Stonehenge - a mystery of nature or a creation of mankind? Where is Stonehenge: history, photos, videos Stonehenge is located on the territory.
Just 130 km from the capital of Great Britain there is an ancient structure, the reason for its construction cannot yet be named. Stonehenge is still shrouded in secrets and mystical mysteries, attracting not only curious tourists, but also paleontologists, historians, anthropologists, archaeologists and many other scientists.
A nice bonus only for our readers - a discount coupon when paying for tours on the website until February 29:
- AF500guruturizma - promotional code for 500 rubles for tours from 40,000 rubles
- AFT2000guruturizma - promotional code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Turkey from 100,000 rubles.
- AF2000KGuruturizma - promotional code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Cuba from 100,000 rubles.
The Travelata mobile app has a promotional code - AF600GuruMOB. He gives a discount of 600 rubles on all tours from 50,000 rubles. Download the application for and
On the website onlinetours.ru you can buy ANY tour with a discount of up to 3%!
Giant stone giants have stood guard over Stonehenge for more than 5 millennia, strictly keeping secret the true reason for the creation of this unique ancient monument. Located in the middle of the Salisbury chalk plateau, the structure made of huge stone blocks covers an area of 107 square meters. km and is located in the middle of marshland near the Devonshire hills. The unsolved mysteries of ancient Stonehenge give reason to call it the eighth wonder of the world. No wonder Stonehenge is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Origin of the word Stonehenge
Like the structure itself, the word “Stonehenge” has ancient origins. It is believed to come from a combination of the Old English words "stan" and "hencg", which translates to stone rod. In reality, the upper stones are fixed on huge blocks of stone in the form of rods. There is an assumption that the word “Stonehenge” has in its structure the Old English “hencen”, which means “gallows”, since the stone structures of two vertical blocks and the horizontal slab lying on them resemble medieval gallows.
These sculptures, reminiscent of medieval execution instruments, were called trilithas, which translated from Greek means three stones. There are five such trilithes, weighing 50 tons each. In addition to the huge triliths, 30 stone blocks weighing 25 tons each and 82 five-ton megaliths - large fragments of rocks that in ancient times were used to build structures with a religious purpose - were used in the creation of Stonehenge.
Grandiose building
The stone monoliths of Stonehenge are laid out around the perimeter of a large circle. On top of these blocks are huge stone slabs. Inside the circle there are stone blocks of larger sizes and covered with larger slabs, which are arranged in the form of a horseshoe. In the inner part of this peculiar horseshoe there are blue stones, forming the semblance of a smaller horseshoe.
Averubi and Silbury Hill
During the study of Stonehenge, even more ancient structures were discovered nearby - a huge circle laid out using vertical stone slabs - Averubi and Silbury Hill - a man-made cone-shaped mound reaching a height of 45 m. When studying these structures, we came to the interesting conclusion that they are all connected themselves, forming a single whole. Scientists made this conclusion based on the fact that the distance between Stonehenge, Averubi and Silbury Hill is 20 km, and they themselves are located so that they are in the corners of an equilateral triangle.
Mysteries of Stonehenge
None of the scientists can definitely say for what purpose and how exactly this stone structure was erected. It remains a mystery how, several centuries before the victory over Troy, multi-ton blocks were delivered to the site of Stonehenge, if the distance to the nearest rocks is 350 km. Even using modern construction equipment, it is not at all easy to deliver a block of stone weighing 25 tons over such a distance, and it is impossible to understand how this was achieved in the 2nd millennium BC.
Trying to somehow explain the reason for the appearance of stone monoliths on the swampy plain, people composed legends and tales. According to one of them, the powerful sorcerer Merlin brought legendary giants here by air to heal their wounds. The British call Stonehenge “the dance of the giants.” Indeed, stones placed in a circle are associated with a round dance of giants holding hands.
Another mystery of Stonehenge concerns the construction of a megalith over the intersection points of underground rivers. Under Stonehenge there are huge reserves of groundwater. Their presence can be explained by the location of the stone structure in a swampy area, but how to explain how the ancient people managed to accurately position the megalith remains a mystery.
The construction of Stonehenge took about 2000 years. Recently, archaeologists have found evidence of ancient wooden monumental buildings on the territory of this stone structure that were erected here 8,000 years ago.
Cult place
Later, on the territory of Stonehenge, two earthen ramparts were formed in the shape of a circle with a diameter of about 115 meters, separated by a deep ditch dug by deer antlers. During excavations in certain areas of the ditch, bones of large animals were discovered, and in some places the remains of burnt corpses. Based on the research, we came to the conclusion that this place was a cult place and sacrifices were made here. Many hundreds of years after the final construction of Stonehenge, it was used as a cemetery for cremated remains.
