Against the backdrop of a clear border, where the infinite depth of the sky and the richness of the spacious Salisbury Plain unite, the “dancing stones” of Stonehenge loomed with mystery. These giants, radiating coolness, were only small cubes in the children's game of the great sorcerer Merlin or a structure erected by aliens who arrived on Earth to save the planet from terrible death. Or maybe the megalith was built by the same Merlin in honor of the king who defeated the Saxons?

Not only an incredible number of unresolved mysteries, but also the beauty of the stone structure today attracts both great scientists and ordinary travelers.

General information about Stonehenge

A complex of stone structures was built in the III millennium BC. e. in the south of the UK. Next to it is located no less mystical county of Devonshire, just 2 hours drive from the English city of London. Having understood where the building is located, it is not difficult to recognize it, because the cultural monument of the Bronze Age and the Neolithic has characteristic features:

• 82 megaliths formed by crystallization of magma. According to the latest research work specialists from the National Museum of Wales became aware of their deposit. More than a half " blue stones» mined 240 km from the ancient structure, on the hill of Carn Menin. Unfortunately, it is still unknown how exactly the material was mined and for what period of time it was delivered to the end point;
• 30 blocks, presented in the form of stone blocks, with a weight of 25 tons. Unknown creators built four-meter stones in pairs according to a diametrical scheme with a transverse overlap. Not the entire radial structure has survived to our time, but only an arc of 13 blocks connected by transverse blocks from above;
• 5 architectural elements, depicting something in the form of a horseshoe, consist of three giant stones with a total weight of 50 tons. Triliths are installed absolutely symmetrically with a gradual increase from 6 m to 7.3 m to the main triad of stones. Time is merciless to this kind of buildings, so the experts had to restore the trilith, located in the northwest of Stonehenge, and align the support, recreating the original appearance of the central structure.

For a more detailed study of the monument, one should refer to the picture depicting the scheme of Stonehenge with a description of significant objects.

Why did they build a round dance of giants

Local residents, and even those just passing by, often commit vandalism, breaking off a small piece from an ancient structure to use it as a talisman protecting from dark forces. The English historian and writer Tom Brooks believed that the megalith was the navigational system of antiquity.

And most lovers of natural mysteries call the monument a giant cemetery. And this is not surprising, because many burials were found on the territory of the complex, and the earliest coincides with the period of construction of the first phase of the megalith.

However, the main versions of the construction of Stonehenge are simpler than assumptions. It is believed that the Dance of the Giants was a kind of calendar for determining the exact days of the solstice, eclipse and equinox. And many scientists believe that with the help of the structure it was possible to calculate the exact orbital period of the moon. In a word, Stonehenge is a stone observatory of ancient times.

How was Stonehenge built?

Many people of all peoples living in this area worked on the construction of such a grandiose structure for those centuries. And as materials were taken:

• volcanic lava;
• volcanic tuff;
• sandstone;
• limestone;
• dolerite

Interesting: in order to prove how the stones were built and how exactly the stones were delivered from distant distances, scientists conducted an experiment. In one day, a group of 24 people was able to cover a distance of 1 km, moving a single-ton block with them. This showed that the construction of the complex took a huge amount of time.

To obtain the required type of megalith, the stones were processed in several stages:

1. Multi-ton blocks were subjected to impacts, fire and water treatment.
2. At the site where Stonehenge is installed, giant stones were polished.

For many years, scientists have tried to figure out what century Stonehenge was built, who built it, and why. Thanks to modern methods of radioisotope dating to determine the age of the test sample, carbon is released from the burning of the fragment. After that, the level of radioactivity is compared in relation to isotopes, which indicate the necessary data. In this way, at the end of the 20th century, the temporary phases of the construction of the “dancing stones” were established.

• First phase. The first in the construction of the megalith, which laid the foundation for the entire Stonehenge, was the ditch, in which deer antlers with signs of wear were found during excavations, which led to the assumption that the formation of the ditch occurred after the death of artiodactyl mammals. With the help of the carbon splitting method, an approximate time range was revealed - 3020–2910. BC e.
• Second phase. During phase 2 of construction, another ditch was dug and 56 pits filled with crushed chalk. Today, these holes are called "Aubrey holes" in honor of the British explorer of antiquities John Aubrey. In 2008, during the archaeological excavations of the seventh hole, the remains of 200 people were discovered. After radiocarbon analysis, the period of life of the buried people was determined - 3100-2140 years. BC e.
• Third phase. In this phase, namely from 2440 to 2100 BC. e., stone rings were built from 30 blue sandstone stones.

When wondering how exactly the people of that time managed to assemble huge plates, just look at the photographs, and doubts about their capabilities immediately disappear. Various rollers, levers and rafts were used, with the help of which such construction no longer seems so impracticable.

Modern Stonehenge

If you look at the canvases of John Constable, then among his paintings you can find a picture painted in 1835 from nature of a stone complex. The landscape of the ancient heritage is depicted as a dumped pile of stones, and this is how it looked until the beginning of the 20th century. Few people know that the megalith underwent a long and fruitful restoration. In the photo you can see a reproduction of the English romantic artist.

The first stage of the reconstruction of the former miracle took place in 1901, and ended only by the end of 1964. It is interesting that the construction work was mysteriously hidden from the public, which in the future gave rise to many conflicting opinions and statements.

Like any ancient structure with a unique history, the mysterious stones are overgrown with amazing facts, in addition to those described above.

1. For some time, Stonehenge had a different purpose - the first crematorium in Europe.
2. The famous Darwin spent the second half of his life studying earthworms, and he chose the invertebrates of this region as the object of observation. Thanks to his passion, he was able to make several archaeological discoveries on the territory of the stone complex.
3. For 3 whole years, Stonehenge was the property of Cecil Chubb, who in 1915 presented the megalith as a gift to his wife, after which Chubb handed over the monument to the state.

