Stonehenge

Stonehenge
By Jeffrey Lloyd

General Description

The Stonehenge was originally built in three stages. The first stage was constructed around 3100 B.C. as a circular ditch and wood. The structure was rebuilt around 2500 B.C. with bluestones from the Percelli Mountains to complete the second stage. The third stage was built and is the current build of Stonehenge. The structure was much bigger and used much heavier stones then the previous stage. Over the thousands of years the stones have fallen over and weathered and worn and pieces have been removed to build roads. The surrounding landscape is very rich and the site of ancient burial grounds.

Architectural Design

The final stage of Stonehenge, which is what we see today, was constructed with stones from Marborough Downs about twenty miles from the structure’s site. The stones are estimated at weighing close to 45 tons and it is unknown how they were lifted up right. The up right stones are supported by the top stones, which were linked together with wooden joints. The design formed a circle and was aligned with the sunrise.

Harmony with Nature

The environment around Stonehenge is very rich and ravishing. There are five major spots to see. Stonehenge Downs is a wide-open field that is flourishing with brown hare rabbit and the skylark bird. King Barrow Ridge houses the ancient ceremonial burial mounds. Normanton Down is the largest burial grounds that leads to Stonehenge. Durrington Walls is the home of a rare Neolithic village. Winterbourne Stoke Barrows is a burial site for higher class people.

Symbolism and Sacred Objects

Stonehenge is used an observatory and was used to predict lunar events. The uprights are aligned with the sunrise and was used to predict lunar alignments. In the second phase of the building of Stonehenge the bluestones were marked with symbols.


Sources

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.881. Historical Background. English Heritage. Retrieved on 3-27-2008

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-stonehengelandscape/. Stonehenge Landscape. National Trust. Retrieved on 4-3-2008

http://mactia.berkeley.edu:16080/f2003/anthro2/contributions/08_ritual/rituastonehenge.htm. Ritual, Symbolism, and Belief at Stonehenge. MACTiA 2004. Retrieved on 4-3-2008