Stonehenge stones
Inside the moat are blue stones that were laid much later, around 1800 BC. e. Experts have established that these huge blocks were brought here from deposits located in different places and were moved from one place to another several times. It is difficult to imagine how this was possible without modern technology. Outside the circle is a huge monolith called the heel of the fleeing monk. On the opposite side of the shafts, opposite the “Heel” stone, there is a “Stone-block” inside.
Despite its name, the stone has nothing to do with sacrifices. Being exposed to external natural factors, weathering products appeared on the stone - iron oxides, which have a blood-red color. These “bloody” stains gave the stone its name.
In the center of Stonehenge there is a block of green sandstone weighing about 6 tons, which served as an altar.
The largest reconstruction of Stonehenge took place at the end of the 3rd millennium BC. Huge stone blocks were delivered to the construction area from the southern hills, located 40 km from the construction site. Even such an insignificant distance by today's standards is difficult to overcome in modern conditions in order to transport 30 huge stone blocks. What can we say about the delivery of stone blocks at the end of the 3rd millennium BC? The results of that ancient reconstruction have survived to this day almost unchanged.
Purpose
Scientists from all countries are at a loss about the purpose of Stonehenge. There are a number of assumptions and versions about this. Some consider the gigantic structure to be an ancient observatory, others argue that the Druids performed their religious rites here. There is an opinion that Stonehenge was built as a landing site for alien ships, and adherents of the existence of parallel dimensions are confident that a portal to other worlds opens here.
Some 5,000-year-old rock paintings discovered 14 km from Addis Ababa allegedly contain images similar to the stone blocks of Stonehenge. In one of these ancient drawings, above the center of the stone sculpture, the image resembles a spaceship taking off.
Paranormal activity
Paranormal investigators claim that amazing things are happening near the complex. Once, during a tour of Stonehenge, a boy accidentally touched one of the stones with a piece of bent wire and fell unconscious. After this incident, the child could not come to his senses for a long time and lost the ability to move his arms and legs for a whole six months.
While photographing Stonehenge in 1958, the photographer observed rising columns of light above the huge blocks of stone. And in 1968, one of the eyewitnesses said that he saw a ring of fire emanating from the stones of Stonehenge, in which there was a bright luminous object. In 1977, eyewitnesses managed to film a UFO squadron over the megalith, and this video was shown on all British television channels. Interestingly, while observing unidentified objects, eyewitnesses' compass broke and their portable TV failed.
In the Stonehenge area, scientists have repeatedly heard clicking sounds and strange buzzing sounds of unknown origin. Many scientists argue that the reason for such phenomena lies in the strong magnetic field spreading around Stonehenge. Surprisingly, the compass needle, which should point south, always turns towards the center of the megalith, regardless of which side of the structure you stop on. Another strange phenomenon is difficult to explain. If you knock on one of the stones in a certain way, the sound will spread to all the stones, although they are not connected to each other.
Versions of scientists
The 17th century English architect Inigo Jones, studying the structure, came to the conclusion that the structure of Stonehenge resembles the architecture of ancient times and suggested that these are the ruins of an ancient Roman temple. Another version indicates that the pagan queen Boadicea, who fought against the Romans, was buried on the territory of Stonehenge. In this regard, there is an opinion that the leaders of ancient tribes were also buried in Stonehenge.
Later, scientists suggested that Stonehenge was erected in order to accurately predict the time of lunar and solar eclipses, as well as the dates of the start of field work. Proof of this is the fact that on the day of the summer solstice during sunrise, its ray passes exactly through the middle of this stone structure. However, this version was rejected by skeptics, who argued that it was hardly justified to invest so much effort and money to verify the existence of an ordinary calendar and the change of seasons.
According to many scientists, Stonehenge was a place of pilgrimage and healing. An analysis of human bones found at burial sites within the stone structures showed that the people buried here suffered from serious illnesses. Warriors wounded in battle, the crippled and the hopelessly ill flocked to the blue stones of Stonehenge, hoping to receive healing here. Many, without waiting for recovery, died and were buried here.
The ancient Stonehenge holds many unsolved mysteries. None of the stones have an inscription, drawing or any marking. Scientists find it difficult to cling to anything. We have to build versions and put forward hypotheses and assumptions. It is worth noting that similar structures made of stone blocks can be found throughout Europe and on individual islands, although in scale they are clearly inferior to Stonehenge.
😉 Greetings to regular readers and guests of the site! Friends, many people ask the question: where is Stonehenge located, in which country? I wanted to answer this question and tell everything I know about this place.
Once in my youth I first saw Stonehenge in a picture. Mysterious stones interested me. “I wish I could see them for real,” I thought then. And when my travels began, seeing Stonehenge became my dream. And my dream came true! The main thing is to want it badly! Anything is possible, guys!
The dream of seeing Stonehenge has come true! The main thing is to want it badly! Everything is possible!
By the way, US President Obama said that visiting the famous monument was on the list of things he dreams of accomplishing in his life. On September 6, 2014, his dream came true.
