Stonehenge is a stone megalithic structure built in the Neolithic era on the territory of modern England. It is located about 130 km southwest of London, about 3.2 km west of Amesbury and 13 km north of Salisbury. Stonehenge is a series of dilapidated stone circles. The most noticeable is the outer stone circle, consisting of U-shaped, and the inner one in the form of a horseshoe, consisting of giant triliths.

The name Stonehenge comes from the old in English and means "hanging stones". The second part of the word "Henge" is currently used as an archaeological term for a class of circular structures from the Neolithic era. Since 1918, Stonehenge has been owned by the English state.

The Stonehenge complex was built in stages. Its construction took about 2000 years. The area of ​​Stonehenge was used by ancient people long before the appearance of stone megaliths. Some finds in the area of ​​the complex belong to the Mesolithic era and date back to around 8000 BC. Also in this area in soil samples were found 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 from the 7th century. n. e., and belongs to the decapitated body of the Anglo-Saxon.

In 1986, Stonehenge and the surrounding area was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

1 - Altarstone, a six-ton ​​monolith of green mica sandstone from Wales
2 and 3 - mounds without graves
4 - a fallen stone 4.9 meters long (Slaughter Stone - scaffold)
5 - Heel Stone
6 - two of the originally four vertically standing stones (on the plan of the beginning of the 19th century, their position is indicated differently)
7 - moat (ditch)
8 - inner shaft
9 - outer shaft
10 - Avenue, that is, a parallel pair of ditches and ramparts leading 3 km to the River Avon (Hampshire); now these shafts are barely distinguishable
11 - a ring of 30 holes, so-called. Y holes; in the 1930s, the holes were marked with round posts, which are now removed
12 - a ring of 30 holes, so-called. Z holes
13 - a circle of 56 holes, known as Aubrey holes (John Aubrey - Aubrey holes)
14 - small south entrance

The location of the Stonehenge megaliths is such that on the morning of Midsummer's Day, when the sun rises directly over the Heel Stone, its rays hit the center of the structure, passing between the edges of the horseshoe. It is unlikely that this arrangement of the 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 of green sandstone about 5 meters long. All other stones in the circle are dolerites from the mountains in southwest Wales, about 240 km from Stonehenge. The stone blocks of the outer circle were to be brought by sleds, which were to pull 250 a, on slopes up to 1000 men. The altar stone is located slightly away from the geometric center.

The origin of Stonehenge.

The various elements of the Stonehenge complex system were built in stages over 2000 years. In confirmation of this fact, a radiocarbon analysis of stones carried out in 1995 speaks. Based on the analysis of the measurements, archaeologists have identified three phases in the construction of Stonehenge.

Location before Stonehenge was built (8000 BC)

Archaeologists have found four large stone pillars from the Mesolithic era (one of them 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 located in a plane from east to west, this position may have had ritual significance. There are no similar sites in Great Britain, but similar sites have been found in Scandinavia. At that time, the present Salisbury plain was covered with forest, later the area was cleared for farm fields. Around 3100 BC. BC, Stonehenge was built 700 meters (2,300 feet) 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 a ditch running along its outer part, approximately 110 meters (360 feet) 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 extracted from the ditch was used for the construction of the rampart. This first stage dates back to around 3100 BC, after which the moat began to silt 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 structures similar to a gate at the northeastern entrance and a wooden corridor leading inward from the southern one. During the second phase, the silting of the ditch continued, and the earthen rampart was deliberately reduced in height. However, thirty graves from this period were found with cremated remains. Therefore, it is believed that Stonehenge, during this period, was used as a place for cremation and burial, while being the first known site of this kind in the British Isles.

The third phase of the construction of Stonehenge.

The third phase was divided by archaeologists into 6 periods. Excavations revealed that around 2600 BC, builders abandoned wooden structures in favor of stone ones and dug two rings of holes (Q and R holes) to be installed 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 lime ash. Each monolith was about 2 meters (6.6 feet) high, about 1-1.5 m (3.3-4.9 feet) wide, and 0.8 meters (2.6 feet) thick. The stone, known today as the "Altar Stone", was almost certainly brought from Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales, and most likely was installed in a standing position.

