There is evidence of religious activity at this historic site as far back as the 10th century BC. Olympia, located in Peloponnese, Greece, is famous of course for being the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The very first Olympic festival was held on the site in the 8th century BC by Elis. Historians date the first actual games in 776 BC. Olympia fell to the Pisatans in 676 BC, and they took over organization of the games until late in the 7th century BC. Evidence of the earliest construction on the Olympia site dates from around 600 BC with athletic arenas and other structures being built. The first stadium was built in the mid 6th century BC.

Olympia thrived in the classical period, which lasted between the 5th and 4th centuries BC. This was considered the golden age at Olympia with a wide variety of religious buildings and other structures being constructed. The massive Temple of Zeus was constructed in the middle of the 5th century BC. More sporting facilities, including the completion of the stadium and the hippodrome, used for chariot-racing, were also constructed.

More and more construction was done in the next few centuries, with the building of the Philippeion and the largest building on the site, the Leonidaion, which was built to house important visitors. More athletic buildings were constructed because of the games’ importance. The Palaestra, Gymnasion, and bath houses were all built before the 3rd century BC, with a vaulted archway being added to link the entrance of the stadium to the sanctuary.

Roman rule saw the games opened up to every citizen of the mighty Roman Empire. Extensive repairs and new building took place also during this time. The Exedra, new baths to replace older Greek ones, and an aqueduct were all built before 160 AD. The Olympia site suffered major damage earthquakes in the 200s AD, while invading tribes robbed material and looted the site’s monuments in 267 AD. The Olympic festival still soldiered on at the site until the final one took place in 393 AD. After that, the Christian emperor Theodosius I banned the games. Olympia was taken over by a Christian community until the late 500s. It remained nearly forgotten until the French excavated the sanctuary at Olympia in 1829.

Shortly thereafter, the German Archaeological Institute of Athens was in charge of excavating the site. Important sites like the Temples of Zeus and Hera, Metroon, Bouleuterion, Philipeion, Echo Stoa, Treasuries, and Palaestra were uncovered. Sculptures from the Temple of Zeus, the Nike of Paeonius, the Hermes of Praxiteles, and many bronzes were also found. A total 14,000 objects were discovered and are now displayed in a museum located on the site. Excavation continued throughout the rest of the 19th and 20th centuries with important discoveries being made still throughout the 1980s and 90s.

Olympia still plays a major role in the modern day Olympic Games with the tradition of the torch. The flame used to light the torch in the Olympic Games is lit by a reflection of sunlight in a mirror in front of the Temple of Hera. The torch is then transported to whatever city is hosting that years’ games. When the Olympics came to back to Greece in 2004, the shot put competition was held at the Olympia stadium, which had since been restored.

Olympia Visitor Information

If you’re in Athens and want to reach Olympia, there is no direct bus link between the two cities. You have to go via Pyrgos. Visitors can take the train or KTEL buses via Pyrgos, and it takes about two hours. Travel to Olympia is also possible from the port of Kyllini by using KTEL buses. Many resorts offer daytrips to Olympia, so check with your accommodations in Athens. There are also hotels in the town of Olympia, which is within walking distance of the ancient sites.

Cost for adults is €6 to see the ancient sites, while the archaeological museum is €9. Hours are 8:00-7:30 from April to October and 8:30 to 3:00 from November to March. Not much remains of the original buildings of Ancient Olympia, but there is plenty to get a good idea of what this idyllic, leafy setting looked like thousands of years ago. Visiting the museum beforehand will give you a better idea of what the ancient buildings looked like.

The gymnasium is the first ruin you run into when entering the ancient city of Olympia, and it dates from the 2nd century BC. Nearby is the area where one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was located, the Statue of Zeus. Archaeologists discovered tools and molds and identified this area as the workshop where the statue was built. Archaeologists have restored and re-erected one of the columns of the Temple of Zeus, built in the 5th century BC, so visitors can get an idea and perspective of its enormous size.

The stadium, which could seat at least 45,000 spectators, is also something every tourist should see. You enter through an archway, and upon entry, you can see both the start and finish lines of the 120 meter sprint track. The seats where judges observed are still standing.

