The mystery and history of Stonehenge. Stonehenge - a mystery of nature or a creation of mankind? Circle of stones in England

About 130 kilometers from London there is a very strange place - a pile of huge stones neatly placed in a circle in the middle of an open field. Their age cannot be accurately estimated even by modern science - either three thousand years, or all five. Why did our ancestors, who had literally just climbed out of the trees, suddenly begin to cut huge boulders out of rocks and drag them hundreds of kilometers away? An ancient observatory, a Druid cult building, a landing site for aliens and even a portal to another dimension - all this is Stonehenge.

Great Britain, Wiltshire, 13 kilometers from the town of Salisbury. Here, in the middle of an ordinary English plain, is Stonehenge - one of the most famous buildings in the world. It contains 82 five-ton megaliths, 30 stone blocks of 25 tons each, and 5 giant trilithes, whose weight reaches 50 tons.

What is Stonehenge?

The word “Stonehenge” itself is very ancient. There are several versions regarding its origin. It could be formed from the Old English "stan" (stone, that is, stone) and "hencg" (rod - since the upper stones were fixed on rods) or "hencen" (gallows, torture instrument). The latter can be explained by the fact that medieval gallows were built in the shape of the letter “P” and resembled the trilithons of Stonehenge.

Megalith (from the Greek “megas” - large, and “litos” - stone) is a large hewn piece of rock used in the construction of ancient religious buildings. As a rule, such structures were erected without the use of mortar - the stone blocks were held under their own weight or on hewn stone “castles”.
Trilith (or “trilithon”, from the Greek “tri” - three and “litos” - stone) is a building structure of two vertical blocks supporting a third, horizontal one.

How was Stonehenge built?

The construction of Stonehenge took place in several stages, taking a total of over 2000 years. However, archaeologists have discovered evidence of much older buildings at this site. For example, three shallow “shafts” were recently found next to a tourist parking lot near Stonehenge, into which wooden supports were dug (they, of course, were not preserved). The position of the pillars shows that they supported a very large wooden monument, which is estimated to be approximately 8,000 years old.
Around 2600 BC, the wooden buildings were demolished and replaced by magnificent stone structures. First, the builders dug two rows of large crescent-shaped holes (one horseshoe inside the other), facing northeast. 385 kilometers away, from the rocks of Carn Menin in the Preseli Hills (Wales), 80 so-called “blue stones” were delivered. Each stone was about 2 meters high, approximately 1.5 meters wide and 0.8 meters thick. They weighed 4-5 tons.
In the very heart of Stonehenge, a six-ton ​​monolith made of green mica sandstone was erected - the so-called “Altar”. In addition, the northeast entrance was moved slightly to the side and widened so that it looked directly at the sunrise on the summer solstice.
Apparently, the construction of Stonehenge remained unfinished during this phase. The “blue stones” were soon removed, and the holes under them were filled up.
At the same time, three free-standing large “blue stones” appeared here. Two survived - the so-called “Heel” (meaning “last”) stone at the north-eastern entrance outside the ramparts and the “Scaffold Stone” near the same entrance inside the ramparts (it later collapsed to the side). Despite the name, the “Stone-block” is not associated with bloody sacrifices. Due to weathering, red spots began to appear on its side - iron oxides, which gave rise to such gloomy associations. In addition, on the inside of the northern and southern ramparts, small mounds (without burials) topped with “blue stones” were poured for unknown purposes.
At the end of the 3rd millennium BC, Stonehenge underwent a new, most large-scale reconstruction, thanks to which it has become so popular today. From the hills of southern England (40 kilometers away from Stonehenge), 30 huge stone blocks - “sarsen”, each weighing 25 tons - were brought here.

Stonehenge. How it was.

The earliest of the surviving religious buildings on the territory of Stonehenge looks very primitive and does not in any way resemble later stone buildings. Stonehenge No. 1 was built no earlier than 3100 BC and consisted of two round earthen ramparts, between which there was a moat. The diameter of the entire object is about 115 meters. A large entrance was built on the northeastern side, and a small one on the southern side.
Presumably, the ditch between the ramparts was dug using tools made from deer antlers. The work was carried out not in one step, but in sections. Research has shown that the bottom of the ditch was covered with animal bones (deer, bulls). Judging by their condition, these bones were carefully looked after - they probably had considerable cult significance for the people who visited the temple.
Directly behind the inner rampart, 56 depressions were dug inside the complex, arranged in a circle. They were called "Aubrey's holes" - after the antiquarian who discovered them in 1666. The purpose of the holes is unclear. According to the chemical analysis of the soil, no wooden supports were placed in them. The most common version is that lunar eclipses were calculated using holes, however, the accuracy leaves much to be desired.