What is Stonehenge
When I first found out where Stonehenge was located, I was surprised. In my understanding, these stones could be located anywhere, but not in Europe. But this stone monument is located precisely in Europe, in the county of Wiltshire, 130 km from!
Stonehenge is one of the most mysterious structures on the planet. In the language of the ancient Celts, "Stonehenge" means "dancing stones." The oldest monument is located in Salisbury Valley, UK.
Even at the stage of the emergence of civilizations, people built grandiose structures, which later became famous throughout the world. Among them is Stonehenge, known as a stone mystery, in the very center of Europe.
Its age is comparable to the age of the Egyptian pyramids. But to this day, the interest of historians and astronomers in this amazing ancient monument has not waned. Various hypotheses and versions of its origin and purpose have been put forward.
History of Stonehenge
Today, Stonehenge researchers agree that its construction took place between 3500 and 1600 BC. BC. The complex was built in several stages, with breaks between them of 2-3 centuries.
Stonehenge. View from above
According to legend, Stonehenge was built by Merlin, an all-powerful magician at the court of King Arthur. In one night he carried stone blocks from southwest Wales, famous for its sacred springs.
For a long time, the Celts were considered the builders of the stone circle. Then this version was refuted, considering that the Celts could not erect such a structure. Then they put forward the hypothesis that this was a building of the ancient Romans.
In the Middle Ages, it was believed that Stonehenge was created by the Swiss or Germans. With all the diversity of opinions regarding its origin, one thing is clear - only a highly developed civilization was capable of this.
Mysterious stones are a complex of huge standing vertical stone blocks that form several circles. The total weight of the structure is 82 stones weighing 5 tons each. 30 stones of 25 tons and 5 trilithons each of 50 tons.
"Heel stone"
The trilithons located in the center (a pair of vertical stones overlapped by a third) form arches that accurately point to each of the cardinal directions. At the entrance to the complex there is a huge, 6-meter “Heel Stone” - it is above it that the sunrise is visible on the day of the summer solstice.
"Heel stone" weighing approximately 35 tons
It was established that part of the material for the construction of the complex was delivered from quarries located at a distance of up to 300 kilometers from the construction site. The heaviest stones were transported from the nearest place, 30 km away.
The results of specially conducted experiments showed that a group of 24 people would need 24 hours to drag a stone weighing a ton over a distance of 1 kilometer. It took ancient builders several years to deliver such huge blocks. According to scientists, the ancient monument was built by thousands of people over 300 years.
Like many ancient structures, Stonehenge is resistant to seismic activity. According to research, during its construction special platforms were used, designed to dampen or smooth out tremors. Also, the structure is practically not susceptible to “soil shrinkage”.
Mysteries of Stonehenge
What prompted ancient people to put so much effort into processing and transporting huge blocks of stone and arranging them in a strictly established order? To date, many hypotheses have been put forward about the purpose of the intricate design.
The most common among them is astronomical. After a computer reconstruction of the ruins carried out in 1998, further evidence emerged that the complex was a giant ancient observatory.
Tourists are not allowed close to the stones. A fence in the form of a tension rope has been installed
It turned out that the structure is an exact model of the solar system, albeit consisting not of 9, but of 12 planets. This model is consistent with the ideas of other ancient civilizations (Sumerians, Egyptians) and confirms the latest astronomical hypotheses.
The builders of the stone monolith had incredible knowledge at that time. They knew exactly the orbital period of the Moon and the length of the solar year.
For ancient astronomers, huge trilithons served as astronomical instruments. On the day of the winter solstice, the rising Sun is clearly visible through one of the trilithons. And through the other two you can view the sunsets of celestial bodies.
According to one version, Stonehenge was erected to predict eclipses and to determine the dates for the start of agricultural work.
In addition to the astronomical one, there are other theories. Some scientists believe that the structure served as a temple for the ancient Celts-Druids who worshiped the Sun.
Other adherents of the temple version claim that the circle of stones was built by the Romans in honor of one of the gods of the Pantheon.
Some researchers, citing the burials found here as evidence, put forward the version of a royal tomb or burial place of local leaders.
English historians also suggest that Stonehenge served as an ancient sanatorium. Belief in the supernatural power of blue cobblestones brought the sick and wounded here from surrounding villages.
Other hypotheses
Material confirmation of the version was the discovery of human remains under the complex with traces of many years of trauma. Modern residents of Wiltshire and Wales still pass on stories about the healing “blue dust” to their children and grandchildren.
There is also a hypothesis that geometry was studied in the circle of stones. The complex has the shape of a 56-sided polygon. This is the most complex geometric figure that can be built from a circle and a square using only a rope.
Ancient builders spent centuries constructing the structure and remodeling it several times to achieve the correct shape.
More incredible hypotheses are also popular - that Stonehenge was built by aliens.
Supporters of these versions point to the fact that people who lived in the Neolithic era could not have known the exact sizes of the Earth, Moon and other planets, which were reflected in the location of giant boulders.
