Stonehenge
Stonehenge History
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about 3.2 kilometers west of Amesbury and 13 kilometers north of Salisbury, England. One of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones and sits at the center of the densest complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England.
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.
Tagged With Druids, England, Europe, Salisbury, Stonehenge, UNESCO