Stonehenge - origin and purpose. Stonehenge - a mysterious circle of stones in Wiltshire. Why was Stonehenge built?

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.

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.

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 to designate 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 Stonehenge area 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 vertical 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 in 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 - 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

About 130 kilometers from London there is a very strange place - a pile of huge stones neatly placed in a circle in the middle of an open field. Their age cannot be accurately estimated even by modern science - either three thousand years, or all five. Why did our ancestors, who had literally just climbed out of the trees, suddenly begin to cut huge boulders out of rocks and drag them hundreds of kilometers away? An ancient observatory, a Druid cult building, a landing site for aliens and even a portal to another dimension - all this is Stonehenge.

Great Britain, Wiltshire, 13 kilometers from the town of Salisbury. Here, in the middle of an ordinary English plain, is Stonehenge - one of the most famous buildings in the world. It contains 82 five-ton megaliths, 30 stone blocks of 25 tons each, and 5 giant trilithons, whose weight reaches 50 tons.

What is Stonehenge?

The word “Stonehenge” itself is very ancient. There are several versions regarding its origin. It could be formed from the Old English "stan" (stone, that is, stone) and "hencg" (rod - since the upper stones were fixed on rods) or "hencen" (gallows, torture instrument). The latter can be explained by the fact that medieval gallows were built in the shape of the letter “P” and resembled the trilithons of Stonehenge.

Megalith (from the Greek “megas” - large, and “litos” - stone) is a large hewn piece of rock used in the construction of ancient religious buildings. As a rule, such structures were erected without the use of mortar - the stone blocks were held under their own weight or on hewn stone “castles”.
Trilith (or “trilithon”, from the Greek “tri” - three and “litos” - stone) is a building structure of two vertical blocks supporting a third, horizontal one.

How was Stonehenge built?

The construction of Stonehenge took place in several stages, taking a total of over 2000 years. However, archaeologists have discovered evidence of much older buildings at this site. For example, three shallow “shafts” were recently found next to a tourist parking lot near Stonehenge, into which wooden supports were dug (they, of course, were not preserved). The position of the pillars shows that they supported a very large wooden monument, which is estimated to be approximately 8,000 years old.
Around 2600 BC, the wooden buildings were demolished and replaced by magnificent stone structures. First, the builders dug two rows of large crescent-shaped holes (one horseshoe inside the other), facing northeast. 385 kilometers away, from the rocks of Carn Menin in the Preseli Hills (Wales), 80 so-called “blue stones” were delivered. Each stone was about 2 meters high, approximately 1.5 meters wide and 0.8 meters thick. They weighed 4-5 tons.
In the very heart of Stonehenge, a six-ton ​​monolith made of green mica sandstone was erected - the so-called “Altar”. In addition, the northeast entrance was moved slightly to the side and widened so that it looked directly at the sunrise on the summer solstice.
Apparently, the construction of Stonehenge remained unfinished during this phase. The “blue stones” were soon removed, and the holes under them were filled up.
At the same time, three free-standing large “blue stones” appeared here. Two survived - the so-called “Heel” (meaning “last”) stone at the north-eastern entrance outside the ramparts and the “Scaffold Stone” near the same entrance inside the ramparts (it later collapsed to the side). Despite the name, the “Stone-block” is not associated with bloody sacrifices. Due to weathering, red spots began to appear on its side - iron oxides, which gave rise to such gloomy associations. In addition, on the inside of the northern and southern ramparts, small mounds (without burials) topped with “blue stones” were poured for unknown purposes.
At the end of the 3rd millennium BC, Stonehenge underwent a new, most large-scale reconstruction, thanks to which it has become so popular today. From the hills of southern England (40 kilometers away from Stonehenge), 30 huge stone blocks - “sarsen”, each weighing 25 tons - were brought here.

Stonehenge. How it was.

