Stonehenge interesting facts. Stonehenge - interesting data and facts
One of the oldest architectural monuments in the world, Stonehenge, still causes a lot of controversy among scientists. A structure of huge stone blocks was erected in a place where there is not a single large stone deposit nearby. But this is not the only mystery of this place. Stonehenge - stores interesting facts about its purpose and construction in much larger quantities.
Interesting facts about the construction of Stonehenge
Megalithic structures are found in different parts of the globe, for example, huge stone statues, Moai, on Easter Island 
. For a long time, scientists were interested in the question of how ancient people moved huge blocks of stone without modern technological means. The builders had to transport stones from several places, one of which is located 240 and the other 220 kilometers from the location of the monument. In the cromlech 
- several dozen megaliths. About 30 sarsen stones along the perimeter weigh up to 25 tons each and have a height of 3 to 4 meters. In the center are huge triliths 
(arches made of stones), up to 7 meters high, each element of which weighs up to 50 tons.
Scientists have calculated that the builders of Stonehenge may have needed decades of work. If the construction of the first, most ancient, phase would require only about 460 man-days of hard physical labor, then for the second - about 40, and for the third - about 200 man-years of work. It was supposed to take about 20 million man-hours (2300 man-years) to process the stone. Based on these data, it becomes clear that the construction of Stonehenge required a fairly developed social organization. About 10 thousand people, who for several weeks a year would devote 8 hours a day to the construction of a monument, could build it in only 12 years.
Interesting facts about the purpose of Stonehenge
It is still not known exactly what Stonehenge was intended for. Often it is positioned as the most famous ancient observatory. However, in recent years, many scientists are inclined to believe that throughout or almost all of its history, Stonehenge was used as ... a cemetery. Numerous remains of cremated and simply buried bodies are found here. Moreover, some of them were not from the UK. For example, one body (of a young man) was raised in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC from the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, another (of a mature blacksmith of the middle of the 3rd millennium BC) belonged to a native of Germany, the third came from Wales and Brittany in France.
The astronomical version, of whose modern followers Gerald Hawkins is called the main one, has no official scientific confirmation. In the sixties, Hawkins' ideas about using Stonehenge to predict the ancient celestial phenomena and possible cataclysms were quite popular, but archaeologists are still skeptical about them. However, the astronomical version even today cannot be completely "written off" by scientists due to the design features of the monument. Stonehenge is made in such a way that its arches accurately (with only a slight error) indicate the positions of the rising of the sun and moon during the year.
In the 18th century, the idea of using Stonehenge appeared. 
as places of execution. One of the stones in the composition of the cromlech was even given the name "Plakha". However, scientists have proven that the stains on its surface are not traces of blood, as previously assumed, but the results of iron oxide processes.
Interesting facts about the reconstruction and current state of Stonehenge
The way Stonehenge looks now, it began to look like only in the 20th century. In early drawings and photographs, the complex had a completely different look. Many of the stones were knocked down, the rest stood rickety and overgrown with grass. At the beginning of the 20th century, reconstruction began, which almost immediately gained many supporters and opponents. Many newspapers called it "vandalism" and called on the authorities and the public to immediately stop interference in the architectural appearance of Stonehenge. Large work on the reconstruction of Stonehenge was also carried out in the twenties and sixties.
In 1986, the monument was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List along with other UK megalithic structures according to criteria I, II, III: "a masterpiece of human genius", "the mutual influence of human values in architecture or technology" and "uniqueness for a civilization that has existed before is still or has already disappeared.
Stonehenge is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK. But it is difficult to get there on your own - the territory near Stonehenge is protected, and for the tourists themselves, a special parking zone operates far from the monument. In the 2000s, the British government invested 10 million pounds in the development of tourist infrastructure at Stonehenge.
Ksenia Zharchinskaya
So far, scientists do not know for 100% who, when and why built Stonehenge, but what is known about it for sure is the age of the building. It turned out that he did not appear in one day and not even in 100 years. For example, the oldest elements date back to 3000 BC. e., massive stones are about 2500 years old, and the “youngest” structural elements appeared in 1500 BC. e.
2. Some elements of Stonehenge were taken over 250 kilometers
The ancient "builders" of this structure did not use local materials - at least not in everything. For example, some of the smallest stones of the monument were brought from territories located 250 kilometers away from it. An impressive achievement considering that they weigh about four tons. Actually, scientists do not know for certain how they were able to move so far, and therefore many are sure that the stones were still used purely local.
