How old is Stonehenge?

Answer 1

The writeup by Webster 1913 "An assemblage of upright stones with others placed horizontally on their tops, on Salisbury Plain, England, -- generally supposed to be the remains of an ancient Druidical temple."

However, In his book, The Druids: Celtic Priests of Nature, author Jean Markale writes, "...But the problem lies in the fact that Stonehenge isn't Celtic. It was constructed in the Megalithic era, around 2000 B.C., and then reworked twice - on separate occasions - during the Bronze Age. It often appears in Celtic tradition, however, if only through the legend that presents this monument as the magic work of Merlin, or in the Arthurian tales that place Arthur's last battle in this immediate vacinity. This incontestably raises the question of Celts and therefore the druids, incorporating into their culture a tradition that preceded their arrival. Moreover, the solar cult's period of triumph must be sought not within the Celtic Iron Age, but within the Nordic Bronze Age."(page 49)

Markale's main arguments are that Stonehenge was constructed long before the formation of the Celtic society in which the druids resided; and furthermore, that the structure was obviously used for solar worship, which peaked in the Nordic Bronze Age.

Jean Markale was unable to credit an individual group of people with the construction of Stonehenge, which further adds to its mystique.

Answer 2

Stonehenge, the most famous prehistoric monument in Britain, is situated on Salisbury Plain in the county of Wiltshire. At various times regarded as a site built by the Druids, the Romans, the Danes and even the French, the first stage – a circular ditch and bank with an entrance flanked by a pair of small standing stones – is believed to have been built around 3,000 BC. The site was subsequently abandoned and rebuilt between 2100 BC and 1800 BC.
There are many mysteries surrounding this ancient site. Some of the stones used are thought to have come from the Preseli Mountains in Pembrokeshire, Wales – yet exactly how they were transported to the site is a puzzle.

It has been suggested that Stonehenge once operated as a massive astronomical clock, and there are even suggestions that it was a landing site for Unidentified Flying Objects. A more likely explanation is that Stonehenge was an important centre of worship connected with the sun.

Answer 3

Oh and to the genius who said '50 years'--i guess the government buried lots of real people there 'just to fool us' eh? And falsified all the carbon dating material as well.
To burst the old conspiracy myth--in the 50's the stones were dangerous due to people mucking about on them & chipping bits off. A major excavation took place,and some of the stones were lifted out of their beds by giant cranes,so the stone holes could be excavated & then the stone stabilized and replaced in its original stonehole (this provides us with material that proved the monument was FAR older than the 'educated guess of the day which was at that time 1500 BC).of course the site of cranes and dangling megaliths created a silly rumour that the whole thing was rebuilt. Infact the only restoration was relifting a trilithon that had collapsed but was basically intact as it fell--its fall was in historical times (1700's) and well documented--and the replacement of several lintels (again with the matching stone that was lying below). One stone which had been hollowed out at the bottom by souvenir-hunters and was dangerous,had a concrete plug put in which looks quite odd and again added to the silly rumours.
Recently I obtained an original print from the 1600's which showed Stonehenge. it actually looked MORE like the Stonehenge of today than say in victorian times when the western trilithon was still down & the remaining stone of the great trilithon was leaning and in danger of collapse.

Answer 4

The first sign of ritual activity in the area was about 8000 years ago when mesolithic hunter-gatherers put three huge pine totem poles up in what is now the carpark.
Then in approx 3100 BC neolithic tribes moved a few hundred yards uphill and built a henge monument--which is a round earthen enclosure consisting of bank and ditch. 56 holes were dug inside it,and these held wooden posts. There also may have been a wooden structure in the middle (possibly a mortuary hut). When the posts decayed, they were filled by human cremations of both men & women.
The first stones were the bluestones from Wales in approx 2700 BC and possibly the Heelstone by the entrance & the 4 stations stones that form a perfect rectangle.
The famous sarsen ring of lintelled stones was built in about 2400-2200 BC, and at the same time the bluestones were changed to a different formation.
The circle fell out of use by about 1100 BC (so no druids involved!)

Answer 5

The Stone circle was erected about 4,500 years ago by the indigenus tribes of the time. The site is thought to have been used prior to that as a wooden henge as with other sites in the area.

Answer 6

It was built over 50 years ago by the Goverment, they said it was going to cost £1000. but they got there sums wrong and it cost £50.000.000.
Nothing changes does it.

Answer 7

Very good question but, does anyone really know? I just know it's VERY old.

Answer 8

I'm not too sure, it wasn't there when i was little and ill bet its been built on a flood plane. bloody government.

Answer 9

v erry verry old i think

Answer 10

we dont know