The earliest of the surviving religious buildings on the territory of Stonehenge looks very primitive and does not in any way resemble later stone buildings. Stonehenge No. 1 was built no earlier than 3100 BC and consisted of two round earthen ramparts, between which there was a moat. The diameter of the entire object is about 115 meters. A large entrance was built on the northeastern side, and a small one on the southern side.
Presumably, the ditch between the ramparts was dug using tools made from deer antlers. The work was carried out not in one step, but in sections. Research has shown that the bottom of the ditch was covered with animal bones (deer, bulls). Judging by their condition, these bones were carefully looked after - they probably had considerable cult significance for the people who visited the temple.
Directly behind the inner rampart, 56 depressions were dug inside the complex, arranged in a circle. They were called "Aubrey's holes" - after the antiquarian who discovered them in 1666. The purpose of the holes is unclear. According to the chemical analysis of the soil, no wooden supports were placed in them. The most common version is that lunar eclipses were calculated using holes, however, the accuracy leaves much to be desired.

Stonehenge - prehistoric crematorium

Later buildings date back to 2900-2500 BC and can be judged theoretically - time has left us only a group of depressions in the ground where wooden supports for certain structures were placed. The latter could well have been covered sheds, because these holes (now filled with earth and hardly distinguishable from the rest of the landscape) run in two parallel rows from the northern and southern entrances to the center of the entire structure. The diameter of the depressions is significantly smaller than the Aubrey holes, only 0.4 meters, and they are more distant from each other.
During the second phase of the construction of Stonehenge, the earthen ramparts were partially demolished - their height decreased, and the ditch between them was almost half filled. During the same period, the function of the Aubrey holes changed - they began to be used for the burial of cremated remains. Similar burials began to take place in the ditch - and only in its eastern part.
Whatever Stonehenge was built for, a few hundred years later it was used as an enclosed cemetery for cremated remains - the first known in Europe.

Interesting facts about Stonehenge

The most common finds by archaeologists in the ground under Stonehenge are Roman coins and Saxon remains. They date back to the 7th century BC.
There are also more exotic theories about Aubrey's holes. For example, the ancients may have used them to plan pregnancy (based on the 28-day menstrual cycle in women).
Blue stones are dolerite, the closest relative of coarse basalt. Dolerite got its “colored” nickname because it turns blue when wet with water. A fresh chip of the stone also has a blue tint. Heel stone - so named because of the legend according to which Satan threw it at a monk and hit him in the heel. The origin of the word “sarsen” is unclear. Perhaps it came from the later term “Saracen” (Saracenic, that is, pagan stones). Sarsens were used to build not only Stonehenge, but also other megalithic monuments in England. The inside of the sarsens was processed much better than the outside. This suggests that perhaps the room was closed, and some important rituals were performed inside it, the participants of which did not leave the stone “circle.” Calculations show that the construction of Stonehenge (with the tools available at that time) required about 2 million people. hours of work, and processing the stones would take 10 times longer. The reason why people worked on this monument for almost 20 centuries was probably very good. The UFO landing site theory arose partly due to the fact that there is a military airfield near Stonehenge (near the city of Warminster).

What was Stonehenge for?

As soon as people didn’t rack their brains, why did the ancients need Stonehenge? The very first mentions that have reached us connect it with the legend of King Arthur - supposedly this monument was built by the wizard Merlin himself (according to another version, he moved it with his spell from Mount Killaraus in Ireland).
Other stories blamed the construction of Stonehenge on the devil himself. In 1615, architect Inigo Jones claimed that the stone monoliths were built by the Romans - allegedly it was a temple to a pagan deity named Cnelus. In the 18th century, researchers discovered the “astronomical” function of Stonehenge (its orientation to the solstice) - this is how a version emerged according to which this building belonged to the Druids. Nowadays, some experts claim that using Stonehenge it is possible to predict solar eclipses or even carry out complex mathematical calculations. The “planetarium” and “calculator” theories are very controversial - the evidence is usually refuted either by the simplest astronomical facts or by history itself (Stonehenge was rebuilt several times, changed its structure and probably served different purposes).
Outer ring of sarsens
The assumption that the second, “cemetery” stage of the construction of Stonehenge appears to be very interesting was associated with the successful conquests of local tribes. Analysis of remains found in burial grounds adjacent to Stonehenge showed that some of the people buried there were from Wales. This may also explain the subsequent delivery of "blue stones", symbolizing the unification of the two lands. Experts also admit that for most of its history, Stonehenge served as a place for cremation of remains. This version is not without its right to exist, because the Neolithic cultures of Europe associated wood with life, and stone with death.

