Stonehenge

Stonehenge is certainly larger than the United Kingdom national icon, a symbol of secrecy, power and strength. Its original purpose is unclear to us, but some have speculated that it was the temple to worship the gods of ancient earth. It 'been called an astronomical observatory for marking significant events on the prehistoric calendar. Others argue that it was a sacred burial place for people of high position in society in the past.

While we can not say with certainty what it was for, we can say that has not been made for any purpose indifferent. Only something very important that the elders would have been worth the effort and investment to the construction of Stonehenge.

The stones we see today represent Stonehenge in ruin. Many of the original stones have fallen or been removed by previous generations for home construction or repair of roads. There was a serious injury to some of the smaller bluestones is the result of a visitor contact (prohibited since 1978) and the prehistoric carvings on large rocks sarsen show significant signs of wear.

Construction of the Henge

In its time, the construction of Stonehenge was an impressive engineering feat, requiring commitment, time and large amount of manual work. In its first phase, Stonehenge was a large earthwork bank and ditch arrangement called Heng was built about 5000 years. It is believed that the ditch was dug tools made from deer horns, and possibly wood. Chalk has been released based on the picks and shoveled with shoulderblades cattle. It 'was then loaded into baskets and taken away. Modern experiments have shown that these tools were more than the great task of earth excavation and movement.

The Bluestones

Around 2000 BC, the first stone circle (which is now inside the ring), which consists of small bluestones was established, but abandoned before completion. The stones used for the first circle are considered to be Prescelly Mountains, located about 240 km south-west corner of Wales. In bluestones weigh up to 4 tons each and about 80 stones were used in all. Given the distance of travel, this presented a problem of transport.

Modern theories speculate that the stones were dragged by roller and sledge to the inland mountains to the springs of Milford Haven. They were loaded onto rafts, and boats and sailed along the south coast of Wales, the River Avon and Frome on the spot near Frome in Somerset today. From this point, it is possible that the theory is that the stones were hauled on the ground, and again in a place near Warminster in Wiltshire, approximately 6 miles away. From there it's back in the pool for a slow float down the river Wylye in Salisbury, the Salisbury Avon to West Amesbury, so only a short 2 mile drag from West Amesbury to the Stonehenge site.

Construction of the Outer Ring

Ing giant stones (which form the outer circle), weigh up to 50 tonnes each. For the carriage of Marlborough Downs, about 20 miles north, is a problem of greater magnitude than that of moving the Bluestone. Most of the way the course is relatively easy, but the strongest part of the route Redhorn Hill, modern studies estimate that at least 600 men were needed to get each stone past this obstacle.

Once in place, a stone was prepared to be reviewed to take account of the stone lintels along its surface. Then he slipped at the end was the opening hole. Great levers were inserted under the stone was raised until gravity dragged into the hole. At this point, the stone was in a 30 ° angle from the ground. The cables are fixed at the top and teams of men from the other side to raise the vertical position. It is guaranteed to fill the hole at its base with small, round packing stones. At this point, the lintels were cut in place and secured vertically by mortice and tenon and horizontally joined by tongue and groove joints. Stonehenge was finally completed around 1500 BC.

Who Built Stonehenge?

On the question of who built Stonehenge is largely unanswered, even today. Construction of the monument has been attributed to many ancient peoples throughout the years, but the most charming and has a permanent return to the Druids. This erroneous connection was first around 3 centuries in antiques John Aubrey. Julius Caesar and other Roman writers told of the Celtic priests, who flourished at the time of their first conquest (55 BC). By this time, however, that the stones have been standing for 2000 years and was perhaps already in dilapidated condition. In addition, the Druids worshiped in forest temples and had no need for stone structures.

The best estimate appears to be on the Stonehenge site was launched at the end of the Neolithic people (about 3000 BC) and carried out by persons from the new economy emerging at this time. These "new" people, the glass due to its popular use ceramic vessels, began to use metal tools and live in the fashion of their ancestors. Some think that may be immigrants from the European continent, but this claim is not supported by archaeological evidence. It is likely that indigenous peoples are doing the same old things in new ways.