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Built:
-3100- 0
Type: Holy Place
Location: A344
City: Salisbury
State: England
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A
round the world few places evoke the kind of mystical spookiness of Stonehenge. Revered for its age, its precision, and its symbolism, these rocks come from out of the past to remind us that history is much more than what happens in our Technicolor lifespan. For some this is the center of the spiritual universe. For others it is a sign of an advanced ancient culture trying to understand the world around it. And there are those who think it marks the place where beings from outer space will return to earth. A lot has been written about the mathematical significance of the positions of the rocks and who laid them. As of this writing, no one really knows who is responsible. It was erected long before either the Druids or the Romans were in the area. However, it is believed that whatever culture toiled over the centuries to create this enduring landmark, they were sun worshipers. That conclusion was arrived at because the northeast axis aligns with the sunrise during the Summer Solstice -- the longest day of the year. The most famous feature of Stonehenge are the sandstone monoliths arranged in a horseshoe, and formerly joined by a common roof. There is also a ditch-and-earthworks affair encircling the site, and a number of other stones within the main arena. This ditch was the first part of the monument to be constructed. Archaeologists think primitive men used bones and antlers to dig the trench as well as dozens of holes that were for some reason immediately filled-in again. This is a minor mystery compared to the endless questions that still remain unanswered. Including who these people were, what were they doing, and what happened to them since evidence indicates the site was abandoned for more than a thousand years. Around 2100 BC the site was rediscovered, and two circles were made in the center out of 80 four-ton stone pillars cut from the Preseli Mountains 240 miles away. Once again, the site was abandoned and rediscovered. It was this last stage that gave Stonehenge its characteristic columns and caps. They were transported a mere 20 miles, but the 30 monoliths weighed 50 tons. Some of the older stone pillars were then rearranged in an oval. The next, and possibly final, stage of Stonehenge was never built. It was supposed to be another ring of 60 pillars. Although the foundations were dug, the stones were never erected. Still, it's amazing that the monument is standing at all. Other ancient sites have been protected by dry weather and a stable climate. Stonehenge has endured 5,000 years of rain, wind, snow and hail. To make matters worse, people used to steal the stones for homes and churches because there is no quarryable building stone for miles. But still, it survives and is significant enough to become one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites.
**English Heritage doesn't like the state of Stoneghenge. It's offering to pay US$88,000,000.00 to close a nearby freeway, put another one underground, and get rid of the portable toilets near the site.
**May, 2002 - The remains of two men have been found buried at Stonehenge. Tests on the larger skeleton indicate he was between 35 and 45 years old when he died around 2300 B.C. The second person was 20 to 25 when he died. They were found surrounded by more than 100 personal items, including hair ornaments made of gold.
**11 Februay, 2003 - The Independent newspaper reports that DNA tests on the larger skeleton unearthed at Stonehenge reveal that he was from central Europe; most likely from the area of Austria, Germany or Switzerland. This is a disappointment to those who had hoped he would be one of the earliest Britons and even took to calling him "Amesbury Archer." Tests also show that the two skeletons were related, most likely father and son.
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