Late 19th century

One way or another, Stonehenge should not be called an observatory or associated with the Druids. In the first case, we are simply applying 21st century concepts to events that took place almost 5,000 years ago. In the second, we sacrifice facts to a beautiful legend. Druids are a purely Celtic phenomenon. The Celts came to Britain no earlier than 500 BC - Stonehenge was already built.

Science fiction writers about Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a structure so ancient and incomprehensible that even science fiction writers are not too sure what to do with it. The ideas they propose in their works are often not much different from the versions of some scientists.
For example, Harry Harrison wrote the novel Stonehenge (1972) with Leon Stover. According to this book, the ancient monoliths were erected by the surviving inhabitants of Atlantis. A little earlier, Keith Laumer created the book “Trace of Memory” (1968), where he developed an “alien” idea: next to Stonehenge there is an underground communications center, from where you can call the descent module of a huge alien ship drifting near the Earth - and this module landed directly on Stonehenge .

New Stonehenge

: modern astronomers have revived the knowledge of their ancestors
On February 12, 2005, the “New Stonehenge” opened in the New Zealand town of Wairarapa, very similar to its famous British “relative”. But why did modern astronomers need to build a copy of the ancient structure?
The modern stone observatory is called Stonehenge Aotearoa, and it was built by the New Zealand Phoenix Astronomical Society.
Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand. And it was taken for a reason.
But first it must be said that the new Stonehenge is not at all an exact copy of the stone monster from Salisbury Plain (Stonehenge), although their basic dimensions are practically the same.
And this is not a simple tourist attraction. Stonehenge Aotearoa is a full-scale adaptation of its ancestor to work properly on the other side of the planet. What kind of work is this? Of course - an indication of astronomical events.

Stonehenge is visited by 1 million tourists every year, but it remains a mystery. Scientists date its construction to Neolithic times, but for some reason the first mention of this “wonder of the world” is found only in the 11th century AD.

Who built it?

Version No. 1. Celts

For a long time, scientists believed that Stonehenge was built by the Celts. However, today this version has been refuted. The dates don't match. The first Celtic archaeological culture (Hallstatt) appeared in the 9th century BC. Whereas the officially accepted dating of the construction of Stonehenge today comes down to the fact that the last stage of its construction falls on the 11th century BC.

Version No. 2. Ancient Britons

If not the Celts, then who? Professor Michael Pearson (University of Sheffield), director of the ten-year research Stonehenge Riverside Project and author of Stonehenge: Exploring the Greatest Mystery of the Stone Age, argues that the megalithic complex was built by the ancient Britons, representatives of tribes living in the British Isles at the end of the Bronze Age, during the Neolithic . Today this is the most “working” version.

Version No. 3. Merlin

In the Middle Ages, a popular legend was set out in the History of the Britons by Geoffrey of Monmouth. It lies in the fact that the megalithic complex was transported from Ireland by the wizard Merlin. The legendary magician thus fulfilled the will of Aurelius Ambrosi (King Arthur's uncle) to immortalize 460 British leaders treacherously killed by the Saxons during negotiations. Since then, the Britons called this complex “Dance of the Giants.”