There are also versions that the circle of stones is a gateway to another dimension or a message from other worlds.
The British nicknamed the mystical structure “Dance of the Giants” - the stones arranged in a circle resemble giants holding hands, twirling in a round dance.
Even today, although in great ruins, Stonehenge is impressive. It can be called the eighth wonder of the world.
The mystery of the ancient monument has not yet been solved. Only one thing is known for certain: its builders, whoever they were, had outstanding knowledge of astronomy, mathematics and architecture.
Where is Stonehenge (video)
😉 Leave your comments and additions to the article “Where is Stonehenge: history, photos, videos.” Share this information with your friends on social networks.
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.
This is what Sir Philip Sidney, one of the brilliant Elizabethan poets, wrote about Stonehenge. The unique megalithic monument, known as Stonehenge (overhanging stones) or the Round Dance of the Giants, is a mystery that has puzzled many generations. It rises on the table-smooth Salisbury Plain in southern England. A few miles away is the River Avon. The structure is made of giant stone blocks, the weight of which ranges from 5 to 50 tons.
In the Middle Ages, there was an opinion that the greatest miracle of Britain was the work of its greatest wizard, Merlin. The myth about the construction of the Round Dance of Giants by the court sorcerer of King Arthur has several variants. The most popular version was set out by the 12th century writer Geoffrey of Monmouth in his pseudo-chronicle “History of the Britons”. According to this version, Stonehenge was supposed to perpetuate the memory of four hundred and sixty British leaders who were treacherously killed during peace negotiations by the Saxons who invaded the island. Merlin supposedly erected this grand memorial at the site of an insidious murder during the reign of King Aurelius Ambrosius, Arthur's uncle. But, as the legend says, the wizard was not the architect of the structure; he only had the idea to move the Round Dance of the Giants from Ireland, where it was previously located. According to Geoffrey, Merlin addressed the king with the following words:
“If you want to decorate the grave of your murdered husbands with a very strong structure, go to the Ring of the Giants, which is located on Mount Killario in Hibernia (the ancient name of Ireland). It is lined with stones that none of the people of our time could handle without subordinating the art to the mind. The stones are huge, and there is no one whose strength can move them. And if you place these blocks around the site where the bodies of the murdered are buried, just as was done there, they will stand there forever.” The chronicle goes on to say the following: “Hearing these words, Aurelius grinned, remarking: “How is this so? To transport such huge stones from such a distant kingdom, it’s as if there were no stones in Britain for the structure I planned!” To this Merlin replied: “Don’t laugh in vain, for what I offer you is by no means empty. The stones are full of secrets and impart healing properties to various potions. Once the giants took them from the extreme reaches of Africa and installed them in Hibernia, where they then lived."
After this conversation, King Ambrosius sent fifteen thousand Britons overseas, led by his brother Uther Pendragon (Arthur's future father). The expedition encountered resistance from the inhabitants of the Green Island, but in the end, the latter were defeated. Geoffrey goes on to say:
“Having won the victory, the Britons climbed Mount Killario and, having taken possession of the stone structure, rejoiced and marveled at it. And so, when they crowded around him, Merlin came up and said: “Use all your strength, young men, and, moving these stones, try to understand what is more powerful, strength or reason, reason or strength.” Obeying his orders, they unanimously took up all kinds of weapons and began to dismantle the Ring. Others prepared ropes, other ropes, other ladders in order to complete their plans, but achieved nothing. Observing their fruitless efforts, Merlin laughed and invented his own tools. Then, using some necessary tools, he moved the stones with incredible ease; He forced the blocks he had moved to be dragged to the ships and loaded onto them. Rejoicing, they sailed to Britain and reached it with fair winds, after which the stones they brought were delivered to the graves of their murdered husbands.”
This explains the origins of the monument on Salisbury Plain in one of the most popular literary works of the Middle Ages. But the Renaissance that followed was characterized by some disdain for the culture of the Middle Ages and an increased interest in antiquity. Due to new cultural trends, the story of Merlin was declared an absurd fable. Now it has become fashionable to attribute the construction of a giant megalithic structure to the Druids, a mysterious caste of Celtic priests, the main information about which was drawn from the Notes on the Gallic War by Julius Caesar. The great Roman commander and politician reports that the Druids “...tell their young disciples a lot about the luminaries and their movements, about the greatness of the world and the earth, about nature and about the power and authority of the immortal gods,” and also that “...their science is thought to have originated in Britain and from there transferred to Gaul; and to this day, in order to get to know it more thoroughly, they go there to study it.”
The first serious study of Stonehenge was carried out in the second half of the 17th century. John Aubrey, member of the Royal Academy and personal friend of King Charles II. He carefully examined the monument and sketched not only the stones, but also much less noticeable earthen structures. However, not being armed with modern archaeological methods, he was unable to make sound scientific conclusions about the date of construction. Aubrey's authoritative opinion greatly contributed to the popularity of the “Druidic” version of the origin of the Giants' Round Dance.
