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| The prehistoric monument of Stonehenge is a circular setting made of large stone pillars. It is located on the Salisbury Plain. Salisbury Plain is located north of Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Stonehenge dates from the late Neolithic (Stone) to early Bronze Ages. It is probably the most celebrated and intriguing megalith from ancient times. The monument consists of four concentric stone ranges. A number of barrows surround the main structure. Many of these barrows contain small chips of bluestones much like those found in the concentric range. The main ring of stones was set in place at around 1800 BC. The outer circle consists of large, lintel sandstone pillars. These are known as sarsen stones. Within this circle is a smaller one. The inner ring is made up mainly of a stone known as spotted dolerite. There are four different specimens of rhyolite and volcanic material. The latter circle encloses a small, horseshoe-shaped alignment of lintel couples of sarsens. Within this area is an even smaller horseshoe of bluestones. The bluestones are allegedly from the northern area of Wales in the Preseli Mountains. This encloses a slab of sandstone, the Altar Stone. The Altar Stone is thought to be from near Milford Haven in Pembroke. Near the entrance is the so-called Slaughter Stone. This stone is a sarsen that originally might have stood vertically. |
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| A circular ditch that is 104 meters in diameter and 1.5 meters in depth surrounds Stonehenge. Within it are a bank and a ring of 56 holes known as "Aubrey Holes". They were named after their discoverer, John Aubrey. There is a break in the ditch at the northeastern end. This break affords access to the ditch-boarded avenue that proceeds forward in a northeastward direction. It is headed to the East Avon River. This avenue is about 23 meters wide. It is almost two miles long. Even though no records explaining the significance of Stonehenge remain, it most definitely has a religious connection. It is also believed to be tied with some kind of astronomical observations. |
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| There were many important people in Stonehenge`s long and mystical history. First, is John Aubrey. He was one of the first investigators of Stonehenge. Aubrey`s 1666 report noted many small cavities that later were named "Aubrey Holes." The alleged connection of the Druids and Stonehenge has held the imagination of the public since the 17th century. It originated with Aubrey. The next investigator was William Stukeley. He identified many key elements at the site in the 1730`s. These elements suggested Celtic and Druidic origins for Stonehenge. These findings were later found to be incorrect. William Cunnington was also important in the role of discovering the mysteries of Stonehenge. During some of the excavations on which Colt Hoare accompanied him, over 300 barrows were excavated. Sir William Gowland also was an excavator, but he lived and worked in the 20th century. He revealed construction methods never noticed by anyone before him. Lt. Colonel William Hawley made a series of major excavations and discoveries between 1919-1926, even though he was only an amateur. Professor Richard J.C. Atkinson was the most distinguished, post-war authority on Stonehenge. His discoveries are now being defined by radiocarbon dating. Professor Atkinson concluded the stones were probably moved on rafts along the western coast of England (and Wales), and then up the Avon River on canoes, made out of hollowed out tree. Though they were not quite the "wondrous engines" of Merlin, they conquered a large task for that time (go to Theories to find out more). |
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| Many believe that Stonehenge originally had at least 60 bluestones. Today, less than one third of these stones remain. The stones that have been removed were broken up for building stones, road paving, and even, sadly, for souvenirs. At one time, visitors would rent hammers and picks in nearby Amesbury, and chip off little pieces of stone for keepsakes. Archaeologists cannot tell exactly how of why it was built. That remained largely a matter of speculation, until Gerald S. Hawkins (then Boston University`s professor of astronomy, and a research associate at the Harvard College Observatory) began a study of Stonehenge in the 1960`s. With a computer`s help, Professor Hawkins calculated the sun and the moons` positions over Stonehenge during its stages of construction. He concluded the monument was an observatory for figuring the sun and the moons` cycles. |
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| In the beginning, other archaeologists met Professor Hawkins` findings with skepticism. The reactions ranged from sober discussions of mathematical probability to instant dismissal. Some dismissed the ideas quickly because the builders of Stonehenge were allegedly not smart enough for such sophisticated information. As the debate continued, more archaeologists began to accept Professor Hawkins` quite major findings. |
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| Not until the early 1970`s did many archaeologists consider Stonehenge and other megaliths as a result of a gradual spread westward from the cradle of civilization in the Middle Eastern area of Europe and Asia. In fact, small daggers that are carved in the stones of Stonehenge are quite similar to those carved in the sides on the ruins in Mycenae in southern Greece. Also, the radiocarbon dates for wood and other organic matter that was found at Stonehenge, as well as its surrounding monuments, showed archaeologists that they were built after the ruins of the Mycenaean Civilization. |
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| The early 19th century showed that Stonehenge could easily be approached, and appeared quite massive with the surrounding landscape. With more than three-quarters of a million visitors, Stonehenge has been enclosed in fences, as if it were a fierce lion or tiger. Also, visitors are prohibited from entering the inner circle. Nearby roads provide unwanted, and unneeded, noise pollution. Hopefully, the future will prove to be less annoying. If they close a nearby road (A344), and another (A303) is tunneled, Stonehenge will once again become a part of this beautiful and sacred landscape. Visitors will then be able to absorb the unique atmosphere of this amazing stone circle. |
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| Hale Bopp over Stonehenge is beautiful, even if you only see it in a picture. As Hale Bopp travels across the night sky above Stonehenge, it magnifies the power and mystery of the ancient monument. It magnifies the history and the people behind it as well. Stonehenge was partly razed between 55 BC and 410 AD. The Romans brought this tragedy to hand. They tore down a large number of uprights. There were three main phases in the building of Stonehenge. The first phase was the "earth monument" phase. This lasted through 2950-2900 B.C. The second phase was the "timber monument" phase. This lasted from 2900-2400 B.C. The last phase was the "stone monument" phase. This lasted from 2550-1600 BC With its main entrance facing the northeast, Stonehenge was probably purposely aligned to the midsummer sunrise. The monument in phase three defined this alignment. |
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