Information for tourists

To get to know the famous landmark, you should start your journey from the capital of England, having looked at before that. You can visit the great historical monument both as part of an excursion and on your own, which will allow you to freely move around the territory and thoroughly study every corner of the megalith. The distance to the open-air museum is small, only 130 km. How to get from London, each traveler chooses independently:

• order a taxi;
• rent a car;
• use a regular bus with a change in the locality of Salisbury;
• rail transport that departs from Waterloo station with a stop in Salisbury. The ticket price is £33. The train leaves every hour.

Choosing public transport, you should pay attention that at the final stop you can transfer to a bus that will take you to the natural monument in just 30 minutes.

The great Stonehenge attracts and attracts like a magnet with its beauty and history. The best time to visit is the summer solstice when pagan holiday celebrated by thousands of people flocking to the megalith to touch the symbol of ancient power.

Stonehenge is one of the most popular and most visited British tourist attractions. Archaeologists have been exploring this place for many years, but the mystery remains unsolved, despite the abundance of more or less plausible versions.

What is Stonehenge?

This is one of the most ancient, strange and amazing structures on our planet. This stone complex consists of 83 five-ton megaliths, 30 stone blocks (each weighing about 25 tons) and five huge 50-ton stones. The stones are located on a platform with a diameter of about 100 meters, surrounded by a moat and an earthen rampart. Using the radiocarbon method, it was found out that the ramparts and the ditch were dug about 5 thousand years BC.

In the center of the structure is the Altar stone, which is surrounded by five pairs of stones with triliths (lintels at the top). These stones form a "horseshoe", facing the open side to the east. The horseshoe is surrounded by a ring of blue stones. Further there is another stone ring with a diameter of 33 meters. It is surrounded by two rows of holes. Another circle of holes is located closer to the earthen rampart (the so-called "Orbi holes").

Stone blocks differ in material. This is not particularly noticeable in the video and photo of Stonehenge, but close up it is absolutely obvious that the stones are heterogeneous. Blue stones stand out especially, acquiring a characteristic color in the rain. However, it will not be possible to approach them at this time - in bad weather they are not allowed to the monument.

Stacked stone arches point to the cardinal directions. Therefore, according to one theory, in ancient times this building was used as an observatory.

Who built Stonehenge?

The history of Stonehenge dates back several millennia. Scientists have not yet come to a single conclusion when they began to build these stone structures. A number of historians are inclined to think that the megalithic monument was erected approximately 3 thousand years before our era. Others believe that the monument appeared much later - around 2200 BC. Archaeological excavations show that at least 2.5 thousand years before our era there were already burials at this place.

There is also a version that the building was built in several stages. Recesses for the installation of stones were dug for 3.5 thousand years BC. Around 2000, the first circle was built, and the construction of the second circle dates back to 1100 AD.

It is estimated that the construction work in total took about four centuries. Stonehenge stones were carefully polished before installation. The walls of the pits were lined with logs. Giant blocks were brought to a vertical position with the help of ropes. But no logical explanation has yet been found for how the multi-ton horizontal bars were installed. Suggestions are being made that they could be lifted along special earthen embankments or with the help of log stacks. But, given the enormous weight, it looks too incredible.

The issue of transporting stones is also covered in mystery. Some researchers believe that the monoliths were brought from Avebury, located 30 km. In this place is the largest stone circle in Europe. And the blue sandstone that lined the inner circle was delivered from the territories of modern Wales. One of the researchers, Mike Parker Pearson, is sure that this was done on purpose and symbolized the unification of the peoples who inhabited the south of England at that time.

According to another hypothesis, people did not transport stones at all, and the monoliths ended up here due to the movement of the glacier. But the discovered ancient quarries testify in favor of the first version. Scientists experimentally tried to check whether the transportation of monoliths is possible. And it turned out that small megaliths up to two tons are not difficult to move on skids. Other assumptions have been put forward about the methods of transportation: with the help of rollers, the method of "walking stones" and even by water.

Research continues to this day and partially sheds light on the distant past. Perhaps in the near future, the mystery and mysteries of Stonehenge will be completely open, because the most modern methods are used to solve them.

Legends and myths

Of course, such an unusual place could not but give rise to many legends. Since no one could give a rational explanation for the construction of a stone monument, the construction of Stonehenge was attributed to the giants who lived before the Flood, the Cyclopes, aliens, and even the wizard Merlin. The latest version is most popular in the British Isles.

According to ancient Celtic legends, this stone complex "built itself". In the Middle Ages, it was believed that this monument was erected by the king of the Celtic tribe of the Britons, Aurelius Ambrosi, in honor of 460 Britons, who were treacherously killed by the Saxons during negotiations.

There is also a version that Stonehenge was a sacred place of the Druids. But the description of the Druids in the book of Julius Caesar "Gallic War", as well as other ancient Greek and Roman sources, do not contain any mention of this place.

The reconstruction of the object contributed to the appearance of the "alien" version. To avoid erosion, some stones were "preserved" with a concrete "shirt". Subsequently, the concrete broke off, and those who did not know about the restoration work carried out were quick to attribute the construction of Stonehenge to aliens. Which, in general, is quite logical: if the Celts did not know how to make concrete, then someone delivered it to them. The answer suggests itself - of course, space aliens :)