Stonehenge - prehistoric crematorium

Later buildings date back to 2900-2500 BC and can be judged theoretically - time has left us only a group of depressions in the ground where wooden supports for certain structures were placed. The latter could well have been covered sheds, because these holes (now filled with earth and hardly distinguishable from the rest of the landscape) run in two parallel rows from the northern and southern entrances to the center of the entire structure. The diameter of the depressions is significantly smaller than the Aubrey holes, only 0.4 meters, and they are more distant from each other.
During the second phase of the construction of Stonehenge, the earthen ramparts were partially demolished - their height decreased, and the ditch between them was almost half filled. During the same period, the function of the Aubrey holes changed - they began to be used for the burial of cremated remains. Similar burials began to take place in the ditch - and only in its eastern part.
Whatever Stonehenge was built for, a few hundred years later it was used as an enclosed cemetery for cremated remains - the first known in Europe.

Interesting facts about Stonehenge

The most common finds by archaeologists in the ground under Stonehenge are Roman coins and Saxon remains. They date back to the 7th century BC.
There are also more exotic theories about Aubrey's holes. For example, the ancients may have used them to plan pregnancy (based on the 28-day menstrual cycle in women).
Blue stones are dolerite, the closest relative of coarse basalt. Dolerite got its “colored” nickname because it turns blue when wet with water. A fresh chip of the stone also has a blue tint. Heel stone - so named because of the legend according to which Satan threw it at a monk and hit him in the heel. The origin of the word “sarsen” is unclear. Perhaps it came from the later term “Saracen” (Saracenic, that is, pagan stones). Sarsens were used to build not only Stonehenge, but also other megalithic monuments in England. The inside of the sarsens was processed much better than the outside. This suggests that perhaps the room was closed, and some important rituals were performed inside it, the participants of which did not leave the stone “circle.” Calculations show that the construction of Stonehenge (with the tools available at that time) required about 2 million people. hours of work, and processing the stones would take 10 times longer. The reason why people worked on this monument for almost 20 centuries was probably very good. The UFO landing site theory arose partly due to the fact that there is a military airfield near Stonehenge (near the city of Warminster).

What was Stonehenge for?

As soon as people didn’t rack their brains, why did the ancients need Stonehenge? The very first mentions that have reached us connect it with the legend of King Arthur - supposedly this monument was built by the wizard Merlin himself (according to another version, he moved it with his spell from Mount Killaraus in Ireland).
Other stories blamed the construction of Stonehenge on the devil himself. In 1615, architect Inigo Jones claimed that the stone monoliths were built by the Romans - allegedly it was a temple to a pagan deity named Cnelus. In the 18th century, researchers discovered the “astronomical” function of Stonehenge (its orientation to the solstice) - this is how a version emerged according to which this building belonged to the Druids. Nowadays, some experts claim that using Stonehenge it is possible to predict solar eclipses or even carry out complex mathematical calculations. The “planetarium” and “calculator” theories are very controversial - the evidence is usually refuted either by the simplest astronomical facts or by history itself (Stonehenge was rebuilt several times, changed its structure and probably served different purposes).
Outer ring of sarsens
The assumption that the second, “cemetery” stage of the construction of Stonehenge appears to be very interesting was associated with the successful conquests of local tribes. Analysis of remains found in burial grounds adjacent to Stonehenge showed that some of the people buried there were from Wales. This may also explain the subsequent delivery of "blue stones", symbolizing the unification of the two lands. Experts also admit that for most of its history, Stonehenge served as a place for cremation of remains. This version is not without its right to exist, because the Neolithic cultures of Europe associated wood with life, and stone with death.

Late 19th century

One way or another, Stonehenge should not be called an observatory or associated with the Druids. In the first case, we are simply applying 21st century concepts to events that took place almost 5,000 years ago. In the second, we sacrifice facts to a beautiful legend. Druids are a purely Celtic phenomenon. The Celts came to Britain no earlier than 500 BC - Stonehenge was already built.

Science fiction writers about Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a structure so ancient and incomprehensible that even science fiction writers are not too sure what to do with it. The ideas they propose in their works are often not much different from the versions of some scientists.
For example, Harry Harrison wrote the novel Stonehenge (1972) with Leon Stover. According to this book, the ancient monoliths were erected by the surviving inhabitants of Atlantis. A little earlier, Keith Laumer created the book “Trace of Memory” (1968), where he developed an “alien” idea: next to Stonehenge there is an underground communications center, from where you can call the descent module of a huge alien ship drifting near the Earth - and this module landed directly on Stonehenge .

New Stonehenge

: modern astronomers have revived the knowledge of their ancestors
On February 12, 2005, the “New Stonehenge” opened in the New Zealand town of Wairarapa, very similar to its famous British “relative”. But why did modern astronomers need to build a copy of the ancient structure?
The modern stone observatory is called Stonehenge Aotearoa, and it was built by the New Zealand Phoenix Astronomical Society.
Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand. And it was taken for a reason.
But first it must be said that the new Stonehenge is not at all an exact copy of the stone monster from Salisbury Plain (Stonehenge), although their basic dimensions are practically the same.
And this is not a simple tourist attraction. Stonehenge Aotearoa is a full-scale adaptation of its ancestor to work properly on the other side of the planet. What kind of work is this? Of course - an indication of astronomical events.