Version No. 4. Hoaxers

There is also a version that Stonehenge is a hoax, “performed” in the 20th century. In 2013, an article went viral on the Internet proving that the famous Bronze Age monolith was built between 1954 and 1958.

As evidence, the author of the material cites a lot of “sensational” photographic materials where some people are installing megaliths into the ground using cranes. A theoretical “base” is also provided: supposedly the British Ministry of Defense bought land in the Stonehenge area and conducted military exercises there until the Second World War.

During the war, the territories of nearby villages were evicted and are supposedly still under the control of military structures. The author writes: “On the territory protected by the British military department, this “center of ancient civilization”, “the legacy of the great ancestors”, “a monument to humanity” was consciously and purposefully erected, which became the most important religious center of no less purposefully implanted “spirituality.”

The version is “hot”, but baseless. What it presents as the construction of Stonehenge is just its restoration. We'll tell you more about it later.

Why were they built?

Version No. 1. Observatory

Today, the generally accepted version is that Stonehenge is an ancient observatory. The authorship of this version belongs to Boston University astronomy professor Gerald Hawkins. In the late 1950s, he entered the plate coordinates and other parameters of Stonehenge into the computer, as well as a model of the movement of the Sun and Moon.

In 1965, the scientist wrote the book “Stonehenge Deciphered”, where he provided evidence that Stonehenge made it possible to predict astronomical phenomena, while being an observatory, a computing center and a calendar.

Another famous astronomer, Fred Hoyle, also studied the Stonehenge problem and found that the builders of the megalithic complex knew the exact orbital period of the Moon and the length of the solar year.

Version No. 2. Galaxy model

In 1998, astronomers recreated a computer model of the original appearance of Stonehenge and came to the conclusion that the stone observatory is also a cross-sectional model of the Solar System. According to the ideas of the ancients, the solar system consists of twelve planets, two of which are located beyond the orbit of Pluto, and another between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Version No. 3. Ritual complex

A four-year study conducted by the Austrian Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Survey and Virtual Archeology has established that Stonehenge is not a solitary megalith, but part of a huge ritual complex of 18 parts located in an area of ​​12 square kilometers from Stonehenge.
The surveys were carried out using remote sensing and other advanced geophysical methods.

Version No. 3. “Disco”

Perhaps the most original version of the purpose of Stonehenge (if you do not take into account the alien base for humanoids) is the version that Stonehenge is an ancient “disco”.
Professor Rupert Till, an expert in acoustics and music technology from the University of Hudersfield, conducted research and came to the conclusion that the gigantic stones of the complex are ideal sound reflectors. If installed in a certain order, they can produce interesting acoustic effects.

Of course, Rupert Till did his experiments (after computer modeling) not in England, but in the state of Washington, where there is an exact copy of the megalithic complex. This version, although it seems strange, does not exclude the previous one - ritual dances could have been held at the temple to the accompaniment of musical instruments.

How were they built?

Scientists have been able to shed light on how Stonehenge was built by studying the materials from which it is composed. The complex is made up of three types of stones:

1) Dolerite (“blue” stone, more precisely, gray sandstone with a bluish tint)
2) Rhyolite
3) Volcanic tuff.

Stones of these rocks are found only in the mountains of Wales (210 km from Stonehenge, and taking into account the terrain - 380 km).

According to Stonehenge researcher Richard Atkinson, the stones were carried on wooden sleds along logs. Experiments have shown that 24 people can move a one-ton load in this way at a speed of one and a half kilometers per day.

Most of the journey was by water. The speed of movement was also facilitated by the fact that the stones were processed even before they were moved into place, using both stone tools and heat treatment.

According to Gerald Hawkins, to install the blocks, a hole was first dug to size, with three sides being vertical and one at a 45-degree angle, used as a receiving ramp.

Before placing the stone, the walls of the pit were lined with wooden stakes. Thanks to them, the stone slid down without falling off the ground. The lower parts of the blocks, hammered in the shape of a blunt cone, could be rotated along their axis even after the earth was compacted.