• Increased interest in the stone monument among the general public arose only at the beginning of the 20th century. Before that, only archaeologists, historians and mystics were interested in boulders.
• The restoration of the stone complex took 65 years - from 1900 to 1965. Before the restoration work, some of the stones had already been randomly scattered, and according to research, the monument was repeatedly rebuilt and deliberately destroyed in ancient times, in particular, in the Roman period.
• Not everyone agreed with the restoration scheme for the location of stone blocks. In particular, Christopher Chippindale, who at that time was the curator of the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, argued that the stones were not located in the places where they were originally.
• Duncan Steele, a British astronomer, in 1995 put forward a version that the structure had an astronomical purpose and allowed earthlings to avoid a cosmic catastrophe. This hypothesis was also proved by another scientist, Gerald Hawkins. But he did not reject the theory of the occult use of space.
• Monument for a long time was in private ownership. The owner of Stonehenge was Henry XVIII, and later - the royal nobility.
• In 1915, the stone complex was acquired by millionaire Cecil Chubb. But the wife, to whom he gave the ancient monument, was not delighted, so three years later Chubb decided to make this luxurious gift to the British people.
• The land on which Stonehenge is located was put up for auction after the First World War.
• The action of the novel "The Worm" by writer John Fowles takes place in this mysterious place.
• Nearby is one of the world's largest mounds 40 meters high, which is considered the same age as Stonehenge.
• The monument, along with its surroundings, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Where is Stonehenge located?

Stonehenge is located in the UK, England, near the city of Amesbury - this is the closest locality(distance approximately 3.5 km).

The object is open for visits from 9.00 to 20.00 (ticket sales stop at 18.00). The ticket will cost 16.5 British pounds for adults and 9.9 GBP for children. For this money, you can see the sight at a distance, because of the rope barrier. They also conduct individual tours in the evening and dawn - this is the only opportunity to go directly to the relic and touch the ancient stones with your own hands.

Set aside a whole day for the trip, because the road takes a lot of time (about two hours one way), and, in addition to Stonehenge itself, I think you will want to visit the local museum - there are also a lot of interesting things.

There are several ways to get to Stonehenge:

In any case, it's faster in terms of time, since you don't have to drive to Salisbury, wait there for a bus to Stonehenge, and practically make your way back.

However, whichever option you choose, it's worth it. Seeing one of the most famous and biggest mysteries on the planet with your own eyes is an unforgettable experience!

Stonehenge - at first glance, a strange place: a bunch of huge stones, neatly arranged in a circle in the middle of an open field. The stone structure is located in the United Kingdom of Great Britain, in the county of Wiltshire, 130 km southwest of London. An architectural monument that arose 5 thousand years ago is called the stone circle.

Mysterious building

The stone circle on the Solsberg Plain, which holds unsolved secrets, is translated from Old English as "hanging stones". Among an ordinary plain there are 82 five-ton megaliths (a large hewn piece of rock), 30 stone blocks of 25 tons each and 5 giant triliths (two vertical blocks that support a third, horizontal one) weighing 50 tons each.

Stones set in pairs are crowned with giant slabs and occupy an area 107 square kilometers swampy area. Why did our ancestors cut down huge blocks of rocks and how did they drag them hundreds of kilometers to the construction site? Scientists give ambiguous answers to this and other questions.

Construction of Stonehenge

Stonehenge has been building for 2000 years. In the construction of the structure, scientists distinguish three periods. In the first period (3100 BC), the builders erected two round earthen ramparts, between which they dug a ditch 2 meters deep. The diameter of the object is 115 meters. From the north - a large entrance, from the south - a small one.

In the second period (after 2500 BC) they established megaliths- 82 large processed rock fragments were placed vertically along the perimeter of a large circle, covering them with 7-ton slabs.

The third period (after 2000 BC) completed the construction. 30 sandstone blocks 4.25 m high and weighing 25 tons each were placed in a circle with a diameter of 33 meters. In the center of the circle are 5 triliths weighing 50 tons, lined up in the form of a horseshoe. In the inner part of the horseshoe - blue stones in the form of a horseshoe of a smaller size.

What stones were used by the ancient creators

Blocks of stone delivered for construction are of different origin. Lonely stones and triliths - gray limestone. Blocks of volcanic origin from tuff and dolerite were delivered from a quarry located 210 km from the construction site.

Scientists believe that builders dragged blocks of granite from South Wales, which is 400 km from Stonehenge. Stones were polished with fire and water. They moved blocks overland on rollers (wooden logs), it took 50 years to work.

Inside the moat are blue stones brought from a distance of 250 km, laid later and repeatedly moved from place to place. Behind the circle is a monolith, called the heel of the fleeing monk. On the opposite side of the ramparts is the Block Stone.

In the center of Stonehenge is a block of green mica sandstone, a six-ton ​​Altar. None of the stones retained inscriptions or drawings. Scientists are still arguing about the methods of transporting stones.

Mysteries of Stonehenge

Scientists are undecided

• What was the purpose of the building?
• How was it built?
• How were multi-ton boulders delivered here, if the distance to the nearest rocks is 350 kilometers?
• How did stone blocks weighing 25 tons move in the second millennium BC?
• Beneath Stonehenge there are huge reserves of groundwater, and a megalith has been erected over the crossing points of underground rivers. How did ancient people position the structure with such precision?
• Who is the author of this engineering miracle?

Legend claims that the stone complex was built by the wizard Merlin, the mentor of King Arthur. He transferred blocks of stone from south Wales, the site of sacred springs. According to another legend, the devil himself threw the stones, trying to catch up with the fleeing monk. Satan could not catch up with the saint, and in anger threw a bunch of stones.

Scientists' opinion about Stonehenge

Scientists build versions, put forward hypotheses and assumptions, from which it is clear: such a structure was erected by a developed civilization. The construction required huge efforts of people and lasted for centuries.

Stonezhendzh - open air observatory. Stone structure - an exact copy solar system in cross section, consisting not of 9, but of 12 planets. The creators of the structure knew astronomy, mathematics, geology, clearly represented the orbital period of the moon and the duration of the solar year.

Triliths - structures of three stones - astronomical instruments. On December 23, on the day of the winter solstice, the sunrise is clearly visible through one of them, and the sunset of celestial bodies through the rest. Behind the inner rampart there are 56 recesses arranged in a circle (Aubrey holes), named after the scientist who discovered them in 1666. It is assumed that they predicted lunar eclipses and the beginning of field work.

