STONEHENGE

Stonehenge is probably the most important prehistoric monument in the whole of Britain and has attracted visitors from earliest times. It stands as a timeless monument to the people who built it.

Stonehenge stands in a grassy field in the Wiltshire countryside, and must have been a highly atmospheric site over the millennia since its construction. Unfortunately, in modern times the site has lost a great deal of this atmosphere, thanks to the intersection of two major highways nearby and the inevitable tourist infrastructure.

Quick guide Age: estimated at 3100 BC Location: Wiltshire, UK OS Reference: SU 122 422 Type of stone: Bluestone, Sarsen, Welsh Sandstone Worship: Lunar, Solar Access: English Heritage - there is a charge to visit the stones Extra notes: Except on special or arranged occasions, visitors are unable to walk amongst the stones

Stonehenge was constructed in three phases. It has been estimated that the three phases of the construction required more than thirty million hours of labour.

The Stonehenge that we see today is the final stage that was completed about 3500 years ago, but first let us look back 5000 years.

This computer-generated isometric view of Stonehenge, in its present state from the south-east, is enhanced by the plan on the next page, which carries a clever key to the materials used and a measure to indicate scale.

Some think it is a solar calendar that predicted the sunrise, sunset, eclipse, moonsets and moonrise while others reckon it as a place for worship. The reasoning for Stonehenge remains a mystery.

Some authors state the supernatural must have played a part in the construction of Stonehenge reasoning the stones were too heavy making impossible for anyone to move and carry therefore making Stonehenge a much bigger mystery.

The numbering sequence of the stones was introduced by Flinders Petrie in 1877 and continues in use today. The Sarsen circle is numbered 1 -30 with the lintels numbered 100 higher than their highest numbered supporter. (29-30 topped by 130; 1-2 with 102 etc.)

The great age, massive scale and mysterious purpose of Stonehenge draw over 800,000 visitors per year, and several thousand gather on the summer solstice to watch the sunrise at this ancient and mystical site.

Although the faith of the Stonehenge builders predates any known religion, the site has become a place of pilgrimage and worship for Neopagans who identify themselves with the Druids or other forms of Celtic paganism. It is also popular with New Age devotees, who report powerful energies at the site.

Stonehenge has been the subject of much archaeological and scientific inquiry and research, especially in the last century. The modern account of the construction of Stonehenge is based primarily on excavations done since 1919 and especially since 1950.

Stonehenge is a unique prehistoric monument, at the centre of a rich and varied prehistoric landscape. The Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site is what makes the whole Site, not just Stonehenge, important in global terms for all humanity.

The true meaning of this ancient, awe-inspiring creation has been lost in the mists of time. Surrounded by mystery, Stonehenge never fails to impress.

Sources: http://www.sacred-destinations.com http://en.wikipedia.org www.stonehenge.co.uk www.english-heritage.org.uk www.britannia.com www.stonehenge.org.uk