STONEHENGE

Located near Salisbury in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside, it is a highlight of the South West. The true meaning of this ancient, awe-inspiring creation has been lost in the mists of time. Was Stonehenge a temple for sun worship, a healing center, a burial site or perhaps a huge calendar? How did the builders manage to carry the mighty stones from so far away and then, using only the most primitive of tools, build this amazing structure? Surrounded by mystery, Stonehenge never fails to impress.

Interesting Facts on Stonehenge

Ø         Stonehenge was built between 3100 - BCE.

Ø    The circle was aligned with the midsummer sunrise, the midwinter sunset and the most southerly rising and northerly setting of the moon.

Ø     The ground plan and structural engineering of Stonehenge incorporate sophisticated mathematical and geometrical understandings on the part of the builders.

Ø     There were two types of stones used in its construction: the bluestones (weighing as much as four tons and brought from 240 miles away) and the Sarsen stones (averaging eighteen feet in height and twenty-five tons in weight).

Stonehenge Purposes

Ø   Prior to 1950’s most archeologists believed that Stonehenge’s use had been limited to ritual activities of  different Neolithic chiefdoms. However, it is now known that Stonehenge had another equally important function, which was its use as an astronomical observatory.

Ø   Stonehenge was simultaneously used for both astronomical observation and ritual function. By gathering data regarding the movement of celestial bodies, the Stonehenge observations were used to indicate appropriate periods in the annual ritual cycle. During those periods, among them being the solstices, equinoxes and different lunar days, festivals and ceremonies were held.

Mounds Around Stonehenge

Heel Stone, Sun-Stone or Friar's Heel?

The Heel Stone lies just outside the main entrance to the henge. It is a rough stone, 16 feet above ground, leaning inwards towards the stone circle. At summer solstice an observer standing within the stone circle, looking north-east through the entrance, would see the sun rise above the heel stone.

A folk tale dating back to the seventeenth century suggests the origin of the Friar's Heel:

The Devil bought the stones from a woman in Ireland, wrapped them up, and brought them to Salisbury plain. One of the stones fell into the Avon, the rest were carried to the plain. The Devil then cried out, "No-one will ever find out how these stones came here!" A friar replied, "That’s what you think!," whereupon the Devil threw one of the stones at him and struck him on the heel. The stone stuck in the ground and is still there.