During the next major construction phase, 30 huge megaliths were brought to Stonehenge. The stones were set in U-shaped portals in a circle 33 meters (108 feet) in diameter. The bridge stones of the portals were installed using a giant wooden wheel and ropes. Each stone installed was about 4.1 meters (13 feet) high, 2.1 meters (6 feet 11 inches) wide, and weighed about 25 tons. The average thickness of the stones is 1.1 meters (3 feet 7 inches) and the average distance between them is 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches). A total of 75 stones were needed to complete the outer ring and trilith horseshoe, 60 to complete the circle and 15 trilith horseshoe. The ring was thought to have been left unfinished, but a dry summer in 2013 showed patches in scorched grass that may correspond to the location of the missing stones. Triliths inside the circle are arranged symmetrically. The smallest pair of triliths was about 6 meters (20 feet) high, the next pair is slightly taller and largest, the last great trilith in the southwest corner was 7.3 meters (24 feet) high. Only one stone remains of the great trilith, which still stands today, it rises to a height of 6.7 meters (22 feet) and another 2.4 meters (7 feet 10 inches) is underground.

An "Avenue" was also built, two parallel rows of ditches and ramparts with a length of 3.2 km, leading to the Avon River.

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 techniques 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, propelled by ropes and hand force, was used to set the cross stones. Another method of installation could be a ramp-like wooden structure with which the upper stone blocks collided with the lower ones.

Archaeologist Aubrey Burl in his work suggested that the megaliths of Stonehenge were not brought by the glacier, but 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 way on a wooden sleigh, then the stone was loaded onto a replica of a prehistoric boat. On a boat, the stone was supposed to make part of the way across the sea, but this was not destined to happen and the stone sank in the Bay of Bristol.

According to some estimates, for the implementation of all stages of the construction of Stonehenge, the ancient builders took a total of several million hours of work. For example, the first phase of the construction of Stonehenge required approximately 11,000 hours of work, phase two required 360,000 hours of work, and the completion of all phases of the third phase required 1,750,000 hours of work. Taking into account the fact that the builders used a primitive tool, it would take 20 million hours of work to process the stone blocks. For a construction of this scale and the implementation of complex related work (careful planning, detailed study of the location of stones, transportation and processing of boulders, providing food for people employed in the construction), society had to have a fairly complex social structure and a strong central authority.

Appointment of Stonehenge.

More recently it was suggested new theory... Geoffrey Wainwright, professor and president of the Antiquary Society of London, and Timothy Darvill, Knight of the British Empire suggested that Stonehenge was a sacred place of healing similar to the French Lourdes. As evidence of their version, they cite the fact that a large number of graves with trauma marks 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 of Sheffield University believe that Stonehenge was built as a symbol of "peace and unity." As proof of their theory, they cite the fact that in the Neolithic era, the peoples living in the territory of modern Great Britain are going through a period of unification of cultures.

The first scientific attempt to research and understand the monument was made around 1740 by William Stukeley. He took measurements and drawings of the location of Stonehenge, 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 concluded that Stonehenge is an ancient observatory, although the scope and possibilities of its use are controversial. 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 study Stonehenge in 1666 and sketched his plan. William Stuckley 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 next to explore the area in the early nineteenth century. He excavated 24 mounds surrounding Stonehenge and found charred wood, animal bones, pottery and urns. He also identified the recesses in which the altar stone was installed. Cunnington's findings are on display at the Wiltshire Museum.

A replica of Stonehenge was built in Maryhill, Washington, to serve as a war memorial.

