 to 20:00, entry until 18:00. Ticket prices: 17.5 GBP for adults and 10.50 GBP for children. Prices on the page are as of September 2018.

Basic moments

Stonehenge is located in an area where many prehistoric finds have been made. Stonehenge is considered a mysterious and magical place; various modern sects gather here, including followers of the Druids. Since Stonehenge was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, efforts have been made to prevent the inevitable environmental damage caused by the 800,000 tourists who visit the site each year.

At the moment, visitors are prohibited from entering the fence that surrounds the structure in a wide ring. There is still a not very powerful service center for tourists here.

16 km north of Salisbury, 3.5 km west of Amesbury;
Tel: 0870-3331181;
Apr. - Oct.: 10:00 - 18:00, Nov. - March: 09:00 - 16:00;
Entry: 8 GBP;
children (from 5 to 15 years): 4.80 GBP;
students and pensioners: 7.20 GBP;
family ticket (2 adults + 3 children): 20.80 GBP.

Construction of Stonehenge

The construction of Stonehenge is divided into three main periods with a total duration of about 2000 years. At the burial site and cult site there are megaliths - huge blocks of stone, reminiscent of the same stones in other parts of Europe. The megaliths of Stonehenge are located vertically and have transverse ceilings, which distinguishes them from other structures of this kind.

During the first construction period, approx. 3100 BC, a round ditch was dug and a rampart was built. For the shaft, soil taken from the ditch was used.

The second period began sometime after 2500 BC, when the first megaliths were installed in their place and the entrance on the north-eastern side of the circle was moved so that it faced exactly the sunrise. To this day, archaeologists are amazed by the accuracy with which ancient astronomers identified this place.

The third period began after 2000 BC. Additional multi-ton megaliths were installed, forming the so-called “Sarsen Ring”. It consists of 30 sandstone blocks, 4.25 m high and weighing 25 tons each, laid in a circle with a diameter of 30 m. The limestone blocks, weighing 7 tons each, were hewn precisely to form floors over the vertical blocks. They were attached to the top of the supports using a system of tongues and grooves. Articulations of this kind correspond to the culture and level of technology of the Bronze Age. In the center of the circle are placed five more trilithons, arranged in the shape of a horse's horseshoe.

Scientists believe that these granite blocks, some of them weighing 4 tons, were dragged by builders from the Preseli Hills in South Wales, which is 400 km away. Placed in pairs, the stones are topped with equally gigantic slabs. Inside the smaller circle are two more horseshoe-like structures, one next to the other, and in the center lies the so-called altar, or altar stone. There are other stones nearby.

As for the question of “how” Bronze Age people managed to transport, process and install these huge stones - especially megaliths brought from 200 miles away - it is clear that this would have required a high level of labor organization. But given an important goal, Bronze Age leaders had enough power to plan and carry out such work over decades. The technology of the time, including rollers, levers and rafts, made such construction possible.

Purpose

The position of each block, vertical support and ceiling is strictly adjusted to the position of the sun on the days of the summer and winter solstice. The two inner “horseshoes” are oriented towards sunrise and sunset on the summer and winter solstices. It is obvious that the builders attached great importance to this, but the meaning and purpose of the structures are still unknown to experts. Scientists are not sure that Stonehenge served as an astronomical laboratory. It is much more likely to use it as a religious center. In the middle there is an altar made of green stone. The other blocks located in the inner circle are called "blue stones". This is a special type of basalt mined in Wales, 380 km away. It is difficult to understand how such multi-ton blocks could be transported over such a distance, given the means of the Bronze Age. According to the theory of archaeologist Aubrey Barl, they were not transported from place to place at all: supposedly these blue stones were brought here by an ancient glacier. However, according to legend, the stones were delivered to Stonehenge by the great sorcerer Merlin.

The myths associated with Stonehenge live on for generations, and this amazing site continues to attract crowds of visitors. No one is allowed to penetrate the inner circle of the megaliths; only twice a year, on the summer and winter solstice, are English Druids performing their Celtic rites here.

Stonehenge still remains a mystery to archaeologists and history buffs. Many different theories have been put forward, but not one of them has been fully proven.

Data

• Age: The first traces of religious rituals date back to 8000 BC.
• Construction stages: First period - 3100 BC; the second - 2500 BC; third - 2000 BC
• Duration of construction: In total, construction took about 2000 years.

In the photo: the architectural monument Stonehenge in England. Photo from dailymail.co.uk

History of Stonehenge

Scientists believe that one of the most mysterious sights of England - the famous Stonehenge - was founded from above. 5000 years ago. Since then, the mysterious cromlech continues to attract people from all over the world.

It is estimated that the construction of Stonehenge took over three hundred years. Over the centuries it has been rebuilt and modified many times. The true purpose of the building is still unknown, but there are suggestions, supported by archaeological finds, that it was once used as a giant observatory or a ritual structure associated with the cult of the dead in early paganism.

