Who Built Stonehenge   /   Structure of Stonehenge  /   The Druids Association

Introduction

Stonehenge is the legendary megalithic monument situated on the Salisbury Plain, in Southwestern England. It is the most famous of all megalithic circles of stone found throughout the British Isles.

The term megalithic is from the Greek meaning "great stone" and is used in reference to the "very large" stone monuments which were built in Western Europe between 4 and 5 thousand years ago. Stonehenge is the most famous of all these giant stone monuments.

In its first stage of development, Stonehenge was a large earthwork, consisting of banks and ditches. These earthworks were arranged by humans who used the most primitive of tools. Scientists commonly refer to an earthwork of this sort as a henge.

During Neolithic times, or the Late Stone Age, humans used stone as their tools and building materials. Of course, today we use steel, concrete and a host of other materials to construct things. In the age that we live in, it is hard to imagine a time when there were no such things as cars, machines, skyscrapers and computers.

But 5,000 years ago, humans could only use materials that were found at hand. They then built things with the most primitive of tools that could be constructed out of stone, wood, animal bones, and other things that were found in the natural world. It is commonly believed that people living at this time were just like us in every way, except that their culture was more primitive.

Stonehenge is marveled at today because it is so ancient, and because of its precise and immense architecture, its astronomical alignment and its use throughout history.

The use of stone circles by ancient people is commonly referred to as Archeoastronomy. This is a field of study that believes some of these people noticed specific changes in the sky, made note of how they seemed to coincide with certain seasonal changes, and then used them for practical, religious and ceremonial practices.

Most notably, some ancient people noted the monthly phases in the moon, the annual motions of the sun and the cyclic movement of the pattern of stars in the night sky. All these features were incorporated into the structure and alignment of Stonehenge and some other megalithic monuments around the world.
If you want an idea of how old Stonehenge actually is think of this: When Julius Caesar invaded Britain in 43 A.D. the monument had already been standing for almost 3,000 years!

If you want an idea about the immense size of Stonehenge think of how each of the spectacular Trilithons that make up the inner horseshoe of stones is over 20 feet tall and weigh over 50 tons each! A Toyota Camry weighs a ton and a half so each stone equals the weight of 33 cars.

The Stones themselves were originally from an area known as Marlborough Downs about 20 miles from the site where Stonehenge was built.
Try to imagine how you and your friends could find such a stone, shape it with stone tools, transport it, place it into a precise astronomical alignment and then erect it all without the aid of trucks, backhoes, cranes, and the like. Now do that 10 times for each of the Trilithons, 30 times for each of the giant stones of the outer "Sarsen Circle," and do it again for the Altar Stone and Heel Stone.

The scope of this endeavor is one of the most remarkable mysteries of Stonehenge that still fascinates people today.

Who Built Stonehenge