In 1901, the first major restoration work was carried out under the direction 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 set in a vertical position, but was displaced by about half a meter from its original position. Gowland also took the opportunity to conduct an archaeological site at Stonehenge. The results of his work revealed more about the construction of stones than in the previous 100 years of research. During subsequent restoration work in 1920, William Hawley discovered the foundations of six more stones and an outer moat. His work helped rediscover Aubrey's holes and the arrangement of two rows of holes encircling the outer circle of stones, called Y and Z holes.

Richard Atkinson, Stuart Piggott and John F. S. Stone discovered in the 1940s and 1950s images of axes and daggers carved into the stones of the outer circle. Atkinson's research has contributed to a better understanding of the three main stages in the construction of the monument.

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 conducted in 2003-2008, led by Mike Parker Pearson as part of the Stonehenge Riverside Project, revealed a circular area at the point where the Stonehenge Avenue meets the river. In this area, probably four stones were placed, marking the beginning of the "avenue".

On September 10, 2014, the University of Birmingham, led by Vincent Gaffney, released a video highlighting the current research and its results. The film tells about research carried out on an area of ​​12 square kilometers (1200 hectares) and a depth of about three meters using radar equipment, about the found mounds and stone or wooden structures. The film also talks about the discovery of seventeen new monuments resembling Stonehenge, which can be attributed to the late Neolithic period.

Stonehenge legends.

"Monk's heel"

The monk's heel lies northeast of the Stonehenge stone circle, near the beginning of Prospectus. A folk tale dating from the seventeenth century explains the origin of this stone's name.

The devil bought the stones from a woman in Ireland and transferred them to the Salisbury plain. One of the stones fell into the Avon River, and he scattered the rest of the stones across the plain. Then the Devil shouted: "No one will ever know how these stones got here!" The monk answered him: "This is 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 Historia Regum Britanniae, which credits the construction of the monument to Merlin.

According to Geoffrey, the Stonehenge stones are life-giving stones, called the "dance of the giant", which the Giants brought from Africa to Ireland. King Aurelius Ambrosius wished to erect a memorial to 3000 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 bring him out of Ireland. But as the knights did not try to move the stones, they did not succeed. Then Merlin, using his skills, easily moved Stonehenge to the UK. After it was erected near Amsbury, Aurelius Ambrosius, Uther Pendragon, and Constantine III were buried inside the giant ring of Stonehenge.

Excursions to Stonehenge.

Not far from Stonehenge there is a small tourist complex, which includes: a small restaurant, parking, gift shop, museum, toilets. You can also book an excursion here. You only need to pay for parking if you have not arrived at Stonehenge and do not have an entrance ticket. The cost of parking is £ 5 (approximately 350 rubles). 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 does not take much time to see it, but you can see other monuments in the area. Most best view on Stonehenge opens from Amesbury Hill (Amesbury Hill, at a distance of 2 kilometers on the A 303 road). From here, a walking trail leads to a burial ground of the 3rd millennium BC, which is 1 kilometer away. e. in West Kennet Long Barrow. Highway A 4 then continues (heading west) 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 stones, but the area they occupy is larger. Historians date the complex around 2500 BC. e. There is a museum at the entrance, which provides information on excavations and theories regarding the meaning and purpose of the complex. The museum is open daily. From April to October from 10 am to 6 pm. November to March - from 9 am to 4 pm (except Sundays). A regular ticket costs £ 3.70 (about 250 rubles).

How to get to Stonehenge.

Stonehenge is located 130 km southwest of London. By car, you can get there on the M3 and A303 motorways, which lead to Amesbury. There are trains from Waterloo Station to Andover and Salisbury, from where there are buses to Stonehenge. From Salisbury - Wilts & Dorset Stonehenge Tour bus, fare 11 GBP, 40 minutes on the way; or taxi for 30-35 GBP. From Andover - bus number 8 (Activ8).

In addition, you can buy a group tour in London, the cost starts from 65 GBP (entrance ticket and transport from the hotel included). Salisbury also has a Stonehenge Tour (17 GBP) that picks up tourists from the train station, downtown and Amesbury. The ticket is valid all day, buses leave every half hour - hour.