Stonehenge - burial mound where 240 people are buried. Local nobles were buried here. Some were cremated before burial. Pilgrims aspired to Stonehenge for healing: wounded warriors, cripples and hopelessly ill people hoped to get help. Many, without waiting, died and were buried here. Excavations testify to this.

stone building - place of sacrifice, an ancient primitive temple where rituals were held, bones of large animals were found during excavations in the moat.

It has been argued that Stonehenge is landing pad for alien ships and here a portal to other worlds opens.

It is assumed that ancient Irish priests, the Druids, who held the highest power in Britain, performed cult rites of sun worship here. A version has been put forward that the coronation ceremonies of Danish rulers took place here: the layout of the structure in the form of a crown.

The stone complex is resistant to earthquakes; slabs were used during construction, softening tremors. For 5 thousand years, the structure "did not sink."

Stonehenge - a place of paranormal phenomena

Researchers claim that amazing phenomena occur near Stonehenge.

• Once a boy touched a stone with a wire hook and immediately fell unconscious, remaining motionless for six months.
• In 1958, the photographer saw pillars of light rising above the boulders.
• In 1968, an eyewitness spoke of a ring of fire emanating from the stones of Stonehenge, in which a bright object shone.
• In 1977, eyewitnesses videotaped a UFO squadron over the megalith. The video was shown on British television. Eyewitnesses instantly broke the compass and TV.
• Here scientists hear clicking sounds and buzzing. They explain that there is a strong magnetic field around: the compass needle turns to the center of the megalith, regardless of which side of the building the device is.
• If you knock on one of the stones, then the sound will spread to all stones that are not connected in any way.

It is interesting

1. During excavations, Roman coins of the 7th century BC were found in the ground under the stone ring.
2. Stonehenge is first mentioned in chronicles in the 12th century AD.
3. In 1915, lawyer Cecil Chubb bought Stonehenge as a birthday present for his wife, but after 3 years, his wife did not like the gift, and the lawyer donated the building to the state.
4. At the beginning of the 20th century, visitors were given a chisel to chip away a souvenir from the blocks, which is now prohibited.
5. Stonehenge has been a UNESCO heritage site since 1986.
6. English Neo-Druids gather here regularly, considering Stonehenge to be a place of power.
7. On the days of the winter and summer solstices, thousands of pilgrims gather here to celebrate the festival. Participants in wreaths and elegant costumes, calling themselves pagans and descendants of the Druids, greet the morning sun with joyful cries, songs and dances, communicate with nature and space.

Here is the famous Stonehenge ( Stonehenge). As many people know the oldest monument and artifact of past civilizations and beliefs. However, maybe I will surprise someone, we can consider in almost all details the process of building this ancient monument. And first, let's remember the official history of the monument.

Stonehenge, according to accepted dating methods, is a little younger than the famous Egyptian pyramids. But he did not enter the list of the ancient seven wonders of the world - neither Greek nor Roman authors write anything about him. Probably, the Romans were not impressed by these stones, because they saw the ancient Egyptian pyramids, and they themselves built majestic temples. Today it is no longer possible to establish who was the first biographer of Stonehenge. Already by the XII century, all information about its origin was dissolved in myths and no one remembered the true purpose of the monument. Who built it? The ancient British called Stonehenge the "Dance of the Giants". Rumor attributed its authorship to the great magician Merlin.

Other legends spoke of giants who once lived, before the first Flood - they allegedly built Stonehenge. King James I, visiting him, was amazed by what he saw and ordered the architect Inigo Jones to sketch the plan of the structure and establish for certain who and when it was created. In 1655, John Webb published The Most Remarkable Antiquity of Great Britain, Colloquially Called Stone Heng, Restored, the first edition devoted to Stonehenge. And in the 60s of the XX century, astronomer Gerald Hawkins put an end to the research, proving that Stonehenge is an ancient observatory that allows astronomical observations to be carried out with high accuracy. Stonehenge was built between 1900 and 1600 BC. e., and its construction took almost a century. The population of Britain was small in those distant centuries. Beginning around 3000 B.C. e. farmers from the continent began to settle again on the islands - the so-called Windmillhill people - after the name of the hill near Stonehenge.

It was thanks to them that the Salisbury Plain became the center of crafts and cattle breeding. After 2000 B.C. e. Here are the beakers. Their arrival coincided with the beginning of the Bronze Age. And after three hundred years, the Wessexes came here, lovers long-distance travel- objects from all corners of the then ecumene are especially often found in their graves - faience from Egypt, amber from the Baltic, arrow straighteners from Mycenae, pins of the Germans ... Nothing remains of all these peoples that could shed light on their involvement in megalithic buildings. We can only guess - which one of them? Hawkins believes that all three peoples had a "hand" in the construction of Stonehenge. The stones that make up Stonehenge are different. The main building material of monoliths is dolerite, but there is also volcanic lava (rhyolite), and volcanic tuff, and sandstone, and limestone. Three species - dolerite, rhyolite and volcanic tuff - are found in only one place - in Wales, in the Preselli mountains, near the coast of Bristol Bay. “Now there is no doubt,” writes Stonehenge researcher R. Atkinson, “that the blue stones were taken to Stonehenge from this very limited area.” The distance in a straight line is 210 kilometers - three hours by bus. But they were transported on skating rinks and on water, and this distance is 380 kilometers. Eighty stones weigh in total up to four hundred tons. Who else in ancient Europe made such an extraordinary raid?

