Discover the Mysteries of the Stonehenge

March 17, 2009 in Europe

When you take a trip to England, there is one place that you should dare not miss. Apart from meeting Big Ben or viewing the Buckingham Palace, be sure to include this world famous location in your itinerary. It is none other than the Stonehenge at Wiltshire, known as the national icon of Britain. When was it built? How was it done? Was it a temple, a place for healing, or a tomb? Does it have magical powers? Were aliens involved? Here are only some of the numerous questions posed by curious visitors and historians alike. Despite these uncertainties, the Stonehenge will definitely be an attraction that you will never forget!

If you still are unfamiliar about this megalithic structure, here are a few important tidbits about the Stonehenge. Sources state that it was built over a series of phases, dating as far back as 3000 to 2000 BC. The Stonehenge is actually situated in a region where many other Bronze Age and Neolithic archeological finds are located.

The earliest parts of the Stonehenge are the outermost circle consisting of a ditch, which was 100 meters in diameter. Later on, evenly spaced holes were added, indicating that timber was used as posts. From 2500 to 1600 BC, the heart of this megalith was constructed. At the center is the Sarsen Circle, around 100 feet in diameter, this is where the largest stones are immediately seen. Each sandstone block is used to support a horizontal slab, known as a lintel, which weighs about four tons. Within the Sarsen Circle are a series of Trilithons, which are shaped in a horseshoe configuration. These stones are significantly shorter than the slabs in the Sarsen Circle.

There are many theories that attempted to answer this huge mystery: how was the Stonehenge built? Because it was very unlikely that they had cranes and bulldozers some thousands of years ago, researchers tried to reenact the building of the megalithic structure, using very crude equipment that were believed to have existed back then. Using a series of ropes, levers, and wooden rails, these research groups have found it almost impossible to haul stones that weighed tons, even if several groups of men were involved. Other experiments involved the process of dragging the stone slabs underwater using several boats. To date, there has been no official word as to the exact method used during the construction of the Stonehenge. Still, that mysterious quality is what makes the Stonehenge truly one of a kind.

Despite the varying theories and mystic beliefs surrounding this World Heritage Site, the Stonehenge continues to withstand the test of time. Like many preserved ancient symbols of civilization, the Stonehenge is proof that man is capable of doing great things. As more and more people from all over the globe are drawn by curiosity and awe to this ancient mystery, one can only hope that these mega structures will still be around for centuries to come.