Stonehenge was constructed in multiple phases spanning roughly 1500 years, starting around 3100 BC with earthworks and continuing until about 1600 BC with the arrangement of the large sarsen stones. The monument is famous for its precise alignment with the sunrise on the summer solstice and the sunset on the winter solstice. A remarkable feature is the transport of the smaller 'bluestones' from the Preseli Hills in southwest Wales, a distance of about 140 miles (230 km), which was achieved by human effort, not glaciers.
Built in Over Six Major Stages
Stonehenge wasn't built in a day! It was an evolving masterpiece, with construction phases spanning a millennium and a half. The first structure was a simple earthwork, long before the massive stones were brought in.
Transported from Wales by Human Power
Imagine dragging huge rocks over 140 miles! The bluestones' journey from Wales is one of the most amazing logistical achievements of the Neolithic world. It shows the incredible coordination and determination of the prehistoric builders.
Aligned with the Sun's Extremes
The monument acts like a giant sundial! The careful placement of the stones frames the sun on the most important days of the year - the longest and shortest. This celestial magic is what makes Stonehenge so captivating.
Ingenuity over Machinery
The builders of Stonehenge had no cranes or power tools! They relied on smart physics, strong ropes, and stones used as hammers. Their engineering knowledge, like creating strong stone joints, was far more advanced than we often imagine.
Local Stone vs. Distant Treasure
Not all stones at Stonehenge are the same! The giant, local sarsens provide the bulk and structure, while the smaller, imported bluestones traveled an incredible distance, suggesting they held special importance to the builders.
It Started with Dirt and Wood!
When you look at Stonehenge today, you see the famous stones, but its story begins with ditches and posts! The earliest builders shaped the landscape with earth and timber long before they ever moved the first megalith.
More Than Just Rocks in a Circle
What was the point of all that work? Historians have several compelling ideas! From tracking the stars to honouring ancestors, Stonehenge was clearly a very important place for the people who dedicated their lives to building it.
Neolithic Teamwork on Salisbury Plain (~2500 BC)
Building Stonehenge was a massive, long-term community effort. A single day wasn't about lifting; it was about the slow, careful, coordinated effort of dozens of people using simple materials to achieve an unbelievable goal.
How the Stones Lock Together
Did you know Neolithic builders used joinery like modern carpenters? The clever 'Mortise and Tenon' joints kept the massive stone lintels from sliding off the uprights, demonstrating incredible precision!
The Timber Preceded the Megaliths
Timber structures eventually rotted away, but the people who built them wanted their spiritual center to last forever! This led them to replace wood with stone, ensuring Stonehenge's legacy endures to this day.
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