Stonehnege Essay, Research Paper

Some of the most extraordinary monuments in the world today are megaliths. Megaliths are ancient standing stones that have sacred meanings of knowledge, rituals, and ceremonies that were built by early civilization. One of the most exceptional megaliths in Europe today is Stonehenge. Stonehenge is in a part of the Western Downs called the Salisbury Plains in Wiltshire England. Encircled by a discontinuous ditch, Stonehenge’s vast array of smooth, gray colored, 30-foot high stones are spread over 320 feet in diameter. It took over 1200 years to build Stonehenge, a life span of 50 generations. This magnificent monument was built in three main stages during this time frame.

In the early stages of Stonehenge Phase I, the first circular ditch or moat was dug around 2750 BC with the use of crude instruments such as bones and stones. This ditch was built with an earth bank inside it. A ring of holes, known as the Aubrey Holes, were excavated inside the bank (Discovery). The holes were shallow and carefully spaced, and almost immediately filled in after being dug. Archaeological studies have shown the Aubrey Holes never contained stones or wooden posts; however there were a few instances where bones had been inserted after the holes had been filled (Discovery). Scientists have yet to find the meaning of the Aubrey Holes even after excavation. Other features of the Stonehenge- Phase I have puzzled researchers such as; the Heel Stone and several irregular lines of wooden posts that sit outside the entrance to the northeast. The Heel Stone is a leaning stone that is 20 feet high with four feet concealed underground. This stone weighs an estimated 35 tons and stands within the Avenue leading to Stonehenge. The Heel Stone, when viewed from the center of the sarsen circle, aligns with the rising sun at daybreak on Midsummer Day, at the summer solstice. The existence of this sightline was finally proved by the computer calculations of astronomer Gerald S. Hawkins in the 1960s (Atkinson). The summer solstice is when the sun appears to rise in its most northerly position before starting back south on its seasonal journey. The same sightline reversed in the opposite direction could have been used to observe the midwinter solstice, when the sun appears to set further to the south (Atkinson). It is clear that Stonehenge, in this first phase, was used as a calendar to pinpoint Midsummer Day for knowledge, rituals, or ceremonies.

After many years the second stage of Stonehenge began, Stonehenge Phase II, this second phase is what gave Stonehenge its magnificent beauty. Around 2200 BC the Avenue was dug and four Station Stones were installed, as was an arrangement of large bluestones. The Avenue was originally a roadway enclosed by earth banks 47 feet apart that led to the northeast entrance along the line of the rising sun on Midsummer Day (Discovery). The Avenue was a processional way to the Hampshire Avon nearly two miles away. Scientist believe this is possibly the route, by which 82 stones weighing around four tons each were taken. These stones were brought to the site from the Prescelly Mountains in Southwest Wales where rocks of an identical composition, known as bluestones are found. This journey must have involved transporting the bluestones by sledges and rafts for 240 miles, over half of which must have required maneuvering the stones through the tidal waters of Southern Wales and the Bristol Channel. The bluestone was used to fashion axes and other weapons, and was traded throughout Britain, including the Stonehenge region, and scientists believe that a sacred value was attached to the material (Atkinson). Later in this second phase, the bluestones were replaced by a circle of huge sarsen (natural sandstone) boulders capped with lintels and enclosing five trilithons arranged in the shape of a horseshoe (Hawkins). The five trilithons that were structured consisted of two upright stones capped with one horizontal stone. These stones were spaced evenly and placed in the form of a horseshoe within the sarsen circle. The name “trilithon” is derived from the Greek word “three stones” (Alford). Each of the trilithons weighs average of 26 tons and about 13 feet high. Of the five trilithons only three remain standing. The other two trilithons lay crumbled where they once stood (Alford). The western part of the ring in Phase II was never completed. There is no indication as to why the builders broke off their plans after all the extraordinary efforts required in transporting them from Wales. Scientists believe that it may have been because they had conceived the idea of erecting the final and even more impressive temple, known as Stonehenge III.

