Stonehenge (United Kingdom) – detailed information about attractions with photos and videos. The story of Stonehenge and location on the map.
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Stonehenge (United Kingdom)
Stonehenge is one of the most famous sights. Uk which is a grand archaeological site of the Neolithic. This is an ancient megalithic The building was built between 3000 and 1500 BC. and Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Mysterious Stonehenge is made up of huge boulders called menhirs or megaliths. The exact purpose of it is still not is known. Although archaeologists tend to conclude that Stonehenge is or an ancient cemetery, or the construction of ancient astronomers for predictions of cosmic phenomena.
Stonehenge is located 130 km south-west of London not far from the city of Salisbury.
Story
The surroundings of Stonehenge were settled 10,000 years ago. Although his construction began in 3,000 BC and was completed, probably in 1 500 BC An exact translation of the old English name for this. Object (Stanhengues) unknown. In the Middle Ages it was interpreted. as “hanging stones”. The modern name of Stonehenge is translated as a “stone circle”.
The landscape of Stonehenge is one of the most well preserved areas of the Cretaceous (limestone) lowland in Great Britain. This archaeological site is located on the edge Salisbury Plains surrounded by low hills and dry river valleys.
Stonehenge at night
The history of Stonehenge can be divided into four stages:
- 3100 BC – Stonehenge is a large earthen structure, which consisted of a circular ditch and holes (s) in limestone rock. Excavations have revealed cremated human bones in some holes, but they themselves were probably made not for burials, but as part of a religious ceremony. Soon after This Stonehenge was abandoned for almost a thousand years.
- Around 2150 BC – Stonehenge gains modern traits 84 blue stones were delivered from South Wales. Each the stone had a weight of 2 to 5 tons. They were transported by water along the southern the coast of Wales and up rivers to Salisbury. Delivery distance amounted to 250 – 300 km. These stones were set in the center to form an incomplete double circle. In the same period were completed earthworks to expand it.
- Around 2000 BC – construction of the outer circle from Sarsen stones mined in North Wiltshire (approximately 30 km from Stonehenge). The largest of these stones weighs about 50 tons. It’s unbelievable how we managed to deliver it here and to install.
- After 1500 BC – completion of the construction of Stonehenge. Blue stones formed a horseshoe and a circle that we see Today.
Megaliths Stonehenge
Many blue stones and sarsens were removed / damaged in the period Roman Empire and the Middle Ages. The first excavations at the site Stonehenge began in the 16th century. In 1874–1877, the first was made exact layout of the stones. Modern scientific archaeological research was carried out in 1901.
Description of Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a grand stone megalithic structure, which consists of 30 sarsen stones (sandstone) and 64 blue stones. These stones formed the form horseshoe and outer circle (ring).
Plan Stonehenge
Plan Stonehenge:
- 1 – altar
- 2-3 – mounds
- 4 – scaffold or fallen stone
- 5 – Heel Stone
- 7 – earthen ditch
- 8 – internal shaft
- 9 – external shaft
- 10 – the moats and ramparts that lead to the Avon River. Are called Avenue.
- 11 – Y-holes
- 12 – Z-holes
- 13 – 56 pits forming a circle
- 14 – south entrance
Interesting Facts
Panorama Stonehenge
- It is estimated that more is spent on the construction of Stonehenge. thirty million hours of labor.
- Scientists still have only the theory of the transportation of stones. Sarsen stones had an average weight of 25 tons. Mined them in 30 km from Stonehenge. Blue stones were mined in South Wales, 300 km from object. Their weight ranged from 2 to 5 tons.
- Since the Middle Ages and over the centuries, Stonehenge was privately owned. In 1915 he was sold on auction to the government.
- In 1877, naturalist Charles Darwin went to Stonehenge, to conduct a research on earthworms.
- Stonehenge is not the only such facility in Britain. Most a large megalithic structure located in Avebury at 40 km
