What is Stonehenge?

Day Trip to Stonehenge from London

It is believed that Stonehenge was one of the most sacred areas of the ancient world, used for many purposes, including processional and ritual activities. Some say, that Stonehenge is a gigantic astronomical clock, measuring the time and the sun alignment. Its mysterious secrets are still not fully revealed.

How old is in fact Stonehenge?

Stonehenge - England

The structure that we call “Stonehenge” was built between roughly 5,000 and 4,000 years ago and that forms just one part of a larger, and highly complex, sacred landscape. However, Stonehenge evolved in several construction phases spanning at least 1500 years.

From what is Stonehenge made of?

The Bluestones at the Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a complex structure, comprised of large Sarsen stones and Bluestones (smaller stones), all placed in circles. The outer and inner ring are made of Sarsan stones  build in a trilithon, a structure consisting of two large vertical stones, supporting a third stone set horizontally across the top. The inner ring represents the highest Sarsan stones, placed in a horseshoe shape.

How many stones are there at Stonehenge?

How did they build Stonehenge

Stonehenge may have had up to 165 stones originally, around 80 Bluestones and 85 Sarsan Stones. Nowadays, only half of the Bluestones and Sarsan Stones remain. Nobody knows where are the missing stones of the Stonehenge.

Where did the stones at Stonehenge come from?

Preseli Hills - Pembrokeshire - Wales

The Bluestones are estimated to weigh between 2 and 4 tons each. The majority of them are believed to have been brought from the Preseli Hills, about 250 kilometres (150 miles) away in Wales. The Sarsen stones are up to 30 feet (9 meters) tall and weigh 25 tons (22.6 metric tons); they are believed to have been dragged from Marlborough Downs, 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the north.

Are there stones, outside the outer circle?

The Heel Stone near Stonehenge - England

Yes! Outside the north-east entrance is the Heel Stone, a huge unshaped sarsen boulder with an overall girth of 7.6 metres and weighing about 35 tons. It may have been an early stone at the site, raised upright from its original position nearby. Also near the north-east entrance is the Slaughter Stone, a fallen sarsen that once stood upright with one or two other stones across the entrance causeway.

Stonehenge is aligned upon the solstitial axis?

The mysteries of Stonehenge

Yes, the main axis of the stones is aligned upon the solstitial axis. At midsummer, the sun rises over the horizon to the north-east, close to the Heel Stone. At midwinter, the sun sets in the south-west, in the gap between the two tallest trilithons, one of which has now fallen.

Stonehenge is not alone?

Avebury - England - Gigantic Stone formation in a circle

In fact Stonehenge is a part of much larger and very complex structure, which has been recently discovered. A few miles further on lies Avebury, built between 2500 and 2200 BC, shortly after the stones began arriving at Stonehenge. It is the largest stone circle in Europe, containing 100 stones encircled by a 20 foot high ring mound.

What about the Stonehenge Avenue?

The Avenue at Stonehenge - England

Discovered in the 18th century, the Stonehenge Avenue measures nearly 3 kilometers, connecting Stonehenge with the River Avon. Along some of its length the Avenue is aligned with the sunrise of the summer solstice. At the end of the Avenue, a similar ring of bluestones, Bluestonehenge, was discovered recently.

How was it built?

Stonehenge secrets

Discovered in the 18th century, the Stonehenge Avenue measures nearly 3 kilometers, connecting Stonehenge with the River Avon. Along some of its length the Avenue is aligned with the sunrise of the summer solstice. At the end of the Avenue, a similar ring of bluestones, Bluestonehenge, was discovered recently.