However, keep in mind: it is the 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 goes from the station on the street with the pathetic name of Endless Street (as well as from the train station) every hour, every day from 9.45 to 16.45. A ticket costs £ 5 (Explorer Ticket type, that is, there and back). In addition, various bus and tourist companies are fighting for the tourist's favor, providing tours with a price of about £ 12.50 (including the cost of an "entrance" ticket).

You can get to Stonehenge in other ways: rent a car, order a taxi or rent a bike in Salisbury. Bicycle rental will cost about £ 12 per day, or about £ 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 who are accustomed to cycling, the excursion can be very pleasant.

Opening hours and cost of visiting Stonehenge

There is a unique megalithic (stone) structure. This Stonehenge, which since 1986 has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and transferred by the British crown to the management of the "English Heritage".

What is Stonehenge, one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, and why has the eyes of those who study history been riveted to it for many years?

Let's try to answer this question. To do this, consider all the interesting facts related to the world of Stonehenge.

First, you should refer to the historical name of this mysterious complex, which in ancient times sounded like Stanhengues.

They tried to translate this word back in, and the most accurate version was listed as "hanging stones" or "hanging stones".

Today this monument is called Stonehenge, which means “stone henge”, that is, “stone circle”.

Where is Stonehenge

Stonehenge is located in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and is one of its most important attractions.

To be more precise, then, as we said, the structure is located in Wiltshire, England, about 3.2 km west of Amesbury and 13 km north of Salisbury.

Stonehenge world

Scientists believe that Stonehenge originated around 3000 BC. e. In other words, this structure is about 5 thousand years old.

The complex is a circle of stones, around which there are 56 Aubrey burial holes, named after the explorer Stonehenge of the 17th century.

In the very center there is an altar weighing 6 tons. In general, Stonehenge consists of 82 megaliths weighing 5 tons; 30 blocks, each weighing 25 tons; and 5 triliths (arches of three stones), each weighing 50 tons.

By the way, the arches point to the cardinal points with impeccable accuracy.

The stones that were used to create this mysterious structure are of various origins. It is believed that they could have been transported from a site located 210 km from Stonehenge.

When considering such structures, the question involuntarily arises: how were these giant multi-ton boulders moved from one place to another?

Scientists conducted an experiment and found that 24 people can move a stone weighing one ton at a speed of 1 km per day.

As we said earlier, there are 50 ton blocks at Stonehenge. Consequently, ancient builders could move one such block for several years.

Stonehenge legends

One of the legends says that the megalithic complex was built with the help of the wizard Merlin, who was also the mentor of King Arthur. He allegedly moved boulders from South Wales - a place of accumulation of sacred springs.

However, even assuming that the legend has some basis under it, it is difficult to assume that this was true. After all, the distance to these quarries is huge, and it was much easier to transport multi-ton blocks by sea, and then only drag the remaining 80 km by land.

According to another version, a huge Heel Stone was formed when one monk ran away from the devil and did not have time to hide. The demon threw a stone at the fleeing saint and crushed his heel.

Of course, all this cannot be true if only because the characters of ancient England lived much later than the appearance of Stonehenge.

Who built Stonehenge

Like any unique cultural heritage site, Stonehenge has a controversial origin. Whether the ancient Romans were involved in the construction, or whether it was the result of the activities of the Germans and the Swiss, remains a mystery.

It is believed that this complex was used for its intended purpose for 2-2.5 thousand years, after which it was abandoned.

Of course, it is not possible to verify this, and such conclusions are made on the basis of insignificant facts and details.

The purpose

There is also no intelligible and unambiguous answer to this question. However, there is a persistent version that it was an ancient observatory.

In the 90s of the twentieth century, as a result of computer modeling, researchers found out that Stonehenge is not only moon calendar but also sunny.

Moreover, Stonehenge is a visual cross-sectional model of the solar system. An interesting fact is that then this model consisted of 12 planets.