Perhaps no one. Scientists traced the possible path of the builders and found that most of it passed through the water. Some large stones were collected along the way. The stones were carried on wooden sledges over logs. An experiment conducted by scientists helped to find out that twenty-four people are able to drag a load weighing one ton in this way at a speed of a kilometer and a half a day. On the water, the situation was simpler: several wooden canoes connected by boards could withstand huge weights and were easily controlled. And the most heavy stones- sarsens? Their deposit was discovered much closer to Stonehenge, only thirty kilometers away. The weight of the largest "gray sheep" (as these blocks were called) reaches fifty tons. It is estimated that a thousand people delivered them to the construction site in seven years. Ancient craftsmen skillfully processed the blocks even before taking them to the construction site of the complex, using the technique of impact and processing with fire and cold. After a crack was outlined on the stone, a fire was laid out on it, and then cold water was poured and beaten with stone hammers. And after rough processing and delivery of the block to the place, more subtle work followed. The stones were polished very cleanly, just jewelry. However, it is impossible to evaluate the technique today, alas, - water and wind have done their job over the centuries.

Scientists had to figure out how the giants were installed. It turned out that first they dug holes, the length of which was equal to the length of the part of the stone that was supposed to be buried. The hole was ninety centimeters longer and wider than the stone. Three walls of the hole were made sheer, writes J. Hawkins, and the fourth was given a slope of 45 degrees - this was a receiving ramp. Before placing a stone, the walls of the hole were lined with thick wooden stakes. The stone slid over it without breaking the ground. Then the colossus was placed vertically with the help of ropes and ropes. Quickly, quickly - while those who held it had enough strength - they filled up the free space around, if only the stone would not collapse. Having tamped, they left it alone for several months, until the soil sags and compresses. An important detail: the lower ends of the vertical stones were beaten on a blunt cone - so that after they were lowered into the hole, the stones could be turned and set more precisely.

And how did the multi-ton beams end up at the top? They were not lifted there by helicopters. Maybe on earthen embankments? It was this method that was proposed as a hypothesis back in 1730 by one of the very first researchers of Stonehenge, S. Wallis. But the construction and dismantling of such an embankment for all thirty-five beams would require gigantic labor - more than the work spent on the entire complex. In addition, the remains of earthen mounds were not found, and this version was abandoned. But what if they acted by throwing with the help of stacks of logs? Approximately like this: a stone crossbar was laid on the ground at the foot of its future supports, and then a layer of logs was laid perpendicular to it, it was rolled onto logs, and a double layer of logs was already laid in the place where it lay before, but already parallel and perpendicular : back and forth, back and forth ... And now the stone roof is already at the very top. The last task was to transfer it to the prepared place - so that all its nests lay on the spikes of the support.

It is estimated that such a tower of longitudinal and transverse layers of wood would require fifteen cubic kilometers of logs with pre-cut grooves. And they also calculated: the construction of Stonehenge took three hundred years of work and thousands of workers, in total, one and a half million man-days of physical labor were spent. What is all this for? Why was Stonehenge built? ... On the day of the summer solstice, crowds of people come to Stonehenge to watch the sunrise over the Heel Stone. The spectacle is truly impressive. Through the lilac fog that usually swirls in the valley at this early hour, a bright beam suddenly breaks through - just above the top of the Heel Stone! Accurately fixed rays of vision, according to astronomers, forced the observer to look at strictly defined areas of the sky, set the directions where the expected phenomena occurred.

Thus, Stonehenge can be considered an ancient observatory, which was used to predict the start time of field work and, as J. Hawkins suggested, to predict eclipses. Hawkins drew attention to the fifty-six so-called "Aubrey holes" included in the ancient complex. “I noticed,” wrote Hawkins, “that these holes are located along the correct circle at an equal distance from each other. Holes about one and a half meters deep were dug in shallow soil and then filled again with crushed chalk. The priests could predict the year of the eclipse of, say, the winter moon, shifting pebbles from hole to hole in a circle, one hole a year. They also had other devices for such forecasts. …

Five of the seven wonders of the world - the Egyptian pyramids, the statue of Zeus at Olympia, the temple of Diana at Ephesus, the mausoleum at Halicarnassus and the Lighthouse of Alexandria on the island of Pharos were made of stone. But nowhere, perhaps, has stone been used so skillfully for the intellectual search of the ancients as here in South West England, on the Salisbury Plain.

The question is, how was Stonehenge built? Again, unfortunately, there is no definitive answer. It is only known that each stone block was delivered almost 350 km. According to one Spanish engineer, Harry Lavin, these blocks were delivered using special baskets that were not worn, but simply rolled on the ground.

Lavin also claims that the builders with the help of beams made the facing of stone blocks, and also braided them with elastic branches. Special cocoons were obtained, which were dragged from one place to another. Domestic animals such as horses and oxen were used to transport the blocks. The engineer decided to test his hypothesis in practice. First, he braided, and then rolled a stone block, the diameter of which was less than one meter. After that, Lavin invited several of his friends, and with their help he managed to roll a stone block, the mass of which was one ton, in the same way.

In his plans, the engineer is going to experiment with stone blocks, which will be similar to the Stonehenge block. He also wants to move them a distance of 350 km. Part of this path he is going to shorten at the expense of water. After all, it is known that a stone block braided with tree branches will definitely float. You just need to calculate everything correctly.

This is what Stonehenge looked like in 1575, according to this engraving:

And this is how the artist John Constable captured this “antiquity” in 1835, as they say, from nature:

The first restoration work in 1901, when only one stone was allegedly lifted:

This picture of workers at the site of a restoration in 1901 was accidentally leaked to the press and sparked outrage at the time, but this far-from-legendary story is rarely told in official Stonehenge guidebooks.

The pages of the Times newspaper were full of letters of complaint and demands to stop this vandalism, but the first stage of the "restoration" of the monument continued, no matter what. And some venerable journalists, such as John Ruskin, declared with pathos that "the restoration of a historical monument is a lie."

Photo taken in 1911.