Olympia Conservation Efforts
Conservation and restoration have been ongoing at Olympia for over 130 years. As we speak, the restoration of the architecture of the Temple of Zeus is underway. The Archaeological Museum of Olympia displays finds excavated from the site, but over all, conservation and architecture are overseen by the German Archaeological Institute at Athens.

Some experts believe that Uxmal was founded about 500 A.D. Uxmal was said to be ruled by the Xiu family for several generations, and it was known as the most powerful site in the western Yucatan that was the greatest metropolitan and religious center of its time. Uxmal was at its highest between the 7th and 10th century A.D.. At some point after about 1200 no new major construction was done at Uxmal. This could be related to the fall of Uxmal’s ally, Chichen Itza. With the fall came a shift in power in the Yucatan to Mayapan. The Xiu family eventually moved the capital to Mani, thus making the population decline. The Xiu family allied themselves with Spain in their conquest of the Yucatan in the 1550’s, but Uxmal was abandoned after the Spanish decided not to build a town there.

Once Mexico gained their independence, the site has attracted many visitors. Jean Frederic Waldeck gave the first detailed account of the site in 1838. In 1927 the Mexican government finally stepped in to try to preserve the structures and keep them from collapsing. Plaster casts of the facades were made and a replica of the Quadrangle was constructed and put on display at Chicago’s World Fair in 1933. There are now three hotels and a small museum that have been built within walking distance of Uxmal.

Uxmal Visitor Information
The ancient Mayan city of Uxmal is located in the state of Yucatán, Mexico. The ruins are located 78 km south of Mérida and 15 km south of the town of Muna. Uxmal only takes a few hours to fully explore, and you will also find a small museum at the entrance. Make sure to bring a hat and sunscreen for protection, along with a good pair walking shoes. Uxmal is a very photogenic place, so don’t forget your camera. The site is open every day from 8am to 5pm, and the cost is 85pesos (about US$8). Several different companies offer organized tours of the ruins.

Highlights of visiting Uxmal

• Pyramid of the Magician (also known as Adivino): This is arguably the most impressive and tallest structure at 100 feet. It is located just beyond the entrance. Ancient legend claims the pyramid was built in one night by Itzamna, but experts guess it was built in five different phases. Tourists are not permitted to climb the House of the Magician anymore.
• The Nunnery: This was named by the Spanish because it reminded them of a nunnery. It is a large building that was most likely used as a school for training healers, priests, shamans, and astrologers.
• The Governor’s Palace: This provides a great example of stone mosaic work. It was most likely created by hundreds of sculptors and masons. The Governor’s Palace occupies five acres and has many beautiful sculptures Chaac, the rain god, along with serpents and astrological symbols.
• Other buildings/sites of mention:
  The House of Turtles is decorated with turtle sculptures, which at that time were associated with rain.
  The Dovecote is a building that contains many separate chambers.
  Uxmal also has a large field or court that has a playing field 110 feet in length and 32 feet in width.
  A light and sound show is also offered nightly at Uxmal that is said to be much more impressive than the one put on at Chichen Itza.

Uxmal Conservation Efforts

To aid in the conservation efforts at Uxmal, visitors are now prohibited from climbing the pyramid.  Mexico’s National institute of Anthropology and History have carefully been restoring the site over the years, particularly since 1988 when Hurricane Gilbert damaged part of the pyramid.  Small cracks have been noticed deep in the pyramid and so restoration work is a continuous effort.

Pompeii underwent a great deal of development during this period of Roman rule. An amphitheater, a palaestra with a swimming pool in the center, an aqueduct that provided water for many fountains in the street, four public baths, and many private houses and businesses were built during this time. A large number of frescoes that were well-preserved provided archaeologists with a good idea of what everyday life was like in Pompeii. It has also helped art historians in better understanding the art of the ancient world.

By the late first century AD, Pompeii was one of many towns located at the base of Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano. The area had a good deal of people living in it, but experts disagree on the amount of people living in Pompeii when Vesuvius erupted in 79AD. A major earthquake 17 years earlier sent many of Pompeii’s 20,000 inhabitants fleeing for another place to live.