Perhaps the ancient sages knew what remains a scientific mystery to us.

The English historian Brooks, who has researched Stonehenge for many years, has proven that it is part of a giant navigation system.

Of course, the complex was also used as a ritual place. Many ritual attributes have been found in the vicinity.

After excavations, scientists came to the conclusion that about 240 people were buried in Stonehenge, who were cremated before burial. Archaeologists believe that most likely representatives of the local elite or the ruling dynasty were buried here.

Using radiocarbon analysis, scientists have established that the largest part of the remains belongs to 2570-2340 BC, and the first part of the ashes, which was found in the oldest part of Stonehenge, is dated 3030-2880 BC.

At the beginning of the 20th century, local residents skillfully sold hammers, chisels and other auxiliary tools to visitors so that they could chop off a piece of the sacred megalith.
Today, tourists do not have such an opportunity, since this monument is the most important architectural heritage of the past and is protected accordingly.

Druid shrine

John Aubrey ( english writer and an antique dealer) believed that Stonehenge was the fruit of the hands of the Druids (priests of the ancient Celts).

This led to the fact that modern English neodruids regularly visit Stonehenge, considering it one of the.

Considering the fact that this complex was indeed built taking into account astronomical patterns, many representatives of pagan beliefs come to Stonehenge on the days of the winter and summer solstices to feel the connection with nature and space.

Maybe future scientists will be able to answer this question, but for now we are forced to limit ourselves to describing interesting facts.

Stonehenge is visited by 1 million tourists annually, but it remains a mystery. Scientists attribute its construction to the Neolithic period, but the first mention of this "wonder of the world" for some reason is found only in the XI century AD.

Who built it?
Version number 1. Celts

For a long time, scientists believed that Stonehenge was built by the Celts. However, today this version has been refuted. Dating does not agree. The first Celtic archaeological culture (Hallstatt) appeared in the 9th century BC. While the dates officially accepted today for the construction of Stonehenge boil down to the fact that the last stage of its construction falls on the 11th century BC.

Version number 2. Ancient Britons

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

Version number 3. Merlin

In the Middle Ages, the legend set forth in the "History of the Britons" by Galfrid of Monmouth was popular. It lies in the fact that the megalithic complex was transferred from Ireland by the magician Merlin. The legendary magician thus fulfilled the will of Aurelius Ambrosi (uncle of King Arthur) to perpetuate 460 British leaders treacherously killed by the Saxons during the negotiations. Since then, the Britons have called this complex "Dance of the Giants".

Version number 4. Hoaxers

There is also a version that Stonehenge is a hoax "worked" in the XX century. In 2013, there was a popular article 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 use cranes to install megaliths in the ground. A theoretical "base" is also given: allegedly, the British Ministry of Defense bought up land in the Stonehenge area and conducted military exercises there until World War II.

During the war, the territories of nearby villages were evicted and, allegedly, are still under the rule of military structures. The author writes: “This“ center of ancient civilization ”,“ heritage of great ancestors ”,“ monument of humanity ”, which has become the most important cult center of no less purposefully implanted“ spirituality ”, was deliberately and purposefully erected on the territory protected by the British military department.

The version is "hot", but unfounded. What is presented in it as the construction of Stonehenge is just its restoration. We will talk about it later.

Why did they build it?

Version # 1. Observatory

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

In 1965, the scientist wrote the book "Deciphered Stonehenge", where he gave evidence that Stonehenge made it possible to predict astronomical phenomena, being at the same time an observatory, a computing center and a calendar.

Another famous astronomer, Fred Hoyle, also dealt with 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. Model of the galaxy

In 1998, astronomers recreated a computer model of the original appearance of Stonehenge and concluded 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 one more - between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Version No. 3. Ritual complex

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

Version number 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 on acoustics and music technology at the University of Huddersfield, conducted research and concluded that the complex's gigantic stones are ideal sound reflectors. When placed in a specific 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 to the accompaniment of musical instruments could be held in the temple.

