The megalithic ruin known as Stonehenge has created
an enigma for many centuries, although many groups such as pagans
and druids believe that the stone circle was used for rites and ceremonies,
there is no conclusive proof to the purpose of the stones.
Stonehenge as we know it was finally completed about
3500 years ago. Theories about who built it have included the Druids,
Greeks, Phoenicians, and Atlanteans, and it is suggested that it had
been designed to allow observation of astronomical events, such as
the summer and winter solstices, and eclipses.
Stonehenge took an extraordinary amount of time
and effort to build, which suggests the significance of the site if
very high indeed, whatever that may be. Prior to the stones being
brought in and laid, the site had already been prepared for some time
to receive them.
# In about 2150 BC, 82 bluestones from Wales weighing
about 4 tonnes each were taken on a journey of about 240 miles over
sea and land to reach the site, the last stage of the journey was
down the river Wylye to Salisbury, then the Salisbury Avon to west
Amesbury.
# In approximately 2000 BC, Sarsen stones were also
brought in, they were thought to have originated from Marlborough
Downs near Avebury. The biggest of the Sarsen stones weighed about
50 tonnes and would have been moved using sledges and ropes. According
to estimations, it would have taken 500 men using leather ropes to
pull one stone, with another 100 men to lay the massive rollers in
front of the sledge. These Stones were arranged in an outer circle
with a continuous run of lintels. Inside the circle, five trilithons
were set in a semicircle arrangement, whose remains we can still see
today forming the gateway into the circle.
# Just after 1500 BC the bluestones were rearranged
in the semicircle and circle into what we have there today. The original
number of stones in the bluestone circle was possibly around 60 -
80, many of which have been taken away or broken up. Some parts of
these stones left are also underground now.
During the course of time, stones have been broken,
stolen, fallen and vandalised, so now access to the site is restricted
to avoid any of these occurring again from human interference.
Today visitors still flock in their thousands to
enter this sacred site, many pagan and druid sects still hold some
of their main festivals here, the most famous of them being the summer
solstice.