The eruption happened sometime between August and November of 79AD, burying Pompeii in twelve different layers of soil, ash, and lava. After Pompeii and other towns were covered, they were abandoned. Eventually the names and locations of the cities were forgotten for nearly 1600 years until the digging of an underground channel unearthed ancient walls that were covered with paintings and inscriptions. Nothing more was said or found for another 150+ years when Karl Weber was in charge of the first real excavations. In 1860 the first human remains were found. Many of the mosaics have been moved to a museum in Naples. Work on Pompeii continues today, with new discoveries being made as recent as 2000.


Pompeii Visitor Information
Pompeii has been a popular tourist destination for over two centuries. This historic site was attracting almost 2.6 million visitors per year as of 2008, which made it one of the most popular tourist sites in Italy and all of Europe. You can walk to the ruins from the Circumvesuviana train stop, and there are also car parks nearby.
Adult Tickets are €11 with no special pricing unless you are under 26 and a citizen of the EU (proof is required). You can buy a five-site pass for €20 that includes Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum and is valid for 3 days. You can get in free or half price with the “Campaina Arte Card.” Pompeii is open daily from 8:30 to 7:30 during summer months and from 8:30 to 5:00 November to March. You can find more information by calling 081-857-5347. The last ticket is sold 90 minutes before closing time.

You can only walk when entering the site. Be aware that the old roman stone roads can be very exhausting to walk, especially in the middle of the summer heat with a good number of other tourists around. Cobblestones roads and uneven ground are the norm here. Make sure to bring plenty of water, especially in the summer. Tourists are advised to wear stable shoes, wear sunscreen, and bring a hat. Plan at least an entire day trip for visiting Pompeii.

Most popular sites in and around Pompeii
Pompeii was preserved almost perfectly for nearly 1800 years under layers of ash, stone, and lava, so many of the sites are some of the best preserved in the world. You will notice the remains of an entire city, including:
-large homes
-a forum and public marketplace
-a 5000 seat theatre built in the hollow of a hill for better acoustics
-an ancient brothel with pornographic frescoes
-a temple with an altar and a basilica that served as a courthouse
-bars and bakeries with ovens that have a similar look to a brick oven

In addition to Pompeii, there are other sites nearby you may want to visit:
-the National Museum in Naples has some of the best preserved mosaics and other items found in Pompeii
-you can visit the sister site of Pompeii, Herfulaneum, which was also destroyed during the eruption
-the Garden of the Fugitives has plaster casts of victims on display
-the Villa of Mysteries is a house that is preserved that gives a great portrayal of life in ancient times

Pompeii Conservation Efforts
Excavation of Pompeii has brought with it deterioration. Erosion, water damage, weather and human activity (whether accidental or deliberate) have both played their part in the slow disintegration of the area. Unfortunately, the materials used in reconstruction during the 1980s were mostly concrete and steel, though in later years, these have been replaced with more modern materials which are more sympathetic to the original work at the site. However, the damage has already been done in most places and the replacement endeavours will take many more years to complete.

A temple was first built around 850CE by Rakai Pikatan to honor lord Shiva. Shiva-grha, or the House of Shiva, was the original name of the temple. Many archaeologists suggest that the idol of Shiva located in the central chamber of the main temple is modeled after King Balitung. Experts believe this idol represents a depiction of the king’s deified self after death.

The temple complex was expanded by Mataram kings Daksa and Tulodong. They also added hundreds of temples around the chief temple. Most of the state’s religious ceremonies took place at Prambanan because it served as the royal temple of Mataram, a Hindu Kingdon. Hundreds of Brahmins are said to have lived at Prambanan at the height of the Mataram kingdom. Scholars also believe that their followers lived within the outer wall of the temple complex. The urban center of Prambanan and their courts were said to be located in the nearby Prambanan valley.

A new dynasty, the Isyana Dynasty, took over in the 930s, and they shifted the court to East Java. Experts believe that either a volcanic eruption or power struggle caused the move, which marked the beginning of Prambanan’s decline. It began to deteriorate shortly after it was abandoned. The temples ultimately collapsed when a major earthquake hit in the 16th century, though there were no longer an important place of worship.