How was it built?

Shedding light on how Stonehenge was built, scientists have helped study the materials of which it is composed. The complex is composed of three types 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 features of the relief - 380 km).

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

Most of the way passed through 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 for this.

According to Gerald Hawkins, to install the blocks, they first dug a hole in size, three walls of which were steep, and one with an angle of 45 degrees, which was used as a receiving ramp.

Before setting the stone, the walls of the pit were lined with wooden stakes. Thanks to them, the stone slid down without showered the ground. The lower parts of the blocks, chipped in the form of a blunt cone, could be rotated along their axis even after the ground was compacted.

What's left of Stonehenge?

If we look at the painting by John Conseble, painted from life on the territory of Stonehenge in 1835, we will see heaps of heaps of stones. This is how the legendary megalithic complex looked until the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, as we know, he has changed. Not everyone knows about this, but Stonehenge has undergone a serious and lengthy 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 generated numerous attacks from the public and the press. There was something to be indignant at. In fact, the complex was rebuilt. The restorers, with the help of cranes, erected megaliths and lintels, strengthened the stones, and concreted their foundations.

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

Stonehenge is one of the most popular and most visited British tourist attractions. 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 about 100 meters in diameter, surrounded by a moat and an earthen rampart. Using the radiocarbon method, it was found that the ramparts and the moat 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 triliths (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, 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").

Boulders differ in material. This is not particularly noticeable in the video and photo of Stonehenge, but close up it is absolutely obvious that the stones are dissimilar. The blue stones, which acquire their characteristic color in the rain, stand out especially. However, it will not be possible to approach them at this time - in bad weather they are not allowed to visit the monument.

Stacked stone arches indicate the cardinal points. Therefore, according to one of the theories, in ancient times this building 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 monument to the megaliths was erected about 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 on this site.

A version is also being put forward that the building was erected in several stages. The recesses for the installation of 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.

The construction work is estimated to have taken about four centuries in total. Before installation, the stones of Stonehenge were carefully polished. The walls of the pits were lined with logs. The giant blocks were brought to an upright position with the help of ropes. But there is still no logical explanation for how the multi-ton horizontal beams were installed. Proposals are being put forward that they could be lifted along special earth embankments or with the help of log stacks. But given the enormous weight, it looks too incredible.

The question of transporting stones is also covered with mystery. Some researchers believe that the monoliths were brought from Avebury, located 30 km away. The largest stone circle in Europe is located in this place. And the blue sandstone, which 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 have experimentally tried to check whether the transportation of monoliths is possible. And it turned out that small megaliths up to two tons are quite easy to move on runners. Other assumptions were put forward about the methods of transportation: with the help of rollers, the method of "walking stones" and even by water.

Research continues to this day and sheds some light on the distant past. Perhaps, in the near future, the mystery and mysteries of Stonehendjab will be completely open, because the most modern methods are used to reveal them.

Legends and myths

Of course, such an unusual place could not fail to 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 giants who lived before the Flood, cyclops, aliens and even the wizard Merlin. Latest version 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 Britons Aurelius Ambrosi in honor of the 460 British, who were treacherously killed by the Saxons during the negotiations.

There is also a version that Stonehenge was a sacred place for the Druids. But the description of the Druids in the book of Julius Caesar "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” with a concrete “jacket”. Subsequently, the concrete chipped off, and those who did not know about the restoration work carried out rushed 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 delivered it to them. The answer suggests itself - of course, space aliens :)