In 1900 BC the third and final stage, known as Stonehenge Phase III, began. The practical engineering capabilities of the people who built Phase III leave no doubt that they were far from being primitive savages. They selected at least 75 blocks of the tough sandstone, which occurs naturally as loose boulders, Known as sarsen stones, in the region around Avebury England (Cunliffe). Ropes dragged each sarsen stone on rollers or sledges to the site of Stonehenge nearly 20 miles to the south Scientists believe that to shift the largest stone it would have taken 1000 men. The sarsen stones were pounded and knocked into shape with the use of dozens of small boulders of the same material (Cunliffe). The upright stones were shaped with a central bulge, like the columns of many Greek temples, apparently to allow for the effect of perspective. This made them appear straight when seen from below. The innermost lintels were cut to a tapering shape for the same reason (Atkinson). Many of the upright stones still bear the hammer marks of the builders. The great stones or lintels which, were raised up to link the tops of the upright stones, are not merely straight edged slabs of rock. Each was carefully cut on the curve so that when they were assembled they formed the outline of a circle. The lintels were cut to a tapering shape so they would appear to be straight when seen from below. The upright stones rose to the height of thirteen feet or more, so the stability of the ring was dependent upon the delicate balance of each stone. The upright stones were placed into deep pits with sloping sides in order to get them to stand and be even across the top. Each of the upright sarsens weigh about 45 tons. The upright stones were socketed and placed into the pits with the aid of ropes and wooden rollers. The seven- ton lintels had to be pegged and then lifted with levers, wedges, and blocks until high enough to slide into place (Atkinson). The peg-and-socket joints, which secure the lintels, are those used in carpentry. This last stage of Stonehenge is what made Stonehenge unique among sites of prehistoric standing stones, for it is the only monument whose stones were artificially shaped and combined into an architectural plan (Discovery).

In conclusion, Stonehenge was built in three main stages. The first stage, known as Stonehenge Phase I, was began in 2750 BC The first ditch was dug with small crude instruments such as bones and small stones. Within the ditch an earth bank was excavated and 56 holes were dug. These holes were known as Aubrey Holes and were almost immediately filled in. Scientists have yet to find an explanation for why these holes were dug. The Aubrey Holes bear no evidence of ever having stones or wooden posts placed within them. The Heel Stone was placed at the northeast entrance of Stonehenge. It weighs 35 tons and is about twenty feet high with four feet concealed underground The Heel Stone was placed in the direction the sunrise and cast a great shadow when the sun is at its most northerly point on Midsummer Day, at the summer solstice. The second phase, known as Stonehenge Phase II, was begun in 2200 BC. This stage consisted of the digging of the Avenue the placing of four station stones, and the arrangement of large bluestones. The Avenue was originally a roadway enclosed by earth banks 47 feet apart that led to the Northeast entrance. It was a processional way to the Hampshire Avon two miles away. Scientist believe this is possibly the route 82 stones weighing around four tons each were taken. These stones, known as bluestones, were later replaced by five trilithons. The trilithons consisted of two upright and one horizontal stones and were placed in the form of a horseshoe within the sarsen circle. The western part of Stonehenge Phase II was never completed. Scientist believe the reason for abandoning Phase II in the later stage was the idea for Stonehenge Phase III. Stonehenge Phase III began in 1900 BC. The engineering capabilities of the people who built Phase III leave no doubt they were far from being primitive savages. They selected at least 75 blocks of the tough sandstone, which occurs naturally as loose boulders, known as sarsen, stones. The sarsen stones were shaped with small rock hammers, a The lintels were placed on top of the upright sarsen stones and were locked in with the peg- and-socket method used in carpentry. The lintels were cut on edge so that when assembled they formed the outline of circle. Stonehenge s circle of stones seems to spin giddily against the sky; it was once known as the Dance of the Giants (Discovery). Archaeological studies have uncovered many facts about Stonehenge; however much remains to be guesswork. There has always been a mystery that surrounds Stonehenge and scientists and archaeologists alike have been troubled in their findings. They wish someday to find the true meaning of what Stonehenge was used for.