A British surveyor accidentally stumbled upon the temples in 1811. A full survey of Prambanan’s ruins was ordered, but they still remained neglected for decades. Many sculptures and foundation stones were stolen by Dutch residents and used for construction material. More excavations took place by archaeologists in the 1880s, but they were done in a haphazardly manner and looting was the only result. Finally a reconstruction effort of the complex began in 1918, followed by proper restoration in 1930. The restoration of the main building of the temple complex was completed around 1953. So much of the original stonework has been stolen and reused, so restoration efforts have been slow. A temple can only be rebuilt only if builders can use at least 75% of the original masonry. For that reason, only foundations of many of the smaller shrines are visible today, and no plans for their reconstruction are evident. Restoration efforts continue today.

Prambanan Visitor Information
The nearest major cities to Prambanan are Yogyakarta, located 17 kilometres southwest, and Solo, which is about 40 kilometres northeast. There is a main road that connects these two large cities. It passes right by Prambanan and makes transport quite easy. The town of Klaten is closest to Prambanan, located about 3 km north.
UNESCO designated Prambanan a World Heritage Site in 1991. It became an increasingly popular tourist destination after that. You will need at least an entire day to get around and understand the historical significance of Prambanan. Prambanan opens early, at 6 AM, so staying nearby the previous night is a good idea. Getting in before the massive crowds arrive at 9am will afford you a good amount of time to explore with a limited amount of tourists. This will also afford the opportunity to visit some of the other archaeological sites on the Prambanan plain. This area of Java gets a lot of rain, so visiting from April to October give you the best chance of having a clear, sunny day.

237 temples comprise the Prambanan complex, though many of have deteriorated or been looted. Three zones make up the complex:

• The outer zone- a large open space that was once surrounded by a large wall, which is no longer there. Many experts believe this was used as either a park or garden. Some think it was the site of an ashram for temple priests.
• The middle zone- this has four rows of 224 identical, concentrically arranged shrines. Many are in ruins, but there are some that have been fully restored. The shrines are called guardian temples. There are many theories about the design and use of this shrine. Some experts think it is a representation of the Mataram caste system. Others think these were designed to receive offerings to the king. Still others believe they were simply used for meditation.
• The inner zone- contains eight main temples along with eight small shrines. Archaeologists agree this is the holiest of the three zones. There are three main inner shrines that are dedicated to Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Keeper, and Shiva the Destroyer.

Prambanan Conservation Efforts
In July 2006, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (WHC) in Jakarta was provided with major funding from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for rehab efforts at Prambanan after a major earthquake hit Indonesia. Information panel boards were installed to raise awareness to tourists visiting the site.

Tunisia holidays attract all sorts of different people however – it isn’t just the history buffs that should start packing. If you know where to looks (Towns like Sousse come well recommended from young clubbers visiting the towns, although as a rule you should make sure the club is one of a good reputation, as like all places with a good nightlife scene, there are seedier places that one can stumble into.

The best time to visit Tunisia is during their spring (March to May), as in the summer months, not only is accommodation at a premium but the weather is often stiflingly hot.

Visas and documentation should pose no problem to most – citizens of most western countries can stay for three months with no Visa, although Australian and New Zealand citizens are only granted two weeks upon entry. Extensions to these allowances aren’t difficult to get, but you should be aware that they can take two weeks to be issued. Also, it should be noted that Israeli citizens are not allowed access to the country.

Healthcare, however, is something that can catch people out. Tunisia does not have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK, and as such your travel insurance policy will need to be up to date before you travel. Waterborne viruses are more common than other countries, so precautions should be taken (Only drinking boiled or bottled water, for example). If you are taken seriously ill in Tunisia there is a chance you will be taken to Italy by air for treatment, as their healthcare is far more advanced than Tunisia’s.

These things should not spoil your enjoyment of a wonderful country however, with miles of beautiful coast, awe-inspiring places to see and a great culture, Tunisia is a perfect holiday for just about anyone.

The Great Wall concept was revived again during the Ming Dynasty following the Ming army’s defeat by the Oirats in the Battle of Tumu in 1449. The Ming had failed to gain a clear upper-hand over the Manchurian and Mongolian tribes after successive battles, and the long-drawn conflict was taking a toll on the empire. The Ming adopted a new strategy to keep the nomadic tribes out by constructing walls along the northern border of China. Acknowledging the Mongol control established in the Ordos Desert, the wall followed the desert’s southern edge instead of incorporating the bend of the Huang He.