But the reenactors themselves justified that they were only trying to put in place one monolith, which allegedly fell during a storm. Allegedly, we are talking about only one stone, and not about the systematic movement of almost all the stones. And yet, despite public opposition, Stonehenge's makeup, being a mystery behind seven seals, only gained momentum. And even more work was carried out in 1919-1920.

Photo from the early 20th century.

And here is a series of photos from the alleged restoration of 1958-64, when, according to the "scientists", several more stones were lifted "into place". But at the same time, for some reason, the chalk markings of the places where the stones should stand are visible in the photo. And this markup looks like there were no stones at all before:

Completely untouched virgin soil. The top layer was carefully removed exactly along the contour of the megalith installation. Digging for the foundation has begun. Is it a joke? The heaviest stones they need a foundation.

And now the turf was carefully removed and the holes for the stones were dug, and the soil from the holes next to it was in a pile:

They unload the “pebble”, but for some reason it is plastered ...

For some reason, they roll a barrel under the megaliths ...

But this “pebble”, it seems, was leveled with a trowel:

In this way, “ancient” inscriptions were made on the stones:

50 years have passed and ... both! The plaster fell off, and the concrete blocks of the “old times” appeared at the base:

The scale of the restoration undertaken in 1901-1965 became the subject of sharp criticism and even journalistic investigations at the beginning of the 21st century. However, Christopher Chippindale, Curator of the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, acknowledged that "nearly all the stones have been moved in one way or another and are now set in concrete."

This is one of the dark pages in the history of archeology, they prefer not to talk about it. Druids worked like this:

And then how they raised huge megaliths, which they are not capable of lifting modern technology looks like that:

So, 111 years have passed since the beginning of the restoration of Stonehenge. The menhir that fell from the hurricane was straightened out and put back in place, and even reinforced with concrete. This is in 1901. Six more stones in 1919 and 1920, three more stones in 1959 and four stones in 1964. In 1958, a stone altar was dug out from somewhere and the central trilithons were re-mounted.

The first reaction of individual readers, who continue to say something about the "excavation", "restoration", "replacement" of the "ancient megaliths", convinced that an explanation is still indispensable. In the photo, starting from the 1st, which is higher, you see white circles indicating the places for future "megaliths". This is a "front of work" for builders. Object markup from customer, made with lime in the holes, on a flat, untouched lawn. "Megaliths" are not pulled out like carrots, leaving not the slightest trace of this procedure.

Further, if you take a closer look at the pictures, you will find the military, and barbed wire in the vicinity, and other details that indicate that from a certain moment the future "Cyclopean building" of the ancient Druid-Atlanto-Asuro-Siriyanto-Aryans was a protected facility. You will see “representatives of customers” who are not officials, builders, workers, or local residents. Find "initiates" with some bookmarks, equipment.

Stonehenge - "space portal", "energy crystal", etc., etc. assigned important role in the representation associated with the "apocalyptic", "jumps" and other things; this was taken care of when bookmarking.

If you look closely at modern photos of Stonehenge (and compare them with a few old photos of manipulations that are not related to the construction business), then you can easily find streaks of red substance, ubiquitous in "cyclopean" and "megalithic" castings (hence the numerous events with fire and electricity), and it is quite easy to see the modern purpose of the building.

Stonehenge, of course, a hyped place, and therefore in the spotlight. But Avebury, which is 32 km north of Stonehenge, is less, but if a bit of history, Alexander Keiller, a millionaire and lover of antiquities, built it in 1930. He just bought this place, and after a while a prehistoric monument also appeared here.

David Batchelor, chief archaeologist of the English Heritage, says: “... ideas about the degree of restoration of the corresponding ancient monuments are changing. Some monuments have been more seriously restored. But we don't think that Stonehenge was reconstructed.. I hope now the restoration will go only in better side'cause there's nowhere else to go". But even here he twists, saying that Stonehenge has nothing to do with it, he defends his own.

English heritage is gearing up for changes to reflect the new mood. Specifically, Henderson said: There is a growing interest in how historical monuments have been restored. When we update the guide, we will try to include more material, about how restorers interact with the monument».

Ben Bradshaw, UK Secretary of State for Culture and Sport, has announced a £10 million government investment to develop the visitor center at Stonehenge. So what the hell is the story when that kind of money is at stake!

In general, conspiracy supporters say this:

Of course, the key photo, where the company's label is highlighted in the photo premix.

In total, 72 duplicate Stonehenges are known in the world. According to the date of construction and territorial location, you can easily eliminate the excess, and check the rest with common sense.

1. For the first time in the Stonehenge area, military exercises were held in 1898.

2. From that time until the Second World War, the Ministry of Defense bought up large tracts of land in the area.
3. Currently, the Ministry of Defense owns 390 square kilometers (!) In the immediate vicinity of Stonehenge, some of which are permanently closed, access to others is very limited. (According to the map, the border of the nearest military base is one and a half kilometers from these stones to the north, and the military airstrip is 5 kilometers to the southeast).
4. In the past, a railway line and an airfield were built in the immediate vicinity of Stonehenge, both were subsequently dismantled (there are other sources that the military airfield was much closer, at a distance of only one mile from Stonehenge).
5. In 1943 the village of Imber (15 kilometers from Stonehenge) and the village of Par Hinton were evicted. The article about Imber says that to this day the village is under the control of the military.
6. 2 kilometers north of Stonehenge is the Royal Artillery School, which conducts real shooting 340 (!) Days a year.
7. 9 kilometers to the southeast, behind a military airfield, is the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory, whose work is mostly classified.
8. Another 17 kilometers west of Stonehenge is the base of the military air corps and the helicopter airport of the combat Apaches.
9. There is no agricultural activity in the Stonehenge area due to the danger of running into an unexploded shell, which has accumulated a lot over the century. Because of this, the green meadows around Stonehenge have acquired a scientific value (Site of Special Scientific Interest) as they represent the last natural lawns in England, and possibly in all of Europe.

