Stonehenge is certainly Britain's greatest national symbol, symbolizing mystery, strength and stamina. Its original purpose is unclear to us, but some have speculated that it was a temple to worship the ancient gods of the earth.
It has been named the Astronomical Observatory for the Celebration of Important Events in the Prehistoric Calendar. Others claim it was a sacred site for the burial of high-ranking citizens of communities long ago. ...
Stonehenge can be found along A303, between Amesbury and Stoke on the Salisbury Plain two miles (three kilometres) west of the town of Amesbury, Wiltshire, in the South of England.
How Old Is Stonehenge? And Why Was It Built?
Around 2000 BC, the first stone circle (now the inner circle), made up of small blue stones, was created but abandoned before completion. The stones used in that first circle are believed to be from the Presley Mountains, located about 240 miles away, at the south-west end of Wales.
The blue stones weigh up to 4 tons and about 80 stones have been used in total. Given the distance they had to travel, this is a major transport problem.
The ancient enigma is in fact a megalithic ruin, divided up into groups of not just stone structures, but also earth and timber, which were thought to have been revised and re-modelled over a period of over 1,400 years. The collection of stones was thought to be built in a three stage process, the first of which has been dated by experts as being between 2950-2900 BCE. This earliest earliest section of the complex dates to approximately (Middle Neolithic).
In he following 500 years until 2400 BCE post holes have been identified which indicate timber settings visible at the north-eastern entrance, in the middle of the monument. These were partially filled, some with cremation debris.
The third phase (2550-1600 BCE)of building involved the placement of the large stones by which Stonehenge is so familiarly known. The first stoneto be set were the Bluestones. Then came what is known as the 'Sarsen Circle' which is considered to be the most remarkable feature of Stonehenge in terms of the skill exemplified in the design, precision and engineering work.