Conducted already in the 20th century. Archaeological research of the monument showed that the idea of the Druids, the builders of Stonehenge, is no more scientific than the tale of Merlin. Lovers of historical mysteries were in for a surprise. As a rule, the popular imagination increases the antiquity of monuments, easily juggling centuries and millennia. For example, the author of this article has repeatedly heard stories that the old railway embankment near the village was built under Catherine, and the stone Pecheneg women are 14 thousand years old. With Stonehenge it was the other way around. As it turned out, it was incredibly ancient not only in the time of Merlin (5th century AD), but also when the first Druids supposedly appeared in Britain (around the 5th century BC).
Archaeologists are somewhat hesitant in determining the date of the start of construction of Stonehenge, but have no doubt that the first elements of the monument were created in the Neolithic, and the end of construction dates back to the early Bronze Age. The main structures that are most impressive to modern tourists were erected in the period 1900 - 1600 BC. e.
Studying the Round Dance of Giants is not an easy task, not only because of the ravages of time. As it turned out, Stonehenge was rebuilt several times in prehistoric times. Its oldest part is so insignificant from a layman’s point of view that most tourists pass it without even noticing it, and cross the border of an unimaginably ancient monument without any inner trepidation, rushing towards the Cyclopean stone arches looming ahead. Meanwhile, this border is a shallow ditch bordered by two earthen ramparts. The ditch and ramparts form a surprisingly regular circle, about 115 m in diameter, broken in the northeast. The inner shaft, higher and wider than the outer one, has a width of 6 m and a height of 1.8. The width and height of the outer rampart are 2.5 m and 0.5 - 0.8 m, respectively. As for the ditch, it is very uneven, and apparently had no independent significance, but simply served as a quarry from which material for the ramparts was extracted . It should be said that this material is the chalk-rich soil of Salisbury, and at the time when the condition of the shafts was monitored, they must have had a dazzling white color, which looked very impressive.
As already mentioned, in the northeast there is a gap in the earthen ring (about 10 m). On the straight line connecting the middle of this gap and the center of the circle, 30 m outside of it, there is a huge stone placed upright. Its height is 6 m, weight is about 35 tons. This stone is called the Heel stone, but, like many other archaeological objects, it owes its name to chance, and it has nothing to do with its purpose. If a person of average height stands in the center of the Round Dance of Giants and looks at the Heel Stone through the gap in the ring, he will see its top exactly at the level of the horizon. And if he does this early in the morning on the day of the summer solstice, he will see the sun rise directly above the stone.
Only four stones were originally installed inside the ring. Two of them have survived to this day, the remaining two have holes left. The stones formed a rectangle inscribed in a circle, the long sides of which were perpendicular to the axis drawn from the center through the Heel Stone, and the short sides were correspondingly perpendicular to it. All five stones dating from the first period of Stonehenge's construction are uncut. During the same period, a chain of holes was dug along the inner side of the shaft, also forming a regular circle, the so-called “Aubrey ring”, which received its name in honor of the discoverer. This is an extremely intriguing detail of the structure. The holes are located at a carefully adjusted equal distance from each other. Their number is unusual - 56. Obviously, this number was not chosen by chance. If the ancient builders simply wanted to create a closed ring of equidistant holes, then there would be 64 of them. Such a ring is very easy to construct by sequentially dividing the arc of a circle in half.
Soon after the Aubrey Holes were dug, they were filled with crushed chalk. In some of them, archaeologists have discovered cremated human remains. This detail suggests blood sacrifices, but upon mature reflection such an idea does not seem sufficiently thorough. It is possible that Stonehenge, which did not yet live up to its current name, was a burial place.
More than one generation had passed in Britain before they decided to modernize the structure, creating a complex that modern archaeologists call Stonehenge II. The new builders began to build two more concentric circles of bluish stones inside the earthen ring. These circles were also broken to the northeast, allowing views from the center to the Heel Stone. In addition, the entrance was marked with additional stones. The megaliths of Stonehenge II were not very large compared to the Cyclopean stone blocks that can be seen on Salisbury Plain today. Their weight was about 5 tons each. The stones were brought not from Ireland, as the medieval legend says, but from Wales, from the Preselli Mountains. The region is not as remote as Ireland, but still the distance in a straight line is 210 km, but most likely the megaliths were transported 380 km along the rivers. The second period of construction of Stonehenge also includes the construction of two shafts, symmetrical relative to the center axis - the Heel Stone and leading from the entrance, first directly to the northeast, and then to the Avon River, which flows 2 miles from the Round Dance of the Giants. Archaeologists call this detail of the monument “Avenue”. It is assumed that the ramparts fenced off the sacred road along which stones transported on rafts were transported using rollers to the construction site.
