4 February 2014 - STONEHENGE


STONEHENGE

G'day folks,

Welcome to some facts about one of the strangest constructions in the world - Stonehenge.

Stonehenge is a Neolithic monument located near Amesbury in Wiltshire, Great Britain, about thirteen miles north of Salisbury. 

Stonehenge consists of large stone blocks in four concentric circles, the outer diameter of thirty meters, consists of large rectangular sandstone rocks that originally were topped by lintels, also of stone, leaving only seven today in place. Within this outer row is another circle of smaller blocks of blue sandstone. It holds a horseshoe-shaped structure built of sandstone rocks of the same color, it stays in a slab of micaceous sandstone known as the Altar.



The entire complex is surrounded by a circular moat measuring 104 m in diameter. Within this space stands a bench in the pits that are 56 known as the "Aubrey holes". The bench and the trench are cut by "Avenue," a processional path of 23 meters wide and three kilometers long, approximately. Nearby is the 'Stone of Sacrifice. " In front is the "Heel Stone". It consists of a large circle of large megaliths whose construction date to 2500 a. C.  The circle of megaliths surrounding sand is considered the oldest part of the monument has been dated about 3100 a. C.

At its beginning was a circular ritual monuments surrounded by a moat and a slope, similar to many others in southern England. 

Finally, the monument took its present appearance, which carried 32 blocks of sandstone from the Preseli Mountains, south west Wales and the stone of the "Altar" was brought from a region near Milford Haven.


Stonehenge was part of a much larger ceremonial complex, including stone circles and avenues and wooden ceremonial.  The excavations by the Stonehenge Riverside Project, led by archaeologist Mike Parker Pearson of Sheffield University, helped found very close to Stonehenge, a settlement of about a thousand houses.  According to the evidence found, these houses were used only a few days a year and it was not a permanently inhabited village.

A little over three miles from Stonehenge in Durrington Walls, was found a large circular working in the field, twenty times larger than Stonehenge surrounded by a ditch and a bank.  There was erected a wooden building, now Woodhenge called, with a design similar to Stonehenge and built in the same century. Woodhenge was joined by the River Avon a flood coated ceremonial flint.




The goal was to build this great monument is unknown, but presumably was used as a religious temple, tomb or astronomical observatory that was used to predict seasons.

At the summer solstice, the sun rises just across the axis of the building, suggesting that the manufacturers had knowledge of astronomy. The same day, the sun is hidden through the axis of Woodhenge, where they found many bones of animals and objects that show that large parties were held, probably at night.


240 burials have been found previously cremated human remains, dating from the years 3030 and 2340 BCE. Given the limited number of burials for such a long period, it is estimated that this is not a cemetery to the generality of the dead but to certain selected people. For pagans, the stone meant death and Stonehenge could have been used together with Woodhenge worship in religious ceremonies for the dead and life perhaps symbolized by the circle of wood.



First there were Tibetan monks, after the Australian Aborigines and then the descendants of the Mayans, who have crossed the ocean to bring this ritual Stonehenge. 

Stonehenge was one of the nominees in the competition of the New Seven Wonders of the World, however, was not chosen.

In the summer of 1987, Jim Reinders, inspired by Stonehenge decided to build with the help of relatives Carhenge. Placed thirty-eight cars painted gray mate in a circle 96 feet in diameter tried to reproduce the layout of the whole of the megalithic Stonehenge. The site is located north of Alliance, Nebraska. 





Clancy's comment: Amazing place, eh? I found it a very spooky place when I visited many years ago.



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