• The increased interest in the stone monument among the general public arose only at the beginning of the 20th century. Until then, only archaeologists, historians and mystics were interested in boulders.
• The restoration of the stone complex took 65 years - from 1900 to 1965. Before the restoration work, some of the stones were already chaotically scattered, and according to studies, the monument was repeatedly rebuilt and deliberately destroyed in ancient times, in particular, in the Roman period.
• Not everyone agreed with the restoration layout of the boulders. In particular, Christopher Chayppindale, who at the 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, in 1995 put forward a version that the structure had an astronomical purpose and made it possible for earthlings to avoid a cosmic catastrophe. Also, this hypothesis was proved by another scientist, Gerald Hawkins. But he did not discard the theory of the occult use of place.
• The monument was privately owned for a long time. The owner of Stonehenge was Henry XVIII, and later - the royal nobility.
• In 1915, the stone complex was acquired by the millionaire Cecil Chubb. But the wife, whom he gave the ancient monument, was not happy, so three years later, Chubb decided to make 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 novel "The Worm" by writer John Fowles is set in this mysterious place.
• Nearby is one of the world's largest mounds with a height of 40 meters, which is considered the same age as Stonehenge.
• The monument, together with the surrounding area, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Where is Stonehenge located?

Stonehenge is located in Great Britain, England, near the city of Amesbury - this is the nearest settlement (distance about 3.5 km).

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

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

There are several options for how to get to Stonehenge:

In any case, in time it is faster, since you do not need to go to Salisbury, wait there for a bus to Stonehenge and practically make the way back.

However, whichever option you choose - it's worth it. Seeing with your own eyes one of the most famous and biggest mysteries on the planet is an unforgettable experience!

Stonehenge is, at first glance, a strange place: a pile of huge stones neatly arranged in a circle in the middle of a clear field. The stone structure is located in the United Kingdom of Great Britain, in Wiltshire, 130 km south-west of London. The architectural monument, which arose 5 thousand years ago, is called the stone circle.

Mysterious structure

The stone circle on the Salsberg Plain, keeping unsolved secrets, is translated from Old English as "hanging stones". Among the usual plain are 82 five-ton megaliths (a large hewn piece of rock), 30 stone blocks of 25 tons each and 5 giant triliths (two vertical blocks that support the third, horizontal) weighing 50 tons.

Placed in pairs, stones are crowned with giant slabs and occupy an area 107 square kilometers swampy area. Why did our ancestors cut down huge blocks of rocks and how did they drag them to the construction site hundreds of kilometers away? Scientists give ambiguous answers to this and other questions.

Stonehenge construction

Stonehenge people have been building for 2000 years. In the construction of the structure, scientists distinguish three periods. In the first period (3100 BC), the builders erected two round earthen ramparts, between which they dug a moat 2 meters deep. The diameter of the object is 115 meters. From the north - a large entrance, from the south - a small one.

In the second period (after 2500 BC) they established megaliths- 82 large processed rock fragments were placed vertically along the perimeter of a large circle, covering them with 7-ton slabs.

The third period (after 2000 BC) completed construction. 30 sandstone blocks with a height of 4.25 m and a weight of 25 tons each were laid in a circle with a diameter of 33 meters. In the center of the circle there are 5 triliths weighing 50 tons, arranged in the form of a horseshoe. In the inside of the horseshoe - blue stones in the form of a smaller horseshoe.

What stones were used by ancient creators

The boulders delivered to the construction site are of unequal origin. Lonely stones and triliths - gray limestone... Lumps of volcanic origin from tuff and dolerite were delivered from a quarry located 210 km from the construction site.

Scientists believe that the builders brought the granite blocks from South Wales, 400 km from Stonehenge. The stones were polished with fire and water. Moving the boulders overland on rollers (wooden logs), it took 50 years to work.

Inside the moat, there are blue stones delivered from a distance of 250 km, laid later and repeatedly moved from place to place. Behind the circle is a monolith called the heel of the fleeing monk. On the opposite side of the shafts there is a block-stone.

In the center of Stonehenge - a block of green mica sandstone, a six-ton ​​Altar. None of the stones have preserved an inscription or drawing. Scientists are still arguing about the methods of transporting stones.