3 Stonehenge Was Originally A Cemetery
Its exact purpose is unknown, but from the very beginning, even before the appearance of large stones, Stonehenge was a cemetery where several dozen people of the Neolithic era were buried. More precisely, their remains after cremation - this is eloquently indicated by the corresponding holes and finds in the ground nearby.
4. And not everyone buried on it was cremated
However, although most of the remains of people found at the site of Stonehenge are ashes, there are exceptions. For example, back in 1923, a burial of a man without a head was found there, dated to the 7th century BC. BC e. Scientists decided that it was an executed criminal, however, judging by the place of burial - either a very noble, or a priest, or both.
5. Rumors about the purpose of Stonehenge - a variety
Since no one knows exactly who erected Stonehenge and why, a variety of rumors hover around its purpose. The most innocuous theories say that this is a former temple of the Druids or a coronation site. Others - that this is an ancient observatory and even a structure built by aliens who flew to Earth millennia ago.
The most common and "generally accepted" theory is that it is a prehistoric temple built according to certain movements of the sun.
6. The first written mention of Stonehenge appeared in the XII century
Despite the fact that Stonehenge existed already 3.5 thousand years ago in the “finished” century, it was first mentioned in written sources only in the 12th century. Surprisingly, even then, the unknown chronicler admired the size of the structure and complained that no one knew its purpose. In this respect, science has not advanced a single step in 800 years.
7. In the Middle Ages, people believed that Merlin created Stonehenge
However, at least over the past 800 years, people have abandoned the idea and belief that Stonehenge was created by the wizard Merlin. But in medieval England it was the most popular idea. On the other hand, is faith in alien builders so far removed from it?
8 The New Druids Started Using Stonehenge In The Early 20th Century
Druids today regularly gather at Stonehenge for ceremonies, and for the first time this happened in 1905, when a group of 700 people, united in the Ancient Order of Druids, held a bright and colorful ceremony using ancient robes, false beards and large amounts of alcohol. The British press did not spare colors to describe this spectacle.
9. Charles Darwin studied the earthworms of Stonehenge
In the second half of his life, Charles Darwin paid a lot of attention to earthworms, trying to prove their huge role in nature. And for his observations, he chose the worms of Stonehenge, having carried out real excavations in the vicinity of the "building". Along the way, he made several discoveries of an archaeological nature, making Darwin the first "field" archaeologist to study Stonehenge.
10 Stonehenge Stones Used To Be Climbable
Until 1977, there was no ban on the "conquest" of the stones of Stonehenge by visitors. And until the beginning of the 20th century, there was no ban on taking a pebble for yourself as a keepsake. If not for these prohibitions, by 2015 there would definitely be nothing left of the ancient monument.
11. Stonehenge formed a full circle
Scholars were hoarsely debating whether Stonehenge was a full circle or not, until the 2014 drought put everything in its place. She "highlighted" strange circles on the ground, which were ideally similar to the places where other stones of Stonehenge used to stand. Massive boulders at one time forever changed the nature of the soil, and during an unprecedented drought this became clearly visible.
12. This year is 100 years since Stonehenge stands on public land.
Until 1915, Stonehenge stood on private land and became public only thanks to the courtesy of Cecil Chubb, who bought the site during an auction that sold the property of the last representative of the Antrobas family who owned the lands of Stonehenge. More precisely, he bought the site back in 1910, and donated it in 1915, and the obligatory condition for the gift was to ensure free access for everyone to the monument. Later, including for this act, the British crown granted him a knighthood.
Stonehenge is a huge stone mystery in the heart of Europe. Where is Stonehenge located? Anyone can answer this question, because almost everyone knows about it.
The existing information about the megalith (about its origin and purpose) still does not answer the question of how people could design and build such a structure four thousand years ago. An ancient observatory, a landing pad for alien creatures, a portal to another world or a pagan tomb - all this is Stonehenge (England). For many centuries, the best minds of mankind have been struggling to solve it. And much remains unknown...
Stonehenge is also called cromlech - this is the oldest structure of vertical stones lined up in a circle. They can form one or more circles.
Where is Stonehenge
This building is in a field located 13 kilometers from the small village of Salisbury. "Stone fence" - this is how the name Stonehenge is translated. London is located 130 kilometers to the southwest. The territory belongs to the administrative district of Wiltshire. It consists of a circle around which there are 56 small burial "holes" of Aubrey (named after a 17th century explorer). The most famous version is that lunar eclipses could be calculated from them. Later they began to bury the cremated remains of people. In Europe, wood has always been associated with life, and stone with death.