Stonehenge (UK) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

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Shrouded in secrets and legends, Stonehenge is an ancient megalith located in the south of England, in the Salisbury area, 130 km from London. This is a complex of 30 roughly hewn huge pillars and slabs of stone, stacked on top of each other in concentric circles.

The purpose of Stonehenge is still not fully understood by scientists: some consider it a temple, others - an astronomical observatory, some - a tomb, and legends say that Atlanteans, Hyperboreans and the famous wizard Merlin performed rituals here.

This place is one of the most mysterious in the world; it is classified as an archaeological monument and is included in the UNESCO List of Protected Sites. Many tourists who want to see this wonder of the world come to Stonehenge to wander around the stones. It is prohibited to approach the structures, but at dawn or sunset you can enter the center of the circle.

Origin

The main mysteries of Stonehenge are who, how and why built such a monumental structure. Stone blocks were hollowed out in the rock of the Preselian Mountains and brought here several thousand years ago, covering a distance of 200 km!

According to a common hypothesis, the megalith was built by the ancient Celtic priests - the Druids and was used as a temple of heavenly bodies, but it does not agree with the age of the dolmens established by archaeologists - 3-5 thousand years BC. e.

Celtic legends claim that Stonehenge is the sanctuary of the wizard Merlin, which he created with the power of magic.

Another purpose attributed to the megalith is a pagan temple, where sacrifices were made to stone idols and burials were carried out. Scientists are still leaning more towards the version of the observatory of the ancients. Using radiocarbon dating, it was determined that the ditch and earthen ramparts were made around 5000 BC. e. After that, monoliths were delivered here and they were used to create a circular stone structure with a diameter of 30 m. The mass of the largest elements reaches 50 tons, so the delivery and installation of these giants without modern technical devices is a real miracle.

Multi-ton vertical pillars are covered with huge slabs and look like a colonnade. They are fastened together by a system of grooves and tenons, which is why the structure has stood the test of time and almost did not fall apart.

There are other interesting objects not far from the complex. For example, 5 km away there is a burial place of a rich man who lived at the time the megalith was built. Silbury Hill is a 40-meter artificial mound, also on the World Heritage Register, one of the largest in the world and the same age as Stonehenge.

Stonehenge

Practical information

Address: Amesbury, Salisbury SP4 7DE. GPS coordinates: 51.179177, −1.826284.

How to get there: With a group excursion from London (cost from 60 GBP), by rented car or by train from Waterloo station to Salisbury station, then 40 minutes by Wilts & Dorset Stonehenge Tour bus or by taxi for 25-31 GBP.

Opening hours: from 9:00 to 20:00, entry until 18:00. Ticket prices: 17.5 GBP for adults and 10.50 GBP for children. Prices on the page are as of September 2018.

This is what Sir Philip Sidney, one of the brilliant Elizabethan poets, wrote about Stonehenge. The unique megalithic monument, known as Stonehenge (overhanging stones) or the Round Dance of the Giants, is a mystery that has puzzled many generations. It rises on the table-smooth Salisbury Plain in southern England. A few miles away is the River Avon. The structure is made of giant stone blocks, the weight of which ranges from 5 to 50 tons.

In the Middle Ages, there was an opinion that the greatest miracle of Britain was the work of its greatest wizard, Merlin. The myth about the construction of the Round Dance of Giants by the court sorcerer of King Arthur has several variants. The most popular version was set out by the 12th century writer Geoffrey of Monmouth in his pseudo-chronicle “History of the Britons”. According to this version, Stonehenge was supposed to perpetuate the memory of four hundred and sixty British leaders who were treacherously killed during peace negotiations by the Saxons who invaded the island. Merlin supposedly erected this grand memorial at the site of an insidious murder during the reign of King Aurelius Ambrosius, Arthur's uncle. But, as the legend says, the wizard was not the architect of the structure; he only had the idea to move the Round Dance of the Giants from Ireland, where it was previously located. According to Geoffrey, Merlin addressed the king with the following words:

“If you want to decorate the grave of your murdered husbands with a very strong structure, go to the Ring of the Giants, which is located on Mount Killario in Hibernia (the ancient name of Ireland). It is lined with stones that none of the people of our time could handle without subordinating the art to the mind. The stones are huge, and there is no one whose strength can move them. And if you place these blocks around the site where the bodies of the murdered are buried, just as was done there, they will stand there forever.” The chronicle goes on to say the following: “Hearing these words, Aurelius grinned, remarking: “How is this so? To transport such huge stones from such a distant kingdom, it’s as if there were no stones in Britain for the structure I planned!” To this Merlin replied: “Don’t laugh in vain, for what I offer you is by no means empty. The stones are full of secrets and impart healing properties to various potions. Once upon a time, giants took them from the extreme reaches of Africa and installed them in Hibernia, where they then lived."

