Introduction:
Stonehenge
is one of the ancient structures in the world. It has been accorded the status
of a world heritage owing to its complexity and age of existence (Stonehenge,
2011). The following paper will give an insight into this prehistoric site in
England.
The following
figure shows the Stonehenge.
Stonehenge
(Google Images, 2013)
There
are no written records about Stonehenge; which explains the reason as to why it
is not yet clear as to who built it and the reason as to why it was built.
Stonehenge is a masterpiece of great engineering and architectural skills,
which makes it a major landmark for the country. There are many theories which
try to explain who built the henge. One
of the theories attributes the construction of the Stonehenge to the Druids.
However, the fact that the Druids who are connected to the Stonehenge via a
Celtic priesthood were in dominance 200- years after the henge was erected. The
most convincing of the theories is the one which attributes the construction of
the henge to the Neolithic period peoples (Fagan, 2001). The theory of King
Arthur as told by Geoffrey of Manmouth depicts that Merlin, a man gifted with
magic brought the stones to its present day location from Ireland. After the
massacre of some 300 Nobel men, the king ordered the construction of a great monument,
Stonehenge, to honour the men. It is believed that Stonehenge was constructed
about 5000 years ago. The purpose of Stonehenge is still uncertain, with some
people claiming that it was a burial site, others saying that it was used as a
temple and also a shrine for offering sacrifices (English Heritage, 2013). Other theories claim that the place was
used as a temple for sun worship and also a calendar. The main question which
arises when looking at the henge was how its builders were able to construct a structure
of such magnitude with such precision; how were the giant stones carried?
Stonehenge was constructed in the Wiltshire County near Salisbury. The construction of the henge was done in a
period of 1500 years in three phases. The cost of constructing Stonehenge is
still unclear, owing to the different theories held with regard to the purposes
of its constructions, the people behind its constructions and the methods which
they used to construct it. Stonehenge still remains firmly rooted on its
foundations, 5000 years since it was laid on its foundations (English Heritage, 2013). It is a
symbol of mystery, endurance and power to United Kingdom.
Building:
Stonehenge
is made of pure stones, to be precise giant stones. In the first phase of its
construction, Stonehenge was a vast earthwork which was comprised of a bank and
a ditch; referred to as a henge. The tools used in this phase were made from
bones and wood. The second phase of the
construction of Stonehenge aimed at constructing the inner circle. This phase
used bluestones. The third phase of the construction of the Stonehenge used
enormous Sarsen stones, approximated to be weighing 50 tonnes. (Ashe, 2013) The bluestones are
believed to have been sourced from the Precisely Mountains. On the other hand,
the Sarsen rocks are believed to have been got from Marlborough Downs. Owing to
the great distances which the rocks had to be moved through, there was a big
transportation problem (Freeman, 2008).
The bluestones are believed to have been transported by the use of a roller and
sledge mechanism from the mountains to the Milford Haven waters where they were
transported by the use of rafts, boats and barges to the site. The Sarsen
stones were transported by the use of rollers and sledges and also manual power
from people (Freeman, 2008).
Owing to the ambiguity of the builders of Stonehenge, it is still unclear where
the labour came from. However, it is believed that the labour was sourced from
local populations either on voluntary of forced basis. The major problem which
was experienced was the transportation of the heavy rocks from their sources to
the site. Material handling and shape forming was also a problem, which
explains the reason as to why the construction took 1500 years (Fagan, 2001).
Conclusion:
As
of today, Stonehenge is one of the famous prehistoric sites in United Kingdom
and the world at large. The magnitude of the construction is enormous, which
necessitated the need for great engineering skills. Although the constructors
and the purpose of the construction remains unclear, one think which can be
deduced from the henge is that it was meant for a very important purpose. The
world heritage remains dear to the United Kingdom and is a symbol for power,
endurance and mystery (Ashe, 2013).
References
Ashe, G.,
(2013). Stonehenge, Britannia History, Retrieved on 20th April from http://www.britannia.com/history/h7.html
English
Heritage, 2013. Stonehenge, English
Heritage, Retrieved on 20th April from http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/
Fagan, B. M.
(2001). The seventy great mysteries of the ancient world: unlocking the
secrets of past civilizations. New York: Thames & Hudson.
Freeman,
M., (2008). New Light on Stonehenge, Smithsonia,
Retrieved on 20th April from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/light-on-stonehenge.html
Google, (2013). Stonehedge(picture),
Google, Retrieved on 20th April from https://www.google.com/search?q=stonehenge+pictures&sa=X&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=pUhyUeL5JIHHPOKTgcAC&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=933
StoneHenge, (2011). Stonehenge is
the UK’s Unmissable Wonder, Stonehenge, Retrieved on 20th April from http://www.stonehenge.org.uk/
APA formatting
by BibMe.org.
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