The impressive structure made of bluish stones stood on Salisbury Plain for a very short time. Apparently, it had not yet been properly completed when the decision was made to disassemble both rings. What made the ancient architects act in such a strange way will most likely forever remain a mystery.
Having cleared the sacred site of blue stones, the builders began to build a new structure, this time from blocks of hard light gray sandstone, which are called sarsens. They were brought from the Marlborough Downs area, located 35 - 40 km north of Stonehenge. There, huge sarsen boulders are found right on the surface of the earth. The local residents call them Gray Sheep. The Stonehenge researcher John Aubrey, already mentioned here, had a chance to hunt in these areas, and he left a description of them:
“These hills look as if they were sown with huge stones, and very densely; in the evenings they look like a flock of sheep, and this explains their name. It seems that this is the place where the Giants threw stones at the Gods.”
The weight of each block that arrived on the Salisbury Plain from Marlborough Downs was tens of tons. Unlike the uncut stones of Stonehenge I, the blocks of the third period of construction were clearly processed with metal tools. The irregularities that can now be seen on the stones of the Round Dance of Giants are a consequence of the destructive effects of time: weathering, temperature changes, and sometimes the hammers of tourists. At one time, they were cut and polished, which was not easy, given the hardness of the material (One peculiar lover of antiquities, who visited Stonehenge in the 17th century, left the following entry in his diary: “These stones are surprisingly hard and strong, and no matter how much I hit with a hammer, I couldn’t break off a single piece.”
During the last period of construction, the ancient architects built a circle of 30 sarsen blocks placed vertically and provided them with lintels on top, so that a continuous ring was formed. In the blocks laid on top, recesses were made that corresponded to the spikes on the support stones, which ensured the strength of the building. In the northeast, the jumper ring was not torn, but the gap between the supports was made larger. Thus, the observer’s horizons were limited from above, but nothing prevented him from seeing the Sun appearing over the horizon after the shortest night of the year.
In the middle of the sarsen ring, a horseshoe was erected, made up of five so-called trilithons. This term, meaning “three stones,” was specially invented to refer to the structures of Stonehenge, which consist of two stone blocks placed upright, topped by a third, so that it turns out something like the letter P. These structures are truly gigantic. Their height is approximately 6 - 7 m. The largest trilith was erected opposite the entrance. The weight of the stones that make it up is 50 tons (For comparison: the weight of the largest blocks of the Egyptian pyramids is 15 tons). Four other trilithons form the branches of a horseshoe, open to the northeast and symmetrical relative to the axis of the center - the Heel Stone.
The sarsen ring and horseshoe, although fairly destroyed, are quite clearly visible in modern ruins, but there was another stage of construction, designated by archaeologists as Stonehenge III B, which careful research helped to identify. At this stage, the previously dismantled ring of blue stones was restored. Now it went around the horseshoe of trilites and, as it were, duplicated the sarsen ring bordering it. Some of the blue stones formed another horseshoe inside the horseshoe of trilithes. In addition, the creators of Stonehenge III B dug two rows of holes between the sarsen ring and the “Aubrey ring,” which are usually designated holes X and Y. One row of holes has 29, the other 30.
The monument has a number of other details, such as separately lying stones, embankments and ditches. In the general description of the structure, they seem to be of minor importance, but in principle, each of these little things can turn out to be the key to an important scientific problem.
For a long time, the main mystery of the Round Dance of the Giants, which was in the focus of public attention, was the question of how primitive people could move such huge stones over considerable distances, and then install them with remarkable accuracy. But this problem has long been solved by modern scientists. Most famous in the field of megalithic construction was the Norwegian scientist Thor Heyerdahl, who reproduced the technique of moving the giant monuments of Easter Island. But there were other enthusiasts. For some time, moving giant blocks using primitive technical means, simulating the construction of Stonehenge, became something of a national English sport. Such attempts were followed by popular radio programs. It turned out that approximately 16 people per ton are enough to drag stones a kilometer to one and a half a day. This is by land, on skating rinks. After the blocks were loaded onto the rafts, things naturally went faster. The work, of course, is not easy, but if people, in the words of a famous joke, “toil for hours and toil for hours,” it is quite feasible.
However, as the Manchester Guardian wrote in 1963, “...emphasis is usually placed on the difficulties of transporting stone blocks to the site of construction. But it was much more difficult to decide where to install them - this required the greatest effort from the builders of all their knowledge and strength.” The article was a response to the publication of a sensational work by Smithsonian Astronomical Observatory Professor Gerald Hawkins, in which he tried to answer the question: what was the purpose of Britain's greatest megalithic monument.
The fact that the Round Dance of the Giants is oriented towards the sunrise point on the day of the summer solstice was noticed a very long time ago. As you know, the sun rises exactly in the east only on the days of the autumn and spring equinox (with the exception of the equator). In the winter half of the year, the sunrise point moves to the south, and in the summer - to the north. Moreover, this displacement is stronger, the closer to the pole the observer is. Being on the Arctic Circle, you can see how the star in the middle of the night briefly touches the horizon at the north point and rushes upward again. It will not go beyond the Arctic Circle at all. At the latitude of Stonehenge, the sunrise point on the summer solstice is almost due northeast. The orientation of the main axis of the structure in this direction gave reason to consider it a temple of the solar cult, where the priests, seeing that the luminary had returned to the Heel Stone, solemnly announced the birth of the new year.