After this conversation, King Ambrosius sent fifteen thousand Britons overseas, led by his brother Uther Pendragon (Arthur's future father). The expedition encountered resistance from the inhabitants of the Green Island, but in the end, the latter were defeated. Geoffrey goes on to say:

“Having won the victory, the Britons climbed Mount Killario and, having taken possession of the stone structure, rejoiced and marveled at it. And so, when they crowded around him, Merlin came up and said: “Use all your strength, young men, and, moving these stones, try to understand what is more powerful, strength or reason, reason or strength.” Obeying his orders, they unanimously took up all kinds of weapons and began to dismantle the Ring. Others prepared ropes, other ropes, other ladders in order to complete their plans, but achieved nothing. Observing their fruitless efforts, Merlin laughed and invented his own tools. Then, using some necessary tools, he moved the stones with incredible ease; He forced the blocks he had moved to be dragged to the ships and loaded onto them. Rejoicing, they sailed to Britain and reached it with fair winds, after which the stones they brought were delivered to the graves of their murdered husbands.”

This explains the origins of the monument on Salisbury Plain in one of the most popular literary works of the Middle Ages. But the Renaissance that followed was characterized by some disdain for the culture of the Middle Ages and an increased interest in antiquity. Due to new cultural trends, the story of Merlin was declared an absurd fable. Now it has become fashionable to attribute the construction of a gigantic megalithic structure to the Druids, a mysterious caste of Celtic priests, the main information about which was drawn from Julius Caesar’s Notes on the Gallic War. The great Roman commander and politician reports that the Druids “...tell their young disciples a lot about the luminaries and their movements, about the greatness of the world and the earth, about nature and about the power and authority of the immortal gods,” and also that “...their science is thought to have originated in Britain and from there transferred to Gaul; and to this day, in order to get to know it more thoroughly, they go there to study it.”

The first serious study of Stonehenge was carried out in the second half of the 17th century. John Aubrey, member of the Royal Academy and personal friend of King Charles II. He carefully examined the monument and sketched not only the stones, but also much less noticeable earthen structures. However, not being armed with modern archaeological methods, he was unable to make sound scientific conclusions about the date of construction. Aubrey's authoritative opinion greatly contributed to the popularity of the “Druidic” version of the origin of the Giants' Round Dance.

Conducted already in the 20th century. Archaeological research of the monument showed that the idea of ​​the Druids, the builders of Stonehenge, is no more scientific than the tale of Merlin. Lovers of historical mysteries were in for a surprise. As a rule, the popular imagination increases the antiquity of monuments, easily juggling centuries and millennia. For example, the author of this article has repeatedly heard stories that the old railway embankment near the village was built under Catherine, and the stone Pecheneg women are 14 thousand years old. With Stonehenge it was the other way around. As it turned out, it was incredibly ancient not only in the time of Merlin (5th century AD), but also when the first Druids supposedly appeared in Britain (around the 5th century BC).

Archaeologists are somewhat hesitant in determining the date of the start of construction of Stonehenge, but have no doubt that the first elements of the monument were created in the Neolithic, and the end of construction dates back to the early Bronze Age. The main structures that are most impressive to modern tourists were erected in the period 1900 - 1600 BC. e.

Studying the Round Dance of Giants is not an easy task, not only because of the ravages of time. As it turned out, Stonehenge was rebuilt several times in prehistoric times. Its oldest part is so insignificant from a layman’s point of view that most tourists pass it without even noticing it, and cross the border of an unimaginably ancient monument without any inner trepidation, rushing towards the Cyclopean stone arches looming ahead. Meanwhile, this border is a shallow ditch bordered by two earthen ramparts. The ditch and ramparts form a surprisingly regular circle, about 115 m in diameter, broken in the northeast. The inner shaft, higher and wider than the outer one, has a width of 6 m and a height of 1.8. The width and height of the outer rampart are 2.5 m and 0.5 - 0.8 m, respectively. As for the ditch, it is very uneven, and apparently had no independent significance, but simply served as a quarry from which material for the ramparts was extracted . It should be said that this material is the chalk-rich soil of Salisbury, and at the time when the condition of the shafts was monitored, they must have had a dazzling white color, which looked very impressive.

As already mentioned, in the northeast there is a gap in the earthen ring (about 10 m). On the straight line connecting the middle of this gap and the center of the circle, 30 m outside of it, there is a huge stone placed upright. Its height is 6 m, weight is about 35 tons. This stone is called the Heel stone, but, like many other archaeological objects, it owes its name to chance, and it has nothing to do with its purpose. If a person of average height stands in the center of the Round Dance of Giants and looks at the Heel Stone through the gap in the ring, he will see its top exactly at the level of the horizon. And if he does this early in the morning on the day of the summer solstice, he will see the sun rise directly above the stone.

Only four stones were originally installed inside the ring. Two of them have survived to this day, the remaining two have holes left. The stones formed a rectangle inscribed in a circle, the long sides of which were perpendicular to the axis drawn from the center through the Heel Stone, and the short sides were correspondingly perpendicular to it. All five stones dating from the first period of Stonehenge's construction are uncut. During the same period, a chain of holes was dug along the inner side of the shaft, also forming a regular circle, the so-called “Aubrey ring”, which received its name in honor of the discoverer. This is an extremely intriguing detail of the structure. The holes are located at a carefully adjusted equal distance from each other. Their number is unusual - 56. Obviously, this number was not chosen by chance. If the ancient builders simply wanted to create a closed ring of equidistant holes, then there would be 64 of them. Such a ring is very easy to construct by sequentially dividing the arc of a circle in half.

