Stonehenge description and photos - Great Britain: England

Video: Stonehenge description and photos - Great Britain: England

Video: Stonehenge: The Mysterious Monument of the British Isles - Beyond the 7 Wonders of the World 2024, November

2024 Author: Graham Hoggarth | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-09 10:26

Description of the attraction

Stonehenge is a megalithic structure located on the Salisbury Plain in England. This is probably the most famous megalithic monument of this kind in the world. Similar structures, which are several vertical elongated stones (menhirs) located in a circle or in a spiral, can be found throughout Europe, the Caucasus and other parts of the world. In the same Great Britain and Ireland, such cromlechs are far from uncommon. And the theory is quite probable that on the territory of Britain these cromlechs were a single system.

Stonehenge stones

Stonehenge is an area about a hundred meters in diameter, surrounded by a moat and an earthen rampart. In the center is the Altar Stone - a multi-ton monolith made of sandstone. It is surrounded by five pairs of stones with lintels at the top (triliths), set in a horseshoe shape and opening to the northeast. At the base of the horseshoe are the tallest stones; towards the ends of the horseshoe, their height decreases. The horseshoe is surrounded by a ring of so-called blue stones. They are bluish on chips and turn blue if wet. Further, sarsen trilites form a ring 33 meters in diameter. There are 30 such stones in total, an arc of 13 stones has been preserved along with the upper stones. They were installed according to the groove and tenon principle. These stones are surrounded by two concentric rows of 30 holes each (the so-called Y and Z holes). Closer to the ramparts and the moat, there is a circle of 56 holes known as the "Aubrey holes" after the name of the explorer who discovered them. In the south there is a small entrance, and the main entrance is considered to be the northeastern entrance, which leads to an alley bounded by parallel ditches and ramparts and leading to the Avon River. The so-called "Heel stone" stands on the alley.

There is no consensus on the dating of Stonehenge, however, many scientists tend to believe that the first stage of construction - the moat and ramparts - should be attributed to ~ 3000 BC, although the earliest traces of human activity at this place date back to 8000 BC. NS. Around 2600 BC blue stones are installed. It is noteworthy that the deposit of this stone was discovered quite recently, in 1923. This is the Presley area in southwest Wales, 200 km from Stonehenge. Perhaps the Altar Stone was also brought from there. How they were transported is a separate mystery for archaeologists and historians, who list a variety of technologies: wooden rollers, and sleds, and the method of "walking stones", and transportation of blocks by water. In the next 200 years, sarsen trilites were installed, the northeastern entrance was widened and an alley was laid.

Sanctuary or Observatory?

Stonehenge's appointment also remains a mystery. Various versions are being put forward, the most frequent being that this is a sanctuary and a burial place. It is also highly probable that Stonehenge was used as an observatory - it is quite accurately oriented to the Sun and Moon in several directions, which cannot be a simple coincidence. Along with these, there are the most fantastic versions: for example, that Stonehenge is a landing site for alien spaceships, or that these are the ruins of a nuclear power plant of the Atlantean civilization.

On a note

Location: Off A344 Road, Amesbury, Wiltshire. It is more convenient to get there by bus Wilts & Dorset Stonehenge Tour from Salisbury.
Official website:
Opening hours: daily 9.30 - 18.00.
Tickets: cost - £ 7.50. adult, £ 4.50 for children, £ 6.80 preferential, £ 19.50 family.