So, summing up:
- Around Stonehenge for more than 100 years - a closed area, guarded by the military, patrolled by military aircraft and helicopters, with daily artillery fire.
- Local residents were evicted during the Second World War under the pretext of exercises; the villages were taken over by the military, a situation that persists to this day.
- Agricultural activities are prohibited in the large area of ​​the plain where Stonehenge is located.
- On the territory there was an infrastructure that allowed large-scale construction (including airfields, a railway line), which was subsequently abolished as unnecessary.

We contacted the management of this clown place of the Ibers in 2001 (the Arkaim circus from the same opera, sucked from the finger, for GDLB tourists) and clearly saw the fictitiousness of this structure, as well as the senselessness of wasting time on communication with people of conceit.

Note for yourself that "TOURISM" is a completely charming Iberian matrix of demonism. Tourism, as such, is a completely successful project of the Ivers, which THEY cover and milk the gavvakh and the funds of families around the world, and GDLB, instead of building the Little Motherland, as a projection of the entire species of animals and plants on a separate site Family Homestead, are led to the magnetism of the type of "architectural" monuments built by the Iver around the world, but in reality, created man-made by the Iver quite recently. Some exhibits of museums around the world, whether it be the Hermitage, the Louvre or the London vault, are worth something. It's time for the goyim to know the truth about the Iberian reality and its perfect creatureliness, and about THEIR deeds on Earth.

In other words, everything is extremely clear. On the territory protected by the British military department, this “center of ancient civilization”, “the legacy of great ancestors”, “a monument to humanity” was consciously and purposefully erected, which became (not by itself, it’s clear) the most important cult center of no less purposefully implanted “spirituality” , Spirit of Aries.

There is no doubt that both the “heritage of mankind” and “spirituality”, an important attribute of which is this “heritage”, and “science”, which has deployed its “research” around this “heritage” on a colossal scale, have one customer.

About 130 kilometers from London there is a very strange place - a bunch of huge stones, neatly arranged in a circle in the middle of an open field. Their age cannot be accurately estimated even by the means of modern science - either three thousand years, or all five. Why did our ancestors, literally just climbing down from the trees, suddenly begin to cut huge boulders out of the rocks and drag them hundreds of kilometers away? An ancient observatory, a cult building of the druids, a landing site for aliens and even a portal to another dimension - all this is Stonehenge.

United Kingdom, Wiltshire, 13 kilometers from the town of Salisbury. Here, in the middle of an ordinary English plain, is Stonehenge - one of the most famous buildings in the world. It has 82 five-ton megaliths, 30 stone blocks of 25 tons each, and 5 giant triliths weighing up to 50 tons.

What is Stonehenge

The very word "Stonehenge" is very ancient. There are several versions regarding its origin. It could be formed from the Old English "stan" (stone, that is, stone) and "hencg" (rod - since the upper stones were fixed on the rods) or "hencen" (gallows, torture instrument). The latter can be explained by the fact that the medieval gallows were built in the shape of the letter "P" and resembled the trilithons of Stonehenge.

Megalith (from the Greek "megas" - large, and "litos" - stone) is a large hewn piece of rock used in the construction of ancient places of worship. As a rule, such structures were erected without the use of mortar - stone blocks were held under their own weight or on hewn stone "castles".
Trilith (or "trilithon", from the Greek "tri" - three and "litos" - stone) is a building structure of two vertical blocks supporting a third, horizontal one.

How Stonehenge was built

The construction of Stonehenge took place in several stages, which took a total of over 2000 years. However, archaeologists have found evidence of much older structures at the site. For example, near the parking lot for tourists near Stonehenge, three shallow "mines" were recently found, into which wooden supports were dug (they, of course, did not survive). The location of the supports shows that they supported a very large wooden monument, whose age is estimated at about 8000 years.
Around 2600 BC, the wooden buildings were demolished and replaced by majestic stone structures. First, the builders dug two rows of large crescent-shaped holes (one horseshoe inside the other), turned to the northeast. 385 kilometers away, from the cliffs of Carn Menin in the hills of Preseli (Wales), 80 so-called "blue stones" were delivered. Each stone was about 2 meters high, about 1.5 meters wide and 0.8 meters thick. They weighed 4-5 tons.
In the heart of Stonehenge, a six-ton ​​monolith of green mica sandstone was placed - the so-called "Altar". In addition, the northeast entrance was moved a little to the side and widened so that it looked exactly at sunrise on the day of the summer solstice.
Apparently, the construction of Stonehenge at this phase remained unfinished. The Blue Stones were soon removed and the holes under them filled in.
At the same time, three separate large "blue stones" appeared here. Two survived - the so-called "Heel" (in the meaning of "last") stone at the northeastern entrance outside the ramparts and the "Stone Block" near the same entrance inside the ramparts (later it collapsed on its side). Despite the name, the “Stone Block” is not associated with bloody sacrifices. Due to weathering, red spots began to appear on its side - iron oxides, which gave rise to such gloomy associations. In addition, on the inner side of the northern and southern ramparts, for unknown purposes, small barrows (without burials) topped with "blue stones" were piled up.
At the end of the 3rd millennium BC, Stonehenge underwent a new - the most ambitious restructuring, thanks to which it has become so popular today. From the hills of southern England (40 kilometers away from Stonehenge), 30 huge stone blocks - "sarsens" were brought here, each of which weighed 25 tons.

Stonehenge. How it was.