Soon after the Aubrey Holes were dug, they were filled with crushed chalk. In some of them, archaeologists have discovered cremated human remains. This detail suggests blood sacrifices, but upon mature reflection such an idea does not seem sufficiently thorough. It is possible that Stonehenge, which did not yet live up to its current name, was a burial place.

More than one generation had passed in Britain before they decided to modernize the structure, creating a complex that modern archaeologists call Stonehenge II. The new builders began to build two more concentric circles of bluish stones inside the earthen ring. These circles were also broken to the northeast, allowing views from the center to the Heel Stone. In addition, the entrance was marked with additional stones. The megaliths of Stonehenge II were not very large compared to the Cyclopean stone blocks that can be seen on Salisbury Plain today. Their weight was about 5 tons each. The stones were brought not from Ireland, as the medieval legend says, but from Wales, from the Preselli Mountains. The region is not as remote as Ireland, but still the distance in a straight line is 210 km, but most likely the megaliths were transported 380 km along the rivers. The second period of construction of Stonehenge also includes the construction of two shafts, symmetrical relative to the center axis - the Heel Stone and leading from the entrance, first directly to the northeast, and then to the Avon River, which flows 2 miles from the Round Dance of the Giants. Archaeologists call this detail of the monument “Avenue”. It is assumed that the ramparts fenced off the sacred road along which stones transported on rafts were transported using rollers to the construction site.

The impressive structure made of bluish stones stood on Salisbury Plain for a very short time. Apparently, it had not yet been properly completed when the decision was made to disassemble both rings. What made the ancient architects act in such a strange way will most likely forever remain a mystery.

Having cleared the sacred site of blue stones, the builders began to build a new structure, this time from blocks of hard light gray sandstone, which are called sarsens. They were brought from the Marlborough Downs area, located 35 - 40 km north of Stonehenge. There, huge sarsen boulders are found right on the surface of the earth. The local residents call them Gray Sheep. The Stonehenge researcher John Aubrey, already mentioned here, had a chance to hunt in these areas, and he left a description of them:

“These hills look as if they were sown with huge stones, and very densely; in the evenings they look like a flock of sheep, and this explains their name. It seems that this is the place where the Giants threw stones at the Gods.”

The weight of each block that arrived on the Salisbury Plain from Marlborough Downs was tens of tons. Unlike the uncut stones of Stonehenge I, the blocks of the third period of construction were clearly processed with metal tools. The irregularities that can now be seen on the stones of the Round Dance of Giants are a consequence of the destructive effects of time: weathering, temperature changes, and sometimes the hammers of tourists. At one time, they were cut and polished, which was not easy, given the hardness of the material (One peculiar lover of antiquities, who visited Stonehenge in the 17th century, left the following entry in his diary: “These stones are surprisingly hard and strong, and no matter how much I hit with a hammer, I couldn’t break off a single piece.”

During the last period of construction, the ancient architects built a circle of 30 sarsen blocks placed vertically and provided them with lintels on top, so that a continuous ring was formed. In the blocks laid on top, recesses were made that corresponded to the spikes on the support stones, which ensured the strength of the building. In the northeast, the jumper ring was not torn, but the gap between the supports was made larger. Thus, the observer’s horizons were limited from above, but nothing prevented him from seeing the Sun appearing over the horizon after the shortest night of the year.

In the middle of the sarsen ring, a horseshoe was erected, made up of five so-called trilithons. This term, meaning “three stones,” was specially invented to refer to the structures of Stonehenge, which consist of two stone blocks placed upright, topped by a third, so that it turns out something like the letter P. These structures are truly gigantic. Their height is approximately 6 - 7 m. The largest trilith was erected opposite the entrance. The weight of the stones that make it up is 50 tons (For comparison: the weight of the largest blocks of the Egyptian pyramids is 15 tons). Four other trilithons form the branches of a horseshoe, open to the northeast and symmetrical relative to the axis of the center - the Heel Stone.

The sarsen ring and horseshoe, although fairly destroyed, are quite clearly visible in modern ruins, but there was another stage of construction, designated by archaeologists as Stonehenge III B, which careful research helped to identify. At this stage, the previously dismantled ring of blue stones was restored. Now it went around the horseshoe of trilites and, as it were, duplicated the sarsen ring bordering it. Some of the blue stones formed another horseshoe inside the horseshoe of trilithes. In addition, the creators of Stonehenge III B dug two rows of holes between the sarsen ring and the “Aubrey ring,” which are usually designated holes X and Y. One row of holes has 29, the other 30.

The monument has a number of other details, such as separately lying stones, embankments and ditches. In the general description of the structure, they seem to be of minor importance, but in principle, each of these little things can turn out to be the key to an important scientific problem.

