When was Stonehenge discovered?

Question

I've heard there wasn't really a "discovery date" for Stonehenge because it's always been around, but wasn't there a time when scientists came across it and said, "Hmm, this requires further investigation..." right? When was that? And if I were to say the "discovery date" is in the last 250 years, would I be right?

Answer 1

You are right about science investigating Stonehenge. They recreated an exact, full size replica, using Styrofoam blocks. Every branch of physics has an idea of what it was used for, but they are nothing but educated guesses. It was a very impressive structure, to say the least.

Answer 2

Here's a thought: it's hard to 'discover' something that was built. In other words, it's kinda like asking when the Empire State Building was discovered. It wasn't.

Stonehenge was built by men. So the site it's on may have been 'discovered', but the rocks themselves were carted there and put up by folks who just knew where they were.

Answer 3

I'd think it was created as opposed to discovered. Wouldn't you? I mean, the Empire State Building was never "discovered". Because it was created, and then it has just always been there since.

As for it's purpose -- that's a whole 'nother aspect. You could deduce that the *purpose* has/has not yet been discovered.

Answer 4

It seems your dates are pretty close. The National Trust (UK) shows a "long barrow" at the site to have been discovered in 1720.

Here's a link to the National Trust site.

Answer 5

John Aubrey did the first systematic inspection of the site in 1663. We are studying this in my anthropology class.

Answer 6

It's an ancient monument that has never been lost. So it never had to be rediscovered.