Where is Stonehenge? The history and mystery of the ancient stones

Stonehenge is a huge stone mystery in the heart of Europe. Where is Stonehenge? Any person can answer this question, because almost all people know about it.

The existing information about the megalith (about the origin and designation of it) still does not give an answer to the question of how people four thousand years ago could design and build such a structure. Ancient observatory, a landing platform for extraterrestrial beings, a portal to another world or a pagan tomb - all this is Stonehenge (England). For many centuries the best minds of mankind have been fighting over its solution. And much remains unknown ....

Stonehenge is also called cromlech - this is the oldest structure of vertical stones lined up in a circle. They can form one or more circles.

Where is Stonehenge

This structure is in a field located 13 kilometers from a small village of Salisbury. "Stone fence" - so the name is translated Stonehenge. London is 130 kilometers to the southwest. The territory belongs to the administrative district of Wiltshire. It consists of a circle around which are located 56 small funeral "Aubrey holes" (named after the researcher of the 17th century). The most famous version is that they could count on lunar eclipses. Later, they began to dig in the cremated remains of people. In Europe, a tree has always been associated with life, and a stone - with death.

The structure of Stonehenge

In the center is the so-called altar (six-ton monolith of green sandstone). In the north-east - seven-meter heel stone. There is also a stone-block, named so by the color of iron oxides acting on it. The next two rings consist of large solid blocks of blue color (siliceous sandstone). Completes the construction of the circular colonnade with horizontal plates lying on top.

In general, the building consists of:

- 82 megaliths weighing 5 tons;

- 30 blocks, each of 25 tons;

- 5 triliths of 50 tons each.

All of them form arches with the exact indication of the sides of the world. Ancient British did not in vain call this place "The Velikan's Dance".

Stonehenge Stone

Boulders, which were used in the megalith, have a different origin. Stone structures (triliths or megaliths) and individual rough stones (menhirs) consist of calcareous gray sandstone and limestone. There are volcanic lava, tuff and dolerite. Part of the blocks could get from the site, located in 210 kilometers. They could be delivered both by land (on skating rinks) and by water. In our time, an experiment was conducted, which showed that a group of 24 people can move a stone weighing one ton at a speed of one kilometer per day. The weight of the largest blocks reaches 50 tons. Such a block of ancient builders could transport several years.

The stones were processed in several stages. By mechanical methods and the method of exposure to fire and water, the necessary blocks were prepared for transportation. And already on-site was carried out more fine grinding and processing.

Stonehenge - history and legends of antiquity

According to legend, the megalith appeared thanks to the legendary magician Merlin, the tutor of King Arthur. He moved some of the stone blocks from South Wales, where for a long time there was a cluster of sacred springs. In fact, the road to the place where Stonehenge is located, was very difficult. The nearest quarries with the rock are at a great distance, and one can imagine how titanic the efforts were for the most complicated transportation. The closest thing was to deliver them by sea, and from there 80 kilometers overland by drag.

The huge Heel Stone spawned another story - about a monk hiding from the devil in the boulders. That he did not manage to escape, the devil threw a stone at him and crushed his heel.

All these legends of ancient Britain, where Stonehenge is located , most likely have little to do with reality. Today more detailed studies prove that construction was conducted in three stages from 2300 to 1900 BC. It functioned somewhere 2,5 thousand years and was abandoned in about 1100 BC. And the characters of British history lived much later.

Who built Stonehenge

Nations claiming to build this megalith, a lot, from the ancient Romans to the Swiss or the Germans. Until now, it was believed that it was built in the second millennium BC as an ancient observatory. Famous astronomer Hoyle found out that the exact orbital period of the moon and the length of the solar year, the ancient creators knew even then.

In 1998, computer modeling came to the aid of astronomers . With his help came to the conclusion that this is not only a lunar and solar calendar, but also a model of the solar system in a cross-section. And the planets should not be 9, as is known at the moment, but 12. Perhaps in the future we are still waiting for discoveries related to the composition of the solar system.

The English historian Brooks, who has studied Stonehenge for many years, has proved that he is part of a gigantic navigation system.

In addition to the astronomical function, Stonehenge was also used as a ritual structure. This is evidenced by a large number of burial grounds and other ritual places in the vicinity. And some researchers put forward a theory about the tomb of the pagan queen Boudicca. This fearless woman did not want to surrender to the Romans and preferred to take the poison. Although the burial of people in Stonehenge was never. For all time were found only one remains of the archer in the ditch, dated 7 century BC.

This land has always been considered sacred, because at all times tourists and Aborigines tried to split and take part with them as an amulet. A hundred years ago, local residents even had a type of business - renting hammers to pick up a piece for memory or knock out their name on the boulder. Now the tourist can not even touch the megalith with his hand, asphalt tracks are specially laid at a distance from the stone blocks.

Sanctuary of the Druids

There is a hypothesis that this is the place of the power of the druids (at the intersection of energy lines), which allows them to conduct the most serious rituals in unity with the forces of nature. The orientation of the monument to the solstice is another argument in this favor. Since this isolated tribe did not leave behind any written evidence, the appointment of Stonehenge remained a great mystery.

The new druids consider it a place of their pilgrimage, and representatives of other pagan trends like to visit this area. On the days of the winter and summer solstice, huge crowds of Druid worshipers meet their main deity. The rays of the sun that has reached the zenith fall precisely between the vertical stones of the largest trilith, and, together with the sun's rays, people find inspiration. And often it happens that around the cloudy weather, and inside the sun shines.

The greatness of Stonehenge

Another feature of Stonehenge is its high seismic stability. During the construction, special slabs were used, which extinguished and softened the shocks. At the same time, there is almost no soil subsidence, which is inevitable in modern construction.

One thing is for sure: no matter who were the mysterious builders, they had tremendous knowledge in mathematics, geology, astronomy and architecture. And if you consider that such structures were erected then around the world (the pyramids of Egypt and the Maya culture), then one can safely say that modern people do not know much about their past. According to calculations, if today Stonehenge to build anew with the tools of that time, it will take 2 million man-hours. And the manual processing of stones would need 20 million. That is the reason why people have worked on it so much time, really should be very significant.

How to get there? Stonehenge on the map

On a private car tourists get on the road A303 and M3, which leads to Amesbury. In Waterloo from the station comfortable trains run to Salisbury and Andover, and from there you can get by bus.

In London, you can buy a one-day group tour, which already includes an entrance ticket. From Salisbury, there is the same bus that takes tourists from the railway station. The ticket can be used throughout the day, and buses are sent every hour.

How to get to the center of Stonehenge, bypassing the prohibitions?

According to the rules, it is forbidden to walk close and walk inside Stonehenge (tourists can not get closer than 15 meters), but some tour operators make an allowance and allow a walk, but only early in the morning or late in the evening. In such groups, usually a limited number of participants, so it is desirable to book a reservation in advance. The weather should be good. The historical monument is carefully guarded in order to avoid damage to the ground, so you will not be able to get inside Stonehenge in case of rain.

This building is not in vain included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Someone considers it a poorly preserved heap of stones, and someone dreams of just touching him and all his life seeks it. Nevertheless, the mystical mystery of Stonehenge has always existed, and to this there is added admiration for the power of human reason and perseverance that made it possible to build this miracle.