For a long time, the main mystery of the Round Dance of the Giants, which was in the focus of public attention, was the question of how primitive people could move such huge stones over considerable distances, and then install them with remarkable accuracy. But this problem has long been solved by modern scientists. Most famous in the field of megalithic construction was the Norwegian scientist Thor Heyerdahl, who reproduced the technique of moving the giant monuments of Easter Island. But there were other enthusiasts. For some time, moving giant blocks using primitive technical means, simulating the construction of Stonehenge, became something of a national English sport. Such attempts were followed by popular radio programs. It turned out that approximately 16 people per ton are enough to drag stones a kilometer to one and a half a day. This is by land, on skating rinks. After the blocks were loaded onto the rafts, things naturally went faster. The work, of course, is not easy, but if people, in the words of a famous joke, “toil for hours and toil for hours,” it is quite feasible.

However, as the Manchester Guardian wrote in 1963, “...emphasis is usually placed on the difficulties of transporting stone blocks to the site of construction. But it was much more difficult to decide where to install them - this required the greatest effort from the builders of all their knowledge and strength.” The article was a response to the publication of a sensational work by Smithsonian Astronomical Observatory Professor Gerald Hawkins, in which he tried to answer the question: what was the purpose of Britain's greatest megalithic monument.

The fact that the Round Dance of the Giants is oriented towards the sunrise point on the day of the summer solstice was noticed a very long time ago. As you know, the sun rises exactly in the east only on the days of the autumn and spring equinox (with the exception of the equator). In the winter half of the year, the sunrise point moves to the south, and in the summer - to the north. Moreover, this displacement is stronger, the closer to the pole the observer is. Being on the Arctic Circle, you can see how the star in the middle of the night briefly touches the horizon at the north point and rushes upward again. It will not go beyond the Arctic Circle at all. At the latitude of Stonehenge, the sunrise point on the summer solstice is almost due northeast. The orientation of the main axis of the structure in this direction gave reason to consider it a temple of the solar cult, where the priests, seeing that the luminary had returned to the Heel Stone, solemnly announced the birth of the new year.

But astronomer Hawkins rightly noted that in order to mark the sunrise point, like any other point on the horizon, two stones are enough. Meanwhile, in Round Dance there are many more of them, and the structure of their placement is so complex that it cannot be arbitrary. Apparently, the professor reasoned, the purpose of the structure was not limited to determining the solstice day from which the new year would begin, although this was a very important task for the primitive agricultural people.

While at Stonehenge, Hawkins noticed how narrow the gaps were between the standing trilith stones. They do not exceed 30 cm, and it is impossible to squeeze through them. At the same time, they are oriented in such a way that through them you can only look through a certain opening of the sarsen ring, which narrows your horizons even more, your gaze rests on a fixed point on the horizon. The researcher quickly came to the conclusion that through the gap of the central trilith, which was only partially preserved, it was possible to observe the moment of sunset on the day of the winter solstice. But in order to establish the orientation of other objects of the dilapidated monument, all the data had to be subjected to careful mathematical processing, which required an electronic computer.

As it turned out, all the straight lines connecting the main points of Stonehenge certainly indicate some special position of the Sun or Moon. In particular, the two trilithons at the ends of the horseshoe are oriented toward sunset on the summer solstice and sunrise on the winter solstice. The remaining two were apparently intended for observing the rising and setting of the Moon. Often, on a straight line connecting two important points, there is a third object - an additional landmark.

In the composition of the Round Dance of Giants, lines are clearly visible indicating the points of sunrise and sunset on the days of the summer and winter solstices, as well as the equinox. As for the Moon, the trajectory of its apparent movement across the sky is much more complex than that of the Sun. Throughout the year, it moves as if towards the Sun: north in winter and south in summer. But its extreme positions, unlike the solar ones, do not remain unchanged from year to year, but perform pendulum-like movements during a 19-year cycle. Thus, for every extreme position of the Sun, there are two extreme positions of the Moon, and each of these positions is recorded in the structure of Stonehenge.

Hawkins notes the economy of the monument's composition. Thus, in Stonehenge I, 16 directions to special positions of the luminaries are visible, each of which is determined by two points. But not 32 points were used, but only 11. Six of them were used more than once, including two points used 6 times.

Hawkins' research was not limited to identifying the main directions in which observations were made. The scientist drew attention to an excerpt from the work of the ancient historian Diodorus Siculus, in which he talks about the mythical island of the Hyperboreans, located far in the north. Hawkins believed that Diodorus was talking about Britain, and mentioned Stonehenge in his description: “And there is also on this island a magnificent sanctuary of Apollo, and also a beautiful temple, decorated with numerous donations, spherical in shape. In addition, there is a city dedicated to this god, and most of its inhabitants play the cithara... They also say that from this island the Moon is visible as if it were very close to the Earth, and the eye can discern on it the same heights as on the ground. It is also said that God visits the island every 19 years; this is the period during which the stars complete their journey across the sky and return to their original place... Upon his appearance, God plays the cithara and dances the night away from the vernal equinox to the rising of the Pleiades, thus expressing delight at the occasion of his victories. And the kings of this city and the guardians of the sanctuary are called Boreads, since they come from Boreas (north wind), and these positions are passed down in their family from generation to generation.”