What's left of Stonehenge?

If you look at John Consable's painting from life on the grounds of Stonehenge in 1835, we see piles of heaped stones. This is exactly what the legendary megalithic complex looked like until the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, as we know, he has changed. Not everyone knows about it, but Stonehenge underwent a serious and long restoration.

Its first stage took place back in 1901. Reconstruction continued until 1964, and information about the work was carefully hidden. When it became known to the general public, it gave rise to numerous attacks from the public and the press. There was reason to be indignant. In fact, the complex was rebuilt from scratch. Restorers used cranes to install megaliths and lintels, strengthen the stones, and concrete their bases.

In general, Stonehenge is “not the same anymore,” but it is not customary to mention this in booklets. Otherwise, this most famous (but far from unique) megalithic complex would not have provided an influx of 1 million thousand tourists a year.

Stonehenge is one of the most popular and most visited British attractions by tourists. Archaeologists have been exploring this place for many years, but the mystery remains unsolved, despite the abundance of more or less plausible versions.

What is Stonehenge?

This is one of the most ancient, strange and amazing structures on our planet. This stone complex consists of 83 five-ton megaliths, 30 stone blocks (each weighing about 25 tons) and five huge 50-ton stones. The stones are located on an area approximately 100 meters in diameter, surrounded by a moat and an earthen rampart. Using the radiocarbon dating method, it was found that the ramparts and ditch were dug about 5 thousand years BC.

In the center of the structure is the Altar Stone, which is surrounded by five pairs of stones with trilithons (lintels at the top). These stones form a “horseshoe” with the open side facing east. The horseshoe is surrounded by a ring of blue stones. Further on there is another stone ring with a diameter of 33 meters. It is surrounded by two rows of holes. Another circle of holes is located closer to the earthen rampart (the so-called “Orbi holes”).

Stone blocks differ in material. This is not particularly noticeable in the videos and photos of Stonehenge, but up close it is absolutely obvious that the stones are heterogeneous. The blue stones, which take on a characteristic color in the rain, stand out especially. However, you won’t be able to get close to them at this time - they are not allowed to approach the monument in bad weather.

Folded stone arches indicate the cardinal directions. Therefore, according to one theory, in ancient times this structure was used as an observatory.

Who built Stonehenge?

The history of Stonehenge dates back several millennia. Scientists have not yet come to a common conclusion when they began to build these stone structures. A number of historians are inclined to believe that the megalithic monument was erected approximately 3 thousand years BC. Others believe that the monument appeared much later - around 2200 BC. Archaeological excavations indicate that at least 2.5 thousand years BC there were already burials at this site.

There is also a version that the structure was erected in several stages. Recesses for installing stones were dug 3.5 thousand years BC. The first circle was built around 2000, and the construction of the second circle dates back to 1100 AD.

It is estimated that the construction work took about four centuries in total. Before installation, the stones of Stonehenge were carefully polished. The walls of the pits were lined with logs. Giant blocks were brought into a vertical position using ropes. But no logical explanation has yet been found for how the multi-ton horizontal crossbars were installed. Suggestions have been put forward that they could have been raised along special earthen embankments or using log stacks. But given the enormous weight, it looks too incredible.

The issue of transporting stones is also shrouded in mystery. Some researchers believe that the monoliths were brought from Avebury, located 30 km away. This place is home to the largest stone circle in Europe. And the blue sandstone that lined the inner circle was brought from the territories of modern Wales. One of the researchers, Mike Parker Pearson, is sure that this was done purposefully and symbolized the unification of the peoples who inhabited the south of England at that time.

According to another hypothesis, people did not transport stones at all, and the monoliths ended up here due to the movement of the glacier. But the discovered ancient quarries testify in favor of the first version. Scientists experimentally tried to test whether transportation of monoliths is possible. And it turned out that small megaliths up to two tons are not at all difficult to move on runners. Other assumptions were made about transportation methods: using rollers, the “walking stones” method, and even by water.