Stonehenge riddles

Scientists have not decided:

• For what purpose was the building erected?
• How was it built?
• How were multi-ton boulders brought here, if the distance to the nearest rocks is 350 kilometers?
• How did stone blocks weighing 25 tons move in the second millennium BC?
• There are huge reserves of underground waters under Stonehenge, and the megalith was erected over the intersections of underground rivers. How did the ancient people position the structure with such precision?
• Who is the author of this engineering miracle?

Legend claims that the stone complex was built by the magician Merlin - the mentor of King Arthur. He moved boulders from south Wales, the site of sacred springs. According to another legend, the stones were thrown by the devil himself, trying to catch up with the fleeing monk. Satan could not catch up with the saint and in anger he threw a heap of stones.

Scientists' opinion on Stonehenge

Scientists build versions, put forward hypotheses and assumptions, from which it is clear: such a structure was erected by a developed civilization. The construction required tremendous efforts of people and lasted for centuries.

Stonegenge - open air observatory... The stone structure is an exact copy of the solar system in cross section, consisting not of 9, but of 12 planets. The creators of the structure knew astronomy, mathematics, geology, clearly understood the orbital period of the moon and the length of the solar year.

Triliths - structures of three stones - astronomical instruments... December 23, on the day winter solstice, through one of them the sunrise is clearly visible, and through the rest - the sunset of celestial bodies. Behind the inner rampart there are 56 depressions arranged in a circle (Aubrey holes), named after the scientist who discovered them in 1666. It is assumed that they predicted lunar eclipses and the beginning of field work.

Stonehenge - burial mound where 240 people are buried. The local nobility was buried here. Before burial, some were cremated. Pilgrims sought healing at Stonehenge: wounded warriors, cripples and the hopelessly sick hoped to receive help. Many, without waiting, died and were buried here. This is evidenced by excavations.

Stone building - place of sacrifice, an ancient primitive temple where rituals were carried out, bones of large animals were found during excavations in the ditch.

The opinion was voiced that Stonehenge - landing pad for alien ships and here a portal opens to other worlds.

It is assumed that the ancient Irish priests, the Druids, who held the supreme power in Britain, performed cult rites of worship of the Sun here. A version has been expressed that the coronation ceremonies of Danish rulers were held here: the layout of the structure in the form of a crown.

The stone complex is resistant to earthquakes; during the construction, slabs were used to soften tremors. For 5 thousand years, the structure "did not sink".

Stonehenge - a place of paranormal activity

Researchers claim that amazing phenomena are taking place near Stonehenge.

• Once the boy touched a stone with a wire hook and immediately fell senseless, remaining motionless for six months.
• In 1958, a photographer saw pillars of light rising above boulders.
• In 1968, an eyewitness talked about a ring of fire emanating from the stones of Stonehenge, in which a bright object shone.
• In 1977, eyewitnesses filmed a UFO squadron over the megalith. The video was shown on British television. The eyewitnesses instantly broke the compass and the TV.
• Here scientists hear clicking sounds and buzzing sounds. They explain that there is a strong magnetic field around: the compass needle turns to the center of the megalith, regardless of which side of the structure the device is in.
• If you knock on one of the stones, then the sound will spread to all stones that are in no way connected with each other.

It is interesting

1. During excavations, Roman coins of the 7th century BC were found in the ground under a stone ring.
2. Stonehenge is first mentioned in the annals in the XII century A.D..
3. In 1915, lawyer Cecil Chubb bought Stonehenge as a birthday present for his wife, but after 3 years his wife no longer liked the gift, and the lawyer donated the building to the state.
4. At the beginning of the 20th century, visitors were given a chisel to chop off a souvenir from the boulders, which is now prohibited.
5. Since 1986, Stonehenge has been classified as a UNESCO heritage site.
6. English neodruids regularly gather here, considering Stonehenge to be a place of power.
7. On the days of the winter and summer solstices, thousands of pilgrims gather here to celebrate the festival. Participants in wreaths and smart costumes, calling themselves pagans and descendants of druids, greet the morning sun with joyful cries, songs and dances, communicate with nature and space.