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The Stonehenge is a group of huge stones in a circular form situated near Salisbury in South England. It was built around 3500 to 5000 years ago and is one of the most iconic archaeological sites in the world. There is no definite theory on why it was built but historians have made assumptions about the purpose of the Stonehenge.
The name was probably derived from Saxon stan hengen which means hanging stones. There are more than 350 similar looking smaller structures around the main site. In 1986, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What Does Folklore Say About Stonehenge?
The story of the Stonehenge revolves around the famous wizard Merlin from the 12th century Arthurian legend. It is said that these huge stone boulders were assembled by giants in Ireland, and the wizrd brought them here and kept them in the shape of a circle using magic.
Another story is that Stonehenge is a part of a Roman temple that was ruined with time. Some believe that it was a place where people came to heal themselves of various ailments. They believed they were cured of the diseases because of the magical powers of these rock figures.
It is also believed that it was used as an observatory by the astronomers of the time. However, no proof has been found to prove any of the hypotheses around Stonehenge.
Meaning Of Stonehenge
It is presumed that the Stonehenge is a religious place where people worshipped the sun and moon. It was related to the farming calendar. In the modern world, it is believed that druids come to visit the monument and celebrate the summer solstice.
However, there is a doubt whether this structure was used by the druids as a place of worship in the past. Every year, at the summer solstice on 21st June, the sun rises over the Heel Stone at Stonehenge and its first rays hit the very centre of the Stonehenge. It is a large sarsen stone that is situated outside the main monument.
The Structure
The Stonehenge was built in 6 stages between 3000 BCE to 1520 BCE. The weight of the lighter stones of the structure known as bluestone (made from igneous, other rocks) is about 3600 Kgs each. The bigger ones weigh around 22000 Kgs and are known as sarsen stones. Archaeologists believe that the stones were brought from their origin places to the site using wooden sledges. The pillars are around 30 feet high.
The bluestones are not found in the area. However, archaeologists have located a quarry of the bluestones near West Wales, which is 233 km away from the site of the Stonehenge. There are 42 bluestones in the structure.
Stonehenge also has altar stones in the middle of the structure, made from red sandstone found in South Wales.
It also has structures known as Station stones. Originally there were four Station stones situated at the four corners of the structure. However, only two of the four exist today and the purpose of the stones is still unknown.
The heart of Stonehenge is a heel stone. It is a single stone that does not have any shape and is located near the entrance of the henge. It is believed that this stone has the power to heal the sick.
Is It A Cemetery?
Around 200 graves have been found around the iconic monument. It is believed that many of those who were buried near Stonehenge were from aristocratic families, priests or higher officials. It is also believed that funerals and other death-related rituals were also performed during or after the burial near Stonehenge.
Many more related structures are still being unearthed by the archaeologists who are working in the area. Two more circular pits were discovered in 2009 and 2010. In 2015, archaeologists claimed that they found two quarries in Preseli Mountains which is 225 km away, from where the bluestones were extracted.
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FAQs
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Who built the Stonehenge?
Archaeologists believe that the Stonehenge was built in 6 stages between 3000 BCE to 1520 BCE. They also believe that it was built by different groups who came across the structure.
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What is the height of Stonehenge?
The pillars of Stonehenge are around 30 feet in height.
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How was Stonehenge constructed?
There is no definite answer for how Stonehenge was built or what was its actual shape. However, quarries of bluestones were found more than 100 Kms away in West Wales. Some suggest the use of wooden sledges for bringing the materials from their places of origin to the site.
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How many stone boulders are there in Stonehenge?
The main monument has approximately 169 stones big and small stones ranging from the bluestone and sarsen to trilithons.
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Are there any threats to Stonehenge?
Although it has recently been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, mine tests were conducted during World War I which caused damage to the stone structure. Along with this, modern tourists have also damaged the monument by engraving on stone or chipping pieces off the monument.
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