But astronomer Hawkins rightly noted that in order to mark the sunrise point, like any other point on the horizon, two stones are enough. Meanwhile, in Round Dance there are many more of them, and the structure of their placement is so complex that it cannot be arbitrary. Apparently, the professor reasoned, the purpose of the structure was not limited to determining the solstice day from which the new year would begin, although this was a very important task for the primitive agricultural people.
While at Stonehenge, Hawkins noticed how narrow the gaps were between the standing trilith stones. They do not exceed 30 cm, and it is impossible to squeeze through them. At the same time, they are oriented in such a way that through them you can only look through a certain opening of the sarsen ring, which narrows your horizons even more, your gaze rests on a fixed point on the horizon. The researcher quickly came to the conclusion that through the gap of the central trilith, which was only partially preserved, it was possible to observe the moment of sunset on the day of the winter solstice. But in order to establish the orientation of other objects of the dilapidated monument, all the data had to be subjected to careful mathematical processing, which required an electronic computer.
As it turned out, all the straight lines connecting the main points of Stonehenge certainly indicate some special position of the Sun or Moon. In particular, the two trilithons at the ends of the horseshoe are oriented toward sunset on the summer solstice and sunrise on the winter solstice. The remaining two were apparently intended for observing the rising and setting of the Moon. Often, on a straight line connecting two important points, there is a third object - an additional landmark.
In the composition of the Round Dance of Giants, lines are clearly visible indicating the points of sunrise and sunset on the days of the summer and winter solstices, as well as the equinox. As for the Moon, the trajectory of its apparent movement across the sky is much more complex than that of the Sun. Throughout the year, it moves as if towards the Sun: north in winter and south in summer. But its extreme positions, unlike the solar ones, do not remain unchanged from year to year, but perform pendulum-like movements during a 19-year cycle. Thus, for every extreme position of the Sun, there are two extreme positions of the Moon, and each of these positions is recorded in the structure of Stonehenge.
Hawkins notes the economy of the monument's composition. Thus, in Stonehenge I, 16 directions to special positions of the luminaries are visible, each of which is determined by two points. But not 32 points were used, but only 11. Six of them were used more than once, including two points used 6 times.
Hawkins' research was not limited to identifying the main directions in which observations were made. The scientist drew attention to an excerpt from the work of the ancient historian Diodorus Siculus, in which he talks about the mythical island of the Hyperboreans, located far in the north. Hawkins believed that Diodorus was talking about Britain, and mentioned Stonehenge in his description: “And there is also on this island a magnificent sanctuary of Apollo, and also a beautiful temple, decorated with numerous donations, spherical in shape. In addition, there is a city dedicated to this god, and most of its inhabitants play the cithara... They also say that from this island the Moon is visible as if it were very close to the Earth, and the eye can discern on it the same heights as on the ground. It is also said that God visits the island every 19 years; this is the period during which the stars complete their journey across the sky and return to their original place... Upon his appearance, God plays the cithara and dances the night away from the vernal equinox to the rising of the Pleiades, thus expressing delight at the occasion of his victories. And the kings of this city and the guardians of the sanctuary are called Boreads, since they come from Boreas (north wind), and these positions are passed down in their family from generation to generation.”
As an astronomer, Hawkins knew that lunar and solar eclipses can recur in cycles of approximately 19 years. It occurred to him that the Dance of the Giants could be used to predict eclipses. Working further in this direction, the scientist realized that in the 2nd millennium BC. e. Eclipses took place during periods when the winter Moon rose directly above the Heel Stone.
But, to be precise, the full cycle of the visible movement of the Moon is not 19, but 18.61 solar years. Thus, in order to predict the repetition of celestial phenomena as accurately as possible, one should count 19 years twice in a row, and then only 18. Thus, we are already talking about a 56-year lunar cycle, which is much more accurate than a 19-year one (19+19+18=56 ). And then Hawkins remembered the strange, still unexplained number of “Aubrey holes.”
According to Hawkins's hypothesis, Stonehenge is not just an observatory, but something like a giant stone adding machine for calculating the years when an eclipse might occur. Imagining himself in the place of a prehistoric priest, he wrote the following:
“If once a year you move a stone in a circle from one Aubrey hole to the next, you can predict all the extreme positions of the Moon at a given time of year, as well as eclipses of the Sun and Moon at the solstices and equinoxes. If you use six stones placed at 9, 9, 10, 9, 9, 10 holes of Aubrey, and move them counterclockwise to the next hole once a year, you can achieve amazing results in predicting astronomical phenomena. Given six stones - three white and three black - this calculating device could, for hundreds of years, and very accurately, predict all important phenomena. Associated with the Moon."