Pictured: a mysterious pagan ceremony at ancient Stonehenge in England. Source: bbc.co.uk

The first circular building on the site of the modern stone cromlech was erected around 3100 BC and consisted of an embankment with a diameter of about 110 meters and a ditch in which the bones of deer and bulls were laid. Moreover, archaeologists believe that these bones were much older than the tools used to dig the ditch.

There were 56 holes dug inside, named Aubrey's Holes after one of Stonehenge's early explorers. According to modern scientists, they were used for astronomical purposes; perhaps, with the help of stones or tree trunks installed in holes, the ancient inhabitants of England predicted eclipses or monitored the movements of celestial bodies. And in 2013, a team of researchers discovered the cremated remains of at least 63 people - men, women and even a few children - buried in Aubrey's holes. In total, about 50,000 bones were found at Stonehenge. Later burials were also discovered on the territory of the monument, as well as evidence of a large number of people visiting the monument.

It is assumed that the first stone buildings on the site of Stonehenge appeared around 2600 BC. There are 80 standing stones from that time, some of which were brought from a distance of 240-250 kilometers. Other stones were taken from a quarry located 80 kilometers from Stonehenge. Moreover, the largest stones reached a height of two meters and weighed about 2 tons. Later, even larger stones were added, some of which have survived to this day. The heaviest cromlech stones weigh over 50 tons, and the height of the largest stone is a mind-boggling 7 meters.

Researchers are still wondering how exactly these blocks were delivered and installed. It is not surprising that people believed that giants participated in the construction or explained the emergence of Stonehenge by magic. One thing is certain - its construction required enormous efforts of a large number of people and lasted several centuries. But what exactly prompted the ancient inhabitants of modern England to erect such a grandiose structure, one can only guess.

Illustration from a mid-14th century manuscript. Participation of the wizard Merlin and the giants in the construction of Stonehenge. Source: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk

In terms of scale and historical age, Stonehenge is quite capable of competing with the Egyptian pyramids. And it definitely surpasses them in its mystery.

Stonehenge in modern times

Unfortunately, only a small part of the once majestic building has survived to this day. But, nevertheless, its scale is amazing to this day. Now we can only see an impressive altar stone, several vertical stones with lintels, a heel stone, the remains of a ditch and part of the preserved holes. Standing next to giant stones three times tall, it is impossible to believe that they were erected by people, especially long before the advent of construction equipment.

Plan of modern Stonehenge. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

A slight disappointment for tourists may be that Stonehenge is always full of visitors, and you cannot get too close to the stones, let alone touch them with your hands. That is, the expected “unity with space,” which many expect from a visit to Stonehenge, most likely will not happen.

But, even taking into account the constant crowds of tourists, Stonehenge makes an indelible impression and it is not for nothing that it remains one of the most visited attractions in the UK. And besides looking at stones, there is something to do on the territory of the museum complex. For example, you can try to move a stone similar in size and weight to the blocks in the monument, see Neolithic huts and imagine how people lived during the construction of Stonehenge, buy unusual souvenirs and admire the herbs blooming around.

How to get to Stonehenge

In the photo: a queue of tourists to Stonehenge. Photo from telegraph.org.uk

If you want to see the mysterious creation of ancient masters with your own eyes, the easiest way is to go to Stonehenge by car. It is located just 130 km from London in Wiltshire near the town of Amesbury at Amesbury, Salisbury SP4 7DE, UK.

Trains run every hour from Waterloo station to Salisbury, located 9.5 miles from the place of interest to us. The train journey will take about an hour and a half, plus you will have to take a bus or taxi, or walk about 15 kilometers through the picturesque area. Ubiquitous signs will prevent you from getting lost.

You can also get to Stonehenge by bus from Heathrow Airport or from Victoria Coach Station. In this case, the trip will take about two hours. The bus will take those eager to learn about the mysteries of antiquity to Amesbury, where they will have to change to another bus, take a taxi, or walk about 2 miles.

You can also choose from a huge number of bus tour options and visit only Stonehenge or several attractions at once. The first option will cost £40-50 per person, a round trip from London will take about 5 hours.

Stonehenge is open to the public every day, except Christmas weekend, from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets cost £16.30 for adults, £9.80 for children aged 5 to 15, £14.70 for pensioners and students. A family ticket for 2 adults and 3 children costs £42.40 when booked online. Tickets on the door will cost around £1-2 more. If you need an audio guide, it costs £3 to hire.

So is it worth going that far? Undoubtedly, if you want to feel the incomparable energy of this mysterious place, it is worth seeing with your own eyes the stones that stood in the same place long before the birth of Christ, as well as before the arrival of the Romans, the construction of Hadrian’s Wall, the reign of the legendary King Arthur and many other historical events.

Well, if for you stones are just stones, and you do not see any esoteric background in this structure, then in England, undoubtedly, there are many other, no less interesting places, which are much easier to get to.