Located in England, the Stonehenge monument is a circular group of massive, upright stones that dates back more than 5,000 years. Stonehenge's purpose is unclear. It is thought that it may have been a type of astronomical calendar for predicting the seasons or a temple built for sky or sun worship. In addition to the huge stones, a timber henge, or circle, may also have been erected at the site.

Location

Stonehenge is located on Salisbury Plain, which is a plateau-like area covering about 300 square miles (775 square kilometers) in the county of Wiltshire in England. It is 1 ¹/₂ miles (2.5 kilometers) west of Amesbury town in the valley of the Avon River. The area was settled in early times and is rich in prehistoric remains.

Physical features

Stonehenge is the greatest surviving megalithic, or large stone, structure in the British Isles. The main design is a horseshoe-shaped formation of large sandstones encircled by a ring of vertical stones. Horizontal stones cap these. Some of the other large stones within the site are called the Altar Stone, the Slaughter Stone, and two Station stones. The Heel Stone stands on the straight path called the Avenue, which is outside the entrance. There are also formations of smaller and lighter bluestones, many of which have disappeared. The Stonehenge that visitors see today is considerably ruined. Some of its stones were stolen by medieval and early modern builders, and the remaining stones have been through centuries of weathering.

History

Excavations at the site suggest that the monument was built in three phases that began in about 3100 BC and probably ended before 1500 BC. The stones were transported to the site from as far away as southern Wales, which is 200 miles (320 kilometers) away. Some of the stones weigh up to 4 tons.

Uses

Some people think the site may have been built as an observatory where early rituals or religious ceremonies took place on specific days of the year. The English astronomer Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer showed that the northeast axis, or main line of direction, of Stonehenge is linked to the sunrise at the summer solstice. Thus on Midsummer Day (June 24) a person standing in the center of the stone circle can see the sun rise directly above the Heel Stone. This led many scholars to wonder whether the builders were sun worshipers. The circle of stones at Stonehenge seems to be aligned with important risings and settings of the sun and moon. However, it cannot be proven that the monument was built for a religious purpose.

The placement of huge stones weighing up to 50 tons within the Stonehenge site is one of the most advanced accomplishments of prehistoric times. The site also provides the best evidence that early people used astronomy. In 1986 Stonehenge and the nearby circular monument of Avebury were added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) World Heritage List.