The structure of Stonehenge
In the center is the so-called altar (a six-ton green sandstone monolith). In the northeast - a seven-meter Heel Stone. There is also the Block Stone, so named for the color of the iron oxides protruding on it. The next two rings are made up of large hard blocks of blue color (siliceous sandstone). The construction is completed by an annular colonnade with horizontal slabs lying on top.
In general, the building consists of:
82 megaliths weighing 5 tons;
30 blocks, each 25 tons;
5 triliths of 50 tons each.
All of them form arches with the most precise indication of the cardinal points. It was not for nothing that the ancient Britons called this place the "Round Dance of the Giants".
The boulders that were used in the megalith have different origins. Stone structures (triliths or megaliths) and individual stones of rough processing (menhirs) consist of gray calcareous sandstone and limestone. There are volcanic lava, tuff and dolerite. Part of the blocks could come from a site located 210 kilometers away. They could be delivered both by land (on skating rinks) and by water. In our time, an experiment was conducted that showed that a group of 24 people could move a stone weighing one ton at a speed of one kilometer per day. The weight of the largest blocks reaches 50 tons. Ancient builders could transport such a block for several years.
Stones were processed in several stages. By mechanical means and by the method of exposure to fire and water, the necessary blocks were prepared for transportation. And already on the spot more fine grinding and processing was carried out.
Stonehenge - history and legends of antiquity
According to legend, the megalith appeared thanks to the legendary mentor of King Arthur. He brought some stone blocks from South Wales, where there has long been an accumulation of sacred springs. In fact, the road to the place where Stonehenge is located was very difficult. The nearest quarries with rock are at a great distance, and one can imagine how titanic the efforts for the most difficult transportation were. The closest thing was to deliver them by sea, and from there 80 kilometers by land by dragging.
The huge Heel Stone gave birth to another story - about a monk hiding from the devil in the boulders. So that he did not have time to hide, the devil threw a stone at him and crushed his heel.
All these legends of the ancient Stonehenge, most likely, have little to do with reality. Today, more detailed studies prove that the construction was carried out in three stages from 2300 to 1900 BC. It functioned for about 2.5 thousand years and was abandoned around 1100 BC. And the characters of British history lived much later.
Who built Stonehenge
There are many nations claiming to build this megalith, from the ancient Romans to the Swiss or Germans. Until now, it was believed that it was built in the second millennium BC as an ancient observatory. The famous astronomer Hoyle found out that the ancient creators already knew the exact orbital period of the Moon and the length of the solar year.
In 1998, astronomers came to the rescue. With his help, they came to the conclusion that this is not only a lunar and solar calendar, but also in a cross section. Moreover, there should be not 9 planets, as is currently known, but 12. Perhaps in the future we will have more discoveries related to the composition of the solar system.
The English historian Brooks, who has been exploring Stonehenge for many years, proved that it is part of a giant navigation system.
In addition to its astronomical function, Stonehenge was also used as a ritual structure. This is evidenced by a large number of cemeteries and other ritual sites in the vicinity. And some researchers put forward a theory about the tomb of the pagan queen Boudica. This fearless woman did not want to surrender to the Romans and chose to take poison. Although there have never been human burials at Stonehenge. For all the time, only one remains of an archer was found in a moat, dated to the 7th century BC.
This land has always been considered sacred, because at all times tourists and natives tried to break off and take a part with them as an amulet. A hundred years ago, local residents even had a kind of business - to rent hammers to beat off a piece for themselves as a keepsake or to stamp their name on a boulder. Now a tourist cannot even touch the megalith with his hand, asphalt paths are specially laid at some distance from the boulders.
Druid Sanctuary
There is a hypothesis that this is the place of power of the druids (at the intersection of energy lines), allowing them to conduct the most serious rituals to unite with the forces of nature. The orientation of the monument to the solstice is another argument in this favor. Since this isolated tribe did not leave behind any written evidence, the purpose of Stonehenge has remained a great mystery.
New Druids consider it a place of their pilgrimage, and representatives of other pagan movements like to visit this area. In the days of winter and huge crowds of druid worshipers meet their main deity. The rays of the sun, which has reached the zenith, fall exactly between the vertical stones of the largest trilith, and together with the sun's rays, people are enlightened. And it often happens that the weather is cloudy around, but the sun is shining inside.