It is easy to see that with the arrangement proposed by Hawkins, a stone of a certain color should fall into each hole with a periodicity of 18 - 19 years. It was only necessary to mark the holes corresponding to the “dangerous” years.
Of course, Hawkins did not insist that three and a half thousand years ago everything happened exactly as he described. He did not even consider his hypothesis regarding the number of “Aubrey holes” to be absolutely proven, but only highly probable. As for the 30 standing stones of the sarsen ring, the professor associated them with the days of the month. On this occasion, he also remembered holes X and Y, numbering 30 and 29. With their help, inaccuracies could be eliminated due to the fact that a full lunar month (the interval between two full moons) is 29.53 days.
What other opportunities the Circle of Giants gave to the inhabitants of prehistoric Britain, we can only guess. An increasingly detailed archaeological study of the monument will provide more and more food for thought not only about the scientific and technical potential of the ancients, but also about the social role of projects like the construction of the Round Dance of the Giants. Hawkins compared the construction of this gigantic astronomical instrument by prehistoric tribes to the space program of modern superpowers.
He wrote: “The space program absorbs about 1% of the total US national product. Stonehenge undoubtedly absorbed no less. Its construction undoubtedly required much more effort from the then inhabitants of England than the space program from the Americans, and probably meant much more to them.”
Found a typo? Select a fragment and press Ctrl+Enter.
Sp-force-hide ( display: none;).sp-form ( display: block; background: #ffffff; padding: 15px; width: 960px; max-width: 100%; border-radius: 5px; -moz-border -radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; border-color: #dddddd; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; background- repeat: no-repeat; background-position: center; background-size: auto;).sp-form input ( display: inline-block; opacity: 1; visibility: visible;).sp-form .sp-form-fields -wrapper ( margin: 0 auto; width: 930px;).sp-form .sp-form-control ( background: #ffffff; border-color: #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font- size: 15px; padding-left: 8.75px; padding-right: 8.75px; border-radius: 4px; -moz-border-radius: 4px; -webkit-border-radius: 4px; height: 35px; width: 100% ;).sp-form .sp-field label ( color: #444444; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;).sp-form .sp-button ( border-radius: 4px ; -moz-border-radius: 4px; -webkit-border-radius: 4px; background-color: #0089bf; color: #ffffff; width: auto; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;).sp-form .sp-button-container ( text-align: left;)
In the English county of Wiltshire, a favorite tourist destination is the famous - a quaint stone structure. The blocks stand in the shape of a circle, some of them are covered with slabs on top. Inside the circle there are also several structures that form a smaller circle. This archaeological site was officially included in the World Heritage List in 1986, because it still raises a lot of questions and disputes about its origin.
This building has an ancient name - “Dance of the Giants”. The exact year of the appearance of Stonehenge is unknown to anyone, therefore the estimated period is quite wide - from 3020-2910 BC. e. One thing is clear - it took many centuries to build it, and many peoples of that time had a hand in it.
All the stones of Stonehenge are very different, not only in the nature of their origin, but also in weight. The heaviest ones – up to 50 tons. That is why there are doubts that the monument is the work of mankind, because such heavy blocks had to be moved for many years to the construction site. However, according to legend, Merlin, the chief sorcerer of the Britons, managed to build Stonehenge in memory of the battle with the Saxons in exactly one night.
The exact purpose of Stonehenge is an interesting question for archaeologists and researchers. According to some, the stones personified the cult of the Sun. And others are sure that the stones were necessary for the purposes of astronomy. There is another assumption - the energy of the majestic stones could be used to treat sick people who came here from all over the world. The second version is more plausible - many tourists saw with their own eyes how on the day of the summer solstice the sun rises just above the Heel Stone, which is located at the entrance to the stone circle.
Recently, researchers discovered several religious monuments near Stonehenge, leading to new speculation that the stone structure is only a small part of a larger complex of sacrifice points and holy sites. By the way, over many centuries the monument was constantly restored to maintain it, so visually it is somewhat different from its original appearance. At the same time, the scope of the restoration was quite impressive, which caused a lot of criticism; even special investigations were carried out to determine whether the overall picture of the monument had been violated.
You can get to the stone monument by ordering, you will need to drive about 130 km. During the excursion, you can learn more about the mysteries and secrets of this unusual place, as well as take unforgettable photographs as a keepsake, which will definitely become the pride of your home album.
Legends are not only made about this monument, but films are also made. In 2010 alone, two documentaries were released. Therefore, before visiting Stonehenge, you can watch a couple of films to show your knowledge during the excursion.
Stonehenge is quite an interesting place to visit if you are interested in the mysteries of nature. Surely the grandeur of these huge stones will amaze any traveler and make them wonder again about the origin of the famous Stonehenge.