Research continues to this day and partially sheds light on the distant past. Perhaps in the near future the secrets and mysteries of Stonehenge will be completely revealed, because the most modern methods are used to reveal them.

Legends and myths

Of course, such an unusual place could not but give rise to many legends. Since no one could give a rational explanation for the construction of the stone monument, the construction of Stonehenge was attributed to the giants who lived before the Flood, Cyclopes, aliens and even the wizard Merlin. The latter version is most popular in the British Isles.

According to ancient Celtic legends, this stone complex “built itself.” In the Middle Ages, it was believed that this monument was erected by the king of the Celtic tribe of Britons, Aurelius Ambrosi, in honor of 460 Britons who were treacherously killed by the Saxons during negotiations.

There is also a version that Stonehenge was a sacred place of the Druids. But the description of the Druids in Julius Caesar's book The Gallic War, as well as other ancient Greek and Roman sources, do not contain any mention of this place.

The reconstruction of the object contributed to the emergence of an “alien” version. To avoid erosion, some stones were “preserved” using a concrete “jacket”. Subsequently, the concrete chipped off, and those who did not know about the restoration work were quick to attribute the construction of Stonehenge to aliens. Which, in general, is quite logical: if the Celts did not know how to make concrete, then someone brought it to them. The answer suggests itself - of course, space aliens :)

• Increased interest in the stone monument among the general public arose only at the beginning of the 20th century. Before this, only archaeologists, historians and mystics were interested in stone blocks.
• The restoration of the stone complex took 65 years, from 1900 to 1965. Before the restoration work, some of the stones were already scattered chaotically, and according to research, the monument was repeatedly rebuilt and deliberately destroyed in ancient times, in particular during the Roman period.
• Not everyone agreed with the restoration scheme for the location of the stone blocks. In particular, Christopher Chappindale, who at that time was the curator of the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, argued that the stones were not located in the places where they were originally.
• Duncan Steele, a British astronomer, put forward a version in 1995 that the structure had an astronomical purpose and allowed earthlings to avoid a cosmic catastrophe. This hypothesis was also proven by another scientist, Gerald Hawkins. But at the same time he did not reject the theory of the occult use of the place.
• The monument was in private ownership for a long time. The owner of Stonehenge was Henry XVIII, and later the royal nobility.
• In 1915, the stone complex was purchased by millionaire Cecil Chubb. But the wife to whom he presented the ancient monument was not happy, so three years later Chubb decided to give this luxurious gift to the British people.
• The land on which Stonehenge is located was put up for auction after the First World War.
• The action of the novel "The Worm" by writer John Fowles takes place in this mysterious place.
• Nearby is one of the world's largest mounds, 40 meters high, which is considered the same age as Stonehenge.
• The monument and its surroundings are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Where is Stonehenge?

Stonehenge is located in Great Britain, England, near the city of Amesbury - this is the closest populated area (distance approximately 3.5 km).

The facility is open to the public from 9.00 to 20.00 (ticket sales stop at 18.00). A ticket will cost 16.5 British pounds for adults and 9.9 GBP for children. For this money you can see the attraction from a distance, behind a rope fence. They also conduct individual tours in the evening and at dawn - this is the only opportunity to go directly to the relic and touch the ancient stones with your own hands.

Set aside a whole day for the trip, because the road takes a lot of time (about two hours one way), and, in addition to Stonehenge itself, I think you will want to visit the local museum - there are also a lot of interesting things there.

There are several options for getting to Stonehenge:

In any case, it’s faster in terms of time, since you don’t have to go to Salisbury, wait there for the bus to Stonehenge and practically go all the way back.

However, no matter which option you choose, it’s worth it. Seeing one of the most famous and biggest mysteries on the planet with your own eyes is an unforgettable experience!