The grandeur of Stonehenge
Another feature of Stonehenge is its high seismic resistance. During construction, special plates were used to dampen and soften shocks. At the same time, there is almost no subsidence of the soil, which is inevitable in modern construction.
One thing is for sure: whoever the mysterious builders were, they possessed colossal knowledge in mathematics, geology, astronomy and architecture. And given that such structures were erected then all over the world (the pyramids of Egypt, and then we can safely say that modern people simply do not know a lot about their past. According to calculations, if today Stonehenge is rebuilt with the tools of that time, it will take 2 million people -hours.And it would take 20 million to manually carve the stones.So the reason why people worked on it for so long must really be very significant.
How to get there? Stonehenge on the map
By private car, tourists get on the A303 and M3 road, which leads to Amesbury. Comfortable trains run from the station to Waterloo to Salisbury and Andover, and from there you can get there by bus.
In London, you can purchase a one-day group tour, which already includes an entrance ticket. The same bus runs from Salisbury, picking up tourists from the railway station. The ticket can be used throughout the day, and buses leave every hour.
How to get to the center of Stonehenge, bypassing the bans?
According to the rules, it is forbidden to come close and walk inside Stonehenge (tourists cannot come closer than 15 meters), but some tour operators make indulgence and allow a walk, but only early in the morning or late in the evening. Such groups usually have a limited number of participants, so it is advisable to book places in advance. However, the weather must be good. The historical monument is carefully guarded to avoid damage to the ground, so you will not be able to get inside Stonehenge in case of rain.
This building is not in vain included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Someone considers it a poorly preserved pile of stones, while someone dreams of just touching it and strives for this all their lives. Nevertheless, the mystical secret of Stonehenge has always existed, and to this is added admiration for the power of the human mind and perseverance, which made it possible to build this miracle.
About 130 kilometers from London there is a very strange place - a bunch of huge stones neatly arranged in a circle in the middle of an open field - Stonehenge.
Their age cannot be accurately estimated even by the means of modern science - either three thousand years, or all five.
Why did our ancestors, literally just climbing down from the trees, suddenly begin to cut huge boulders out of the rocks and drag them hundreds of kilometers away? An ancient observatory, a cult building of the druids, a landing site for aliens and even a portal to another dimension - all this is Stonehenge!
Stonehenge is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It has 82 five-ton megaliths, 30 stone blocks of 25 tons each, and 5 giant triliths weighing up to 50 tons.
The very word "Stonehenge" is very ancient. There are several versions regarding its origin. It could be formed from the Old English "stan" (stone, that is, a stone) and "hencg" (rod - since the upper stones were fixed on the rods) or "hencen" (gallows, a torture instrument). The latter can be explained by the fact that the medieval gallows were built in the shape of the letter "P" and resembled the trilithons of Stonehenge.
Megalith(from the Greek "megas" - large, and "litos" - stone) - a large hewn piece of rock used in the construction of ancient places of worship. As a rule, such structures were erected without the use of mortar - stone blocks were held under their own weight or on hewn stone "castles".
Trilith(or "trilithon", from the Greek "tri" - three and "litos" - stone) - a building structure of two vertical blocks supporting a third, horizontal one.
Stonehenge. How it was.
The earliest surviving religious building on the territory of Stonehenge looks very primitive and does not resemble later stone buildings. Stonehenge No. 1 was built no earlier than 3100 BC and consisted of two round earthen ramparts, between which there was a moat. The diameter of the entire object is about 115 meters. A large entrance was arranged on the northeast side, and a small one on the south.
Presumably, the ditch between the ramparts was dug using deer antler tools. The work was carried out not in one step, but in sections. Studies have shown that the bottom of the moat was covered with animal bones (deer, bulls). Judging by their condition, these bones were carefully monitored - they probably had considerable cult significance for people who visited the temple.
Directly behind the inner rampart inside the complex, 56 recesses were dug, arranged in a circle. They were called "Aubrey Holes" after the antique dealer who discovered them in 1666. The purpose of the holes is unclear. According to the chemical analysis of the soil, wooden supports were not placed in them. The most common version is that lunar eclipses were calculated from the holes, however, the accuracy leaves much to be desired.
What was Stonehenge for?
