STONEHENGE: What makes this rock grouping unique??? READ DETAILS?

Question

i just got back from england and ireland, and when i came back w/ pictures, my family asked me what makes Stonehenge so famous, why is it so universally known compared to other stone groupings?? i said it might be because of all the burial mounds around the area in the Salisbary Planes: please help thx

Answer 1

Well, there are tons of stories behind Stonehenge, involving everything from Merlin to aliens (not to mention heavy metal). But maybe we should start with some facts...
Stonehenge is a megalithic monument on the Salisbury Plain in England, about 85 miles southwest of London. It consists of a ditch and bank surrounding huge stones -- many weighing between one and 45 tons -- arranged in circle and horseshoe patterns, along with a lane connecting it to the nearby River Avon. Construction began around 3,000 B.C. and continued until about 1,100 B.C.

Unfortunately, the people who built Stonehenge didn't leave much evidence of why they built this massive structure. So writers and researchers through the ages have pondered the stones and come up with their own stories about this prehistoric creation.

The most common theories suggest Stonehenge is an astronomical calendar, a religious site, or a combination of the two. From John Aubrey in the 17th century to William Stukeley in the 18th century to Sir J. Norman Lockyer and Gerald Hawkins in the 20th century, scholars have found that the position of Stonehenge's earthworks and stones coincides with solstices and cycles of the moon. But these scholars have interpreted this information differently.

Early theorists believed the Celtic priesthood called the Druids built Stonehenge as a temple, but there are no records of Druids existing in the same time period that Stonehenge was created. However, other ancient peoples could have built Stonehenge as a temple that marked the solstices as holy days.

But the great attraction of Stonehenge is the mystery. We may never know why 25 generations of people labored to create this massive and awe-inspiring structure.

Answer 2

I'm a history teacher and I don't know if this is the truth but they are claims in our textbooks that the purpose of Stonehenge was to document time. Some how they supposedly put these rock into a unique position so they could monitors the Sun's travel throughout the day. I acted like a big clock.

Answer 3

Stonehenge has the lintles across the top
Others cover much larger areas and were inuse longer or earlier, eg Carnac, roll-right stones & avebury, but stonehenge has a more iconic shape than arrangements of simple standing stones. also many others have been robbed out for local buildings.

Answer 4

All the above has great relevance but one main fact that fills us with awe is the rocks themselves came from south wales, in the Preseli mountains. Which , incidentally is where Merlin is from - which explains the connection there.
These mountains are about 300 miles away from Salisbury Plain. To make the square stones a much bigger stone had to be dug up and chiselled away using very primitive tools, then transported that distance, (on log rollers!) probably further due to the Severn River.
An absolutely awesome feat in itself.
The purpose? Who knows, over time I suspect it has been many things.

Answer 5

Apparently, it's used as a calender or to tell time, one or the other. There're some crackpot UFO theories that it's a refueling point for spaceships. Also, what makes Stonehenge unique is, can you lift those rocks up by yourself without any machinery in that time?

Answer 6

A lot has to do with the fact that it's in England and an easy location to visit. I'm sure the size has a lot to do with it too along with the fact that other more modern groups have used the same location for other rituals.

Answer 7

Are you dancing in evening golf equipment? I dont understand what you recommend with the help of unique flexibility? Does this contain contortions? if so, they could be mistaking you for the dancers that are in many cases discovered around a steel pole particularly gentlemans golf equipment. in the experience that your dancing is unusual, it is going to stick out from a crowd, and that makes you the objective for undesirable interest. in basic terms dance like all human beings else does, without fancy strikes and shop your hints for a dance class ! :o)

Answer 8

Actually it is mostly its SIZE (much bigger than other stone groupings) its age and some of its engineering is just well beyond other stone groupings. (That plus good PR :) )

Answer 9

Nobody can figure out how the rocks were placed or who done it or why. It's a mystery.

Answer 10

its also called the devils throne