Towards the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall helped defend the empire against the Manchu invasions that began around 1600. Under the military command of Yuan Chonghuan, the Ming army held off the Manchus at the heavily fortified Shanhaiguan pass, preventing the Manchus from entering the Chinese heartland. The Manchus were finally able to cross the Great Wall in 1644, when the gates at Shanhaiguan were opened by Wu Sangui, a Ming border general who disliked the activities of rulers of the Shun Dynasty. The Manchus quickly seized Beijing, and defeated the newly founded Shun Dynasty and remaining Ming resistance, to establish the Qing Dynasty.

In 2009, an additional 290 kilometres (180 miles) of previously undetected portions of the wall, built during the Ming Dynasty, were discovered. The newly discovered sections range from the Hushan mountains in the northern Liaoning province to Jiayuguan in western Gansu province. The sections had been submerged over time by sandstorms that moved across the arid region.

The Great Wall of China Visitor Information
The Great Wall can be visited on a day-trip from Beijing and is easily accessed by tour bus, public bus or by taxi. Many tour groups plump for the Badaling Section, as it is the closest to Beijing and has been open for the longest time to visitors (since 1957), though crowds vary widely across the various sections of the wall.  Official tourist sections of the Great Wall will have federal government tickets and cost from 30 RMB to over a 100 RMB depending on the location.

The Great Wall of China Conservation Efforts
The threats against the Great Wall of China include: wanton littering and graffiti; illegal placement of signs, advertisements, construction of buildings and public utilities near the site as well as monitoring, reporting, and prosecuting of violators of a “200-metre no construction regulation.” Moreover, major developments in close proximity to the Wall threaten to scar the cultural landscape and endanger the Wall.

With the 2008 Olympics, local Chinese officials appear to finally want to try and stop further damage by introducing laws to protect a 400 mile section under its jurisdiction. Ten years ago the government appointed three officials to look after the wall with only an annual budget of about £150 for its upkeep. However, the government has recently pour a lot of money into it’s preservation. That being said not enough is being done to protect the wall from pollution, tourists, and sand storms from the north.

Borobudur lay hidden for centuries under layers of volcanic ash and jungle growth for centuries and its abandonment remains a mystery. The monument was not forgotten completely, though folk stories gradually shifted from its past glory into more superstitious beliefs associated with bad luck and misery. Two old Javanese chronicles from the eighteenth century mention cases of bad luck associated with the monument. Borobudur’s main stupa, which is empty and has created a mystery during the discovery period.

Hartmann, a Dutch administrator of the Kedu region, unearthed the whole complex in 1835. His interest in Borobudur was more personal than official. Hartmann did not write any reports of his activities; in particular, the alleged story that he discovered the large statue of Buddha in the main stupa. In 1842, Hartmann investigated the main dome although what he discovered remains unknown as the main stupa remains empty.

Borobudur consists of a single stupendously large structure, which can be divided into layers as follows:

* The platform at the base of the structure, which was clearly added on later and hides some reliefs, is of uncertain provenance and function. The main theories are that the platform was added to censor reliefs depicting earthly desires or — rather more likely — to buttress the subsiding structure and prevent it from collapsing. A section of the platform has been excavated at the southeast corner, showcasing some of the hidden reliefs underneath.

* The bulk of the structure consists of four square terraces connected by steep staircases. Each terrace has reliefs in two layers on both sides, recounting the story of the Buddha’s past lives and his enlightenment. The “correct” way to view the reliefs is to start from the east gate (the main entrance) and circulate clockwise.

* After the square terraces the structure suddenly opens up to reveal the final four circular terraces. Comparatively plain and unadorned, there are no more reliefs here, just several hundred domes housing half-hidden Buddha statues (many headless, some lost entirely).

* The peak of the structure is a central stupa. The two chambers inside the stupa are empty, and it is unclear whether they were empty from the beginning as a representation of nirvana, or whether they originally contained now lost statues.