As an astronomer, Hawkins knew that lunar and solar eclipses can recur in cycles of approximately 19 years. It occurred to him that the Dance of the Giants could be used to predict eclipses. Working further in this direction, the scientist realized that in the 2nd millennium BC. e. Eclipses took place during periods when the winter Moon rose directly above the Heel Stone.

But, to be precise, the full cycle of the visible movement of the Moon is not 19, but 18.61 solar years. Thus, in order to predict the repetition of celestial phenomena as accurately as possible, one should count 19 years twice in a row, and then only 18. Thus, we are already talking about a 56-year lunar cycle, which is much more accurate than a 19-year one (19+19+18=56 ). And then Hawkins remembered the strange, still unexplained number of “Aubrey holes.”

According to Hawkins's hypothesis, Stonehenge is not just an observatory, but something like a giant stone adding machine for calculating the years when an eclipse might occur. Imagining himself in the place of a prehistoric priest, he wrote the following:

“If once a year you move a stone in a circle from one Aubrey hole to the next, you can predict all the extreme positions of the Moon at a given time of year, as well as eclipses of the Sun and Moon at the solstices and equinoxes. If you use six stones placed at 9, 9, 10, 9, 9, 10 holes of Aubrey, and move them counterclockwise to the next hole once a year, you can achieve amazing results in predicting astronomical phenomena. Given six stones - three white and three black - this calculating device could, for hundreds of years, and very accurately, predict all important phenomena. Associated with the Moon."

It is easy to see that with the arrangement proposed by Hawkins, a stone of a certain color should fall into each hole with a periodicity of 18 - 19 years. It was only necessary to mark the holes corresponding to the “dangerous” years.

Of course, Hawkins did not insist that three and a half thousand years ago everything happened exactly as he described. He did not even consider his hypothesis regarding the number of “Aubrey holes” to be absolutely proven, but only highly probable. As for the 30 standing stones of the sarsen ring, the professor associated them with the days of the month. On this occasion, he also remembered holes X and Y, numbering 30 and 29. With their help, inaccuracies could be eliminated due to the fact that a full lunar month (the interval between two full moons) is 29.53 days.

What other opportunities the Circle of Giants gave to the inhabitants of prehistoric Britain, we can only guess. An increasingly detailed archaeological study of the monument will provide more and more food for thought not only about the scientific and technical potential of the ancients, but also about the social role of projects like the construction of the Round Dance of the Giants. Hawkins compared the construction of this gigantic astronomical instrument by prehistoric tribes to the space program of modern superpowers.

He wrote: “The space program absorbs about 1% of the total US national product. Stonehenge undoubtedly absorbed no less. Its construction undoubtedly required much more effort from the then inhabitants of England than the space program from the Americans, and probably meant much more to them.”

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Stonehenge is a giant stone mystery in the very center of Europe. Today very little is known about its origin, purpose and history. It remains a mystery how ordinary people could calculate and build such a giant. Our review contains 15 facts about one of the most mysterious monuments in Europe.

Although there is still debate about who built Stonehenge and why, scientists have a clear idea of ​​when it was built. The oldest elements of the megalithic structure date back to 3000 BC. (then they started digging 2-meter ditches to form the outer features of the structure). The stones began to be installed around 2500 BC, and Stonehenge finally acquired its modern appearance around 1500 BC.

2. There are special terms for discussing this kind of monuments

There are two main types of stones at Stonehenge. The large vertical stones and arch stones are made of sarsen, a type of sandstone commonly found in the region. Smaller stones are known as "blue stones". They were so named because they acquire a bluish tint when wetted. The giant three arches for which Stonehenge became famous are called trilithons.

3. Some of the Stonehenge stones were brought from afar

When it came time to choose stones for construction, the Neolithic builders of Stonehenge did not like the local stones. Some relatively small bluestones (which can weigh up to four tons) were imported from the Preseli Mountains in Wales. Nobody knows how the giant stones were delivered 250 km away.

4.Stonehenge was originally a cemetery

Although the original purpose of Stonehenge is still shrouded in mystery, anthropologists can say with confidence that in the period before the first large stones appeared, the monument served as a resting place for remains. At least 64 Neolithic people are currently known to be buried at Stonehenge.

5. Remains continued to be buried at Stonehenge later.

Most of the remains discovered at Stonehenge were ash. However, in 1923, archaeologists discovered the skeleton of a headless Anglo-Saxon man dating from the 7th century AD. Since the man was executed, it can be assumed that he was a criminal, but his burial at Stonehenge has led archaeologists to believe that he may have belonged to the royal dynasty.

6. Rumors about the purpose of Stonehenge are often completely ridiculous.

Stonehenge's dark past has given rise to countless theories about the monument's original use. Theories range from a Druid temple or observatory to a ceremonial site for the coronation of Danish kings. More far-fetched theories suggest that Stonehenge is a model of the solar system built by ancient aliens.

