The first people to build Stonehenge were the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) people who inhabited Britain around 3,000 BC. They were hunter-gatherers who lived in small family groups that migrated seasonally. The first evidence for human activity at the site comes from excavations between 1901 and 1925. Excavations during World War II uncovered more evidence, including a large number of flint tools and animal bones.
Stonehenge was constructed using a technique known as’sluicing’ which means that builders worked in small teams. The sluice is basically an artificial river where water could be brought down a steep slope into a pool. This would have been used to wash out debris and make the river easier to cross. When the sluices were finished, they were covered with turf and soil. The sluice on the River Avon is still visible.
The site was originally built by the Neolithic (New Stone Age) people who arrived in Britain around 5,000 years ago. They made Stonehenge their home and began constructing it about 4,500 years ago. Neolithic people built Stonehenge to mark special occasions such as solstices and equinoxes. These are times when the sun rises or sets due east or west, respectively. The alignment of these events is important because humans observe them in order to determine the seasons.
The stones of Stonehenge were transported from Wales. Stonehenge is actually two sites: the outer circle and the inner circle. Only the outer ring has yet been fully restored. The site consists of up to 1,000 standing stones arranged in a horseshoe pattern. There are also hundreds of stone rings that surround the outer ring. Each stone weighs over 30 tons. The largest stones are sarsen stones. Sarsen is a sandstone found near Salisbury. The largest sarsen stone measures 33 feet high and weighs over 20 tons. The sarsens are thought to have been dragged here by oxen. The other stones are lias rocks from Pembrokeshire. Lias is a type of rock similar to shale. The smaller stones weigh less than 10 tons each. At least eight different types of stone were used. Some were quarried locally while others came from elsewhere. The quarrymen worked in gangs. One gang might work on one side of the site while another worked on the opposite side. All of the men had axes, hammers, and chisels.
Construction took many years. Stones were hauled up the slopes either on sledges or on rollers made of wood. This is why so few of the stones remain today. It was very difficult to move the stones without destroying them. The most famous piece of evidence for this method of construction is the so-called trilithon, located just outside the entrance to the inner circle. Trilithons consist of three upright stones placed next to each other. The upper stones form a roof while the lower ones form the sides. This arrangement allowed heavy stones to be moved without crushing them. The trilithons were built sometime between 2,400 and 2,300 BC.
The stones were set up according to astronomical principles. A line of stones called the Heel Stone runs north to south through the center of the site. Another line called the Avenue runs northwest to southeast. Both lines divide the site into four quadrants. At each of these points there is a series of stones forming what are known as ‘trilithon pairs’. The trilithon pair at the northern end of the site includes trilithons A and B. Trilithons C and D are at the southern end. The central trilithon pair contains trilithons E and F. The eastern trilithon pair consists of G and H. Finally, the western trilithon pair consists of I and J. The distance between each trilithon pair is exactly equal to 360 degrees divided by seven (the number of stones in each trilithon pair). The result is that all of the stones align perfectly with the rising sun on the summer solstice. In addition to the solar alignments, some of the stones also aligned with the stars.
There are several theories about how Stonehenge was built. One theory says that the builders were looking for a place that was easy to defend against attacks from enemies. Other theories say that Stonehenge was a temple dedicated to the moon. Still other explanations suggest that Stonehenge was just a giant pile of rocks. However, the most widely accepted explanation is that its purpose was religious.
Stonehenge’s original purpose is uncertain because the site has not yet been fully excavated. Most archaeologists think that the builders erected the outer circle to mark the midsummer and midwinter solstices and the autumn and spring equinoxes. But the inner circle may have been built for entirely different reasons. The only way to know for sure is to conduct further excavations. If we ever do find evidence for the purpose of the inner ring, the chances are good that it will be something completely different from what we expected.
The places that are available at the Stonehenge are a symbol of something,. A person should do the proper analysis and then visit the place that has the meaning that is a good option for the people. A person should plan to be at stonehenge visit and then make the idea of the various places. The decision that the person will take try the right time must be choice.
Today, Stonehenge is a symbol of ancient Britain. Many people visit the site each year to see its mysterious stones.