* You can discover 6 different postures of buddha’s statue for bottom level to the top. They are “contact with earth”, “giving and helping”, “meditation”, “no fear”, “teach and learn”, “turn of wills”.

Borobudur Visitor Information
Entry into the Borobudur site costs US$11 – Rp93,000 (US$7 student, or Rp9,000 if you are Indonesian) and the site is open to the public from 6 AM to 5 PM. However, the Manohara Hotel (see Sleep) runs a daily Borobudur Sunrise Tour for an additional US$10 (115 000 IDR) per person, which gets you a flashlight and a lift up to the temple gate at 4:30 AM, in time to see the sunrise and explore for an hour and a half before the hordes arrive, and is well worth the money. Hiring a guide who can explain the reliefs well costs Rp 50,000. You should ask for a guide in the evening before going to tour in the morning.

Borobodur Conservation Efforts
In the mid 1970s Borobudur had greatly deteriorated due to the effects of weather and human intervention. Working through UNESCO, it took a monumental effort on the part of experts from around the world to restore the site. The conservation and preservation of Borobudur is a prime example of international cooperation. The Central Office Study and Conservation of Borobudur is monitoring the site on an ongoing basis.

Although Machu Picchu is located only about 50 miles from Cusco, the Inca capital, it was never found by the Spanish and consequently not plundered and destroyed. Over the centuries, the surrounding jungle grew over much of the site, and few knew the site even existed.

One of Machu Picchu’s primary functions was that of astronomical observatory. The Intihuatana stone has been shown to be a precise indicator of the date of the two equinoxes and other significant celestial periods. The Intihuatana is designed to hitch the sun at the two equinoxes- at midday on March 21st and September 21st, the sun stands almost directly above the pillar, creating no shadow at all. At this precise moment the sun “sits with all his might upon the pillar” and is for a moment “tied” to the rock. At these periods, the Incas held ceremonies at the stone in which they “tied the sun” to halt its northward movement in the sky. It was very sacred.

Machu Picchu was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1983 when it was described as “an absolute masterpiece of architecture and a unique testimony to the Inca civilization”. On July 7, 2007, Machu Picchu was voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Machu Picchu Visitor Information
There are a few different ways to visit Machu Picchu: hiking the Inca Trail, by train from the city of Cuzco to Aguas Calientes, or by taking a helicopter from the Cuzco airport to Aguas Calientes.

Most people get to Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail. This is a four day hike through the mountains. It’s not long but it is very hard and the ascent is very steep. Tours book out months in advance and cost hundreds of dollars. Yet this is one of the most rewarding ways to get to Machu Picchu as you have to “work for it” and you appreciate what people hundreds of years had to go through to get to this remote place.

You can also take the train to Machu Picchu. During the peak months of May to September all of the train tickets can be sold out several days in advance. If you are on a tight schedule it is absolutely essential that you make you train reservations as far in advance as possible. Do not wait until you arrive in Cusco to buy your train tickets. Trips via the train book out months in advance.

Machu Picchu Conservation Efforts
UNESCO continually threatens to put Machu Picchu on its list of World Heritage in Danger sites, a designation meant to encourage swift corrective action due to rampant tourism to the site that has lad to a degradation of Machu Picchu and a threat to its existence.

In January 2001 the government began to regulate the trail and to require permits. Of the 93 tour operators that had sold Inca Trail packages at the time, half were denied permission to continue operating. To meet the new requirements tour operators must use only assigned camp sites with proper toilet facilities; carry all garbage with them; use only propane for fuel (no open fires); provide two guides for groups of more than seven tourists; and limit the amount porters carry to 25 kilos.

The World Monuments Fund placed Machu Picchu on its 2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in the world because of environmental degradation resulting from the impact of tourism, uncontrolled development in the nearby town of Aguas Calientes that included a poorly sited tram to ease visitor access, and the construction of a bridge across the Vilcanota River that is likely to bring even more tourists to the site in defiance of a court order and government protests against it.

About 2,000 BC, the first stone circle (which is now the inner circle), comprised of small bluestones, was set up, but abandoned before completion. The stones used in that first circle are believed to be from the Prescelly Mountains, located roughly 240 miles away, at the southwestern tip of Wales. The bluestones weigh up to 4 tons each and about 80 stones were used, in all. Given the distance they had to travel, this presented quite a transportation problem.