The earliest surviving religious building on the territory of Stonehenge looks very primitive and does not resemble later stone buildings. Stonehenge No. 1 was built no earlier than 3100 BC and consisted of two round earthen ramparts, between which there was a moat. The diameter of the entire object is about 115 meters. A large entrance was arranged on the northeast side, and a small one on the south.
Presumably, the ditch between the ramparts was dug using deer antler tools. The work was carried out not in one step, but in sections. Studies have shown that the bottom of the moat was covered with animal bones (deer, bulls). Judging by their condition, these bones were carefully monitored - they probably had considerable cult significance for people who visited the temple.
Directly behind the inner rampart inside the complex, 56 recesses were dug, arranged in a circle. They were called "Aubrey Holes" after the antique dealer who discovered them in 1666. The purpose of the holes is unclear. According to the chemical analysis of the soil, wooden supports were not placed in them. The most common version is that lunar eclipses were calculated from the holes, however, the accuracy leaves much to be desired.

Stonehenge - prehistoric crematorium

Later buildings date back to 2900-2500 BC and can be judged theoretically - time has left us only a group of depressions in the ground, where wooden supports for some structures were placed. The latter could well have been covered sheds, because these holes (now filled with earth and indistinguishable from the rest of the landscape) run in two parallel rows from the northern and southern entrances to the center of the entire structure. The diameter of the recesses is much smaller than the Aubrey holes, only 0.4 meters, and they are more distant from each other.
During the second phase of the construction of Stonehenge, the earthen ramparts were partially torn down - their height decreased, and the ditch between them was almost half filled up. In the same period, the functions of the Aubrey holes changed - they began to be used for the burial of cremated remains. Similar burials began to be carried out in the ditch - and only in its eastern part.
Whatever Stonehenge was built for, a few hundred years after that, it began to be used as a fenced cemetery for cremated remains - the first known in Europe.

Interesting facts about Stonehenge

The most common archeological finds in the ground under Stonehenge are Roman coins and the remains of the Saxons. They date back to the 7th century BC.
There are more exotic theories about Aubrey holes. For example, the ancients could use them to plan pregnancy (based on the 28-day menstrual cycle in women).
Blue stones are dolerite, the closest relative of coarse-grained basalt. Dolerite got its “colored” nickname because it turns blue when wet with water. A fresh chipped stone also has a blue tint. Heel stone - so named because of the legend according to which Satan threw it at a monk and hit him in the heel. The origin of the word "sarsen" is unclear. Perhaps it came from the later term "Saracen" (Saracen, that is, pagan stones). Sarsens were used to build not only Stonehenge, but also other megalithic monuments in England. The inside of the sarsens was processed much better than the outside. This suggests that, perhaps, the room was closed, and some important rituals were performed inside it, the participants of which did not leave the stone “circle.” Calculations show that the construction of Stonehenge (with the tools available at that time) required about 2 million people hours of work, and the processing of stones would take 10 times more. The reason why people worked on this monument for almost 20 centuries must have been very good. The theory of a UFO landing site arose in part due to the fact that there is a military airfield near Stonehenge (near the city of Warminster).

What was Stonehenge for?

As soon as people did not rack their brains - why did the ancients need Stonehenge? The very first references that have come down to us connect it with the legend of King Arthur - supposedly this monument was built by the wizard Merlin himself (according to another version, he transferred it with his charms from Mount Killaraus in Ireland).
Other stories "blamed" the construction of Stonehenge on the devil himself. In 1615, the architect Inigo Jones claimed that the stone monoliths were built by the Romans - allegedly it was the temple of a pagan deity named Knelus. In the 18th century, researchers discovered the “astronomical” function of Stonehenge (its orientation to the solstice) - this is how the version appeared, according to which this building belonged to the Druids. Nowadays, some experts claim that Stonehenge can predict solar eclipses or even perform complex mathematical calculations. The "planetarium" and "calculator" theories are very controversial - the evidence is usually refuted either by the simplest astronomical facts or by history itself (Stonehenge has been repeatedly rebuilt, changed its structure and probably served different purposes).
Outer ring of sarsens
The assumption that the second, “cemetery” stage of the construction of Stonehenge was associated with successful conquests of local tribes looks very interesting. An analysis of the remains found in the burial grounds adjacent to Stonehenge showed that some of the people buried there were from Wales. This may also explain the subsequent delivery of "blue stones", symbolizing the unification of the two lands. Experts also admit that for most of its history, Stonehenge served as a place for the cremation of the remains. This version is not without the right to exist, because the Neolithic cultures of Europe associated wood with life, and stone with death.

Late 19th century

One way or another, Stonehenge should not be called an observatory or associated with the druids. In the first case, we simply apply the concepts of the 21st century to events that took place almost 5,000 years ago. In the second, we sacrifice facts to a beautiful legend. Druids are a purely Celtic phenomenon. The Celts came to Britain no earlier than 500 BC - Stonehenge was already built.

Fiction writers on Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a structure so ancient and incomprehensible that even science fiction writers are not too sure what to do with it. The ideas that they offer in their works are often not much different from the versions of some scientists.
For example, Harry Harrison co-wrote the novel Stonehenge (1972) with Leon Stover. According to this book, the ancient monoliths were erected by the surviving inhabitants of Atlantis. A little earlier, Keith Laumer created the book “Trace of Memory” (1968), where he developed an “alien” idea: there is an underground communication center next to Stonehenge, from where you can call the descent module of a huge alien ship drifting near the Earth - and this module landed right on Stonehenge .

New Stonehenge

: modern astronomers revived the knowledge of ancestors
February 12, 2005 in the New Zealand town of Wairarapa opened "New Stonehenge", very similar to its famous British "relative". But why did modern astronomers need to build a copy of an ancient structure?
The modern stone observatory is called Stonehenge Aotearoa, built by the New Zealand Phoenix Astronomical Society.
Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand. And it was taken for a reason.
But first it must be said that the new Stonehenge is not at all an exact copy of the stone monster from the Salisbury Plain (Stonehenge), although their basic dimensions are almost the same.
And it's not just a tourist attraction. Stonehenge Aotearoa is a full scale adaptation of its ancestor to work properly on the other side of the planet. What is this job? Of course - an indication of astronomical events.