As soon as people did not rack their brains - why did the ancients need Stonehenge? The very first references that have come down to us connect it with the legend of King Arthur - supposedly this monument was built by the wizard Merlin himself (according to another version, he transferred it with his charms from Mount Killaraus in Ireland).
Other stories "blamed" the construction of Stonehenge on the devil himself. In 1615, the architect Inigo Jones claimed that the stone monoliths were built by the Romans - allegedly it was the temple of a pagan deity named Knelus. In the 18th century, researchers discovered the "astronomical" function of Stonehenge (its orientation to the solstice) - this is how the version appeared, according to which this building belonged to the Druids. Nowadays, some experts claim that Stonehenge can predict solar eclipses or even perform complex mathematical calculations. The "planetarium" and "calculator" theories are very controversial - the evidence is usually refuted either by the simplest astronomical facts or by history itself (Stonehenge has been repeatedly rebuilt, changed its structure and probably served different purposes).
Interesting facts about Stonehenge
The most common archeological finds in the ground under Stonehenge are Roman coins and the remains of the Saxons. They date back to the 7th century BC.
There are more exotic theories about Aubrey holes. For example, the ancients could use them to plan pregnancy (based on the 28-day menstrual cycle in women).
"Blue stones" - dolerite, the closest relative of coarse-grained basalt. Dolerite got its “colored” nickname because it turns blue when wet with water. A fresh stone chip also has a blue tint.
"Heel stone" - so named because of the legend according to which Satan threw it at a monk and hit him in the heel.
The origin of the word "sarsen" is unclear. Perhaps it came from the later term "Saracen" (Saracen, that is, pagan stones). Sarsens were used to build not only Stonehenge, but also other megalithic monuments in England.
The inner side of the sarsens has been processed much better than the outer. This suggests that, perhaps, the room was closed, and some important rituals were performed inside it, the participants of which did not leave the stone "circle".
Calculations show that the construction of Stonehenge (with the tools available at the time) required about 2 million man-hours of work, and the processing of stones would take 10 times more. The reason why people worked on this monument for almost 20 centuries must have been very good.
The theory of a UFO landing site arose in part due to the fact that there is a military airfield near Stonehenge (near the city of Warminster).
08.08.2012
Stonehenge- one of the oldest monuments in the world, which is a stone megalithic cromlech structure located on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. Built around 2500 BC, Stonehenge is a true reflection of prehistoric times. Unfortunately, information about who and why this structure was created has not reached our time. Some researchers believe that it was either a sacrificial altar or an observatory, and in the 18th century there were even suggestions that Stonehenge was used as a gallows. Stonehenge consists of earthen fortifications surrounded by large vertical stones that form a circle with a diameter of 29.6 meters. Below you will learn some more interesting information about this prehistoric monument.
Stonehenge is located on the Salisbury Plain, in the English county of Wiltshire, about 137 kilometers southwest of London.
The name of this building comes from the English "Stone Hedge", which means "stone fence".
Although there is no definite information about who built Stonehenge, it is traditionally believed that it was built by the Druids, Greeks or Atlanteans.
Stonehenge was built between 3100 - 1100 BC.
In 1986, Stonehenge and its surroundings were included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, in addition, it has the status of a national historical monument.
The prehistoric site of Stonehenge is owned by the Queen of England, managed by English Heritage, and the surrounding land is owned by the National Trust, a heritage conservation charity.
The stones and arches of Stonehenge indicate the rising and setting of the Sun and Moon as they move throughout the year.
The builders of Stonehenge had a fine understanding of astronomical, geometric, and architectural principles.
Rings of huge stones are surrounded by a large moat and ramparts.
The stones of Stonehenge are placed in such a way that they increase in size towards the center and alternate in shape between tall, thin, pillar-like stones and cone-shaped obelisk-shaped stones.
Two types of stone were used in the construction of Stonehenge - blue stones, which weighed almost four tons and were delivered from a distance of 380 kilometers. The second type of stone is sandstone boulders, which reached a height of about 5 meters and weighed twenty-five tons.
Researchers estimate that the construction of Stonehenge took more than thirty million hours of labor time.
Stonehenge is the most famous megalithic structure of the nine hundred stone rings that exist in the British Isles.
Until 1950, most archaeologists believed that the purpose of Stonehenge was limited to ritual functions. However, it is now believed that Stonehenge was an astronomical observatory used by ancient people to observe the sun and moon.
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// 13.09.2013
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