Modern theories speculate that the stones were dragged by roller and sledge from the inland mountains to the headwaters of Milford Haven. There they were loaded onto rafts, barges or boats and sailed along the south coast of Wales, then up the Rivers Avon and Frome to a point near present-day Frome in Somerset. From this point, so the theory goes, the stones were hauled overland, again, to a place near Warminster in Wiltshire, approximately 6 miles away. From there, it’s back into the pool for a slow float down the River Wylye to Salisbury, then up the Salisbury Avon to West Amesbury, leaving only a short 2 mile drag from West Amesbury to the Stonehenge site.

The giant sarsen stones (which form the outer circle), weigh as much as 50 tons each. To transport them from the Marlborough Downs, roughly 20 miles to the north, is a problem of even greater magnitude than that of moving the bluestones. Most of the way, the going is relatively easy, but at the steepest part of the route, at Redhorn Hill, modern work studies estimate that at least 600 men would have been needed just to get each stone past this obstacle.

Once on site, a sarsen stone was prepared to accommodate stone lintels along its top surface. It was then dragged until the end was over the opening of the hole. Great levers were inserted under the stone and it was raised until gravity made it slide into the hole. At this point, the stone stood on about a 30° angle from the ground. Ropes were attached to the top and teams of men pulled from the other side to raise it into the full upright position. It was secured by filling the hole at its base with small, round packing stones. At this point, the lintels were lowered into place and secured vertically by mortice and tenon joints and horizontally by tongue and groove joints. Stonehenge was probably finally completed around 1500 BC.

Stonehenge Visitor Information
Stonehenge is open year round and can be visited by taking the Stonehenge bus from Salisbury to the site. The bus departs every 25 minutes from Salisbury center. You can also take a guided tour of the site, which also provides transportation to the sit. Stonehenge is open during the following time:

Spring: 1 Jun to 31 Aug, 09.00am – 19.00pm
Summer: 1 Jun to 31 Aug, 09.00am – 19.00pm
Autumn: 1 Sept to 15 Oct, 09.30am – 18.00pm
Winter: 16 Oct to 15 Mar, 09.30am – 16.00pm

Stonehenge is open every day of the year except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Stonehenge ticket prices are about 7 pounds. There is also an audio guide available that will tell you the history of the site. You cannot go directly up to the site as it is now forbidden in order to protect the stones.

Stonehenge Conservation Efforts
Stonehenge’s biggest problem was people and until recently people could just walk right up to the site. However, because of vandalism and wear on the stones, a fence as been erected around the site restricting access. Moreover, visitors are no longer able to walk right up and touch the stones. Archeologists continue to excavate and explore the area in order to get a better understand of the people who built the site and its purpose.

The most prolific pyramid-building phase coincided with the greatest degree of absolutist pharaonic rule. It was during this time that the most famous pyramids, those near Giza, were built. Over time, as authority became less centralized, the ability and willingness to harness the resources required for construction on a massive scale decreased, and later pyramids were smaller, less well-built and often hastily constructed.

Pyramids Visitor Information
The pyramids are open every day until 4pm. During the summer when they are open until 5pm. Entrance to the sites costs about 100 USD.

Getting around the pyramids is very easy. You can walk, take a horse and buggy or take a camel ride, a taxi, or even the metro. A taxi from the center of Cairo is probably the easiest way to get to the Pyramids, although mini and micro buses also make frequent trips. The city itself goes right up to the Pyramids and you can see them from every rooftop.

You can go inside the pyramids but entry is restricted to 300 people per day so get there early. Additionally, the area is filled with touts and thieves so watch your personal possessions.

Pyramids Conservation Efforts
Several years ago, a master plan was drawn up to manage and restore the monuments of Giza in four phases. Most of the phases been completed. The final phase of the project is a 10-15 year program of maintenance and research. It includes staff training for proper administer the site, up-to-date conservation whenever necessary and to continue the clearing and research programs that will enhance the site for visitors and scholars. There is also plan for re-excavation and clearing, especially in the cemeteries to the east and west of the Great Pyramid.