7. The first written mention of Stonehenge dates back to the 12th century

Historian and explorer Henry Huntington made what is believed to be the first written reference to Stonehenge in the following passage, which dates back to 1130: “Stanage, where stones of amazing size are set in the manner of doorways ... and no one can understand how such huge blocks could be raised, and why this was done."

8. In the Middle Ages, people believed that Stonehenge was created by the sorcerer Merlin

In the absence of any more convincing theories about the creation of Stonehenge, medieval Britons believed the proposal set forth by the cleric historian Geoffrey of Monmouth. He claimed that the mysterious monument was the work of the legendary sorcerer Merlin.

9. Popular myth: Stonehenge was created by the devil

Witchcraft was not the only supernatural explanation for the appearance of the melalithic monument. The mystery surrounding the transportation of the bluestone from Wales to Wiltshire has given rise to another paranormal explanation: the stones were placed by the devil simply out of mischief.

10. Alco-ceremony of neo-Druids

In 1905, a group of 700 people, allegedly members of the Ancient Order of Druids, organized a supposedly religious ceremony at Stonehenge, where alcohol flowed in rivers. Contemporary print media gleefully ridiculed the event.

11. Visitors are not allowed to climb the rocks

The ban came into effect only in 1977, when it was established that significant erosion of the stones due to their contact with people was established. And at the beginning of the 20th century, tourists were given chisels to make it easier for them to chop off a souvenir as a keepsake.

12. Charles Darwin made interesting discoveries while studying earthworms at Stonehenge

In his old age, Charles Darwin became interested in earthworms. One of the sections of his works is devoted to the famous naturalist’s research at Stonehenge. In 1870, Darwin studied earthworms and stated that as a result of the activity of these animals, large stones gradually sink into the ground.

13. Stonehenge Was Previously Full Circle

Recently, restorers noticed strange dents in the peat around Stonehenge. Scientists have suggested that these are traces of stones that once closed the ring of the monument, and sank into the ground over the centuries.

14. An ordinary British citizen owned Stonehenge for three years

Stonehenge was the legal property of the British state for much of the last century, but would never have fallen into the hands of the government if not for the charity of Cecil Chubb. In 1915, the millionaire bought Stonehenge for his wife as a gift for £6,600. His wife, however, did not like the gift and three years later Chubb donated Stonehenge to the state on the condition that the monument would be maintained unchanged and open to visitors.

15. In the fall of 2015, you can bet on Stonehenge

To mark the centennial of Chubb's landmark purchase, there is an interactive re-enactment of the 1915 auction called "The Sale of the Century." All bets will go towards the reconstruction of the monument.

Lovers of history and antiquities will be interested in and will dispel many of the myths that existed about this monument.

In the English county of Wiltshire, a favorite tourist destination is the famous - a quaint stone structure. The blocks stand in the shape of a circle, some of them are covered with slabs on top. Inside the circle there are also several structures that form a smaller circle. This archaeological site was officially included in the World Heritage List in 1986, because it still raises a lot of questions and disputes about its origin.

This building has an ancient name - “Dance of the Giants”. The exact year of the appearance of Stonehenge is unknown to anyone, therefore the estimated period is quite wide - from 3020-2910 BC. e. One thing is clear - it took many centuries to build it, and many peoples of that time had a hand in it.

All the stones of Stonehenge are very different, not only in the nature of their origin, but also in weight. The heaviest ones – up to 50 tons. That is why there are doubts that the monument is the work of mankind, because such heavy blocks had to be moved for many years to the construction site. However, according to legend, Merlin, the chief sorcerer of the Britons, managed to build Stonehenge in memory of the battle with the Saxons in exactly one night.

The exact purpose of Stonehenge is an interesting question for archaeologists and researchers. According to some, the stones personified the cult of the Sun. And others are sure that the stones were necessary for the purposes of astronomy. There is another assumption - the energy of the majestic stones could be used to treat sick people who came here from all over the world. The second version is more plausible - many tourists saw with their own eyes how on the day of the summer solstice the sun rises just above the Heel Stone, which is located at the entrance to the stone circle.

Recently, researchers discovered several religious monuments near Stonehenge, leading to new speculation that the stone structure is only a small part of a larger complex of sacrifice points and holy sites. By the way, over many centuries the monument was constantly restored to maintain it, so visually it is somewhat different from its original appearance. At the same time, the scope of the restoration was quite impressive, which caused a lot of criticism; even special investigations were carried out to determine whether the overall picture of the monument had been violated.

You can get to the stone monument by ordering, you will need to drive about 130 km. During the excursion, you can learn more about the mysteries and secrets of this unusual place, as well as take unforgettable photographs as a keepsake, which will definitely become the pride of your home album.

Legends are not only made about this monument, but films are also made. In 2010 alone, two documentaries were released. Therefore, before visiting Stonehenge, you can watch a couple of films to show your knowledge during the excursion.

Stonehenge is quite an interesting place to visit if you are interested in the mysteries of nature. Surely the grandeur of these huge stones will amaze any traveler and make them wonder again about the origin of the famous Stonehenge.