Essay: Theories on Stonehenge’s purpose and use

The Stonehenge consists of an array of stones on the exterior and interior part of the circle, and attracts hundred and thousands visitors each year, but many are not just going to look at stones, they are there for the history or what it unknown about the history. The Stonehenge is unique due to the mysterious history behind the it and the uncommon structure that the Stonehenge was built on. As a result, this attracts many visitors each year, because of the mysterious and peculiarities of the Stonehenge. To many, it may just seem like a really confusing rock structure, but little do they know that this long standing structure has been around for thousands and trillions of years, yet no archaeologists or historian can explain why it was built or exactly when it was built.
Although no theories have been confirmed, there is much speculation and theories attempting to explain the Stonehenge and the many unanswered questions that go along with it. The Stonehenge was often believed to be a druid temple, meaning that it was used as a place of worship of an ancient Celtic religion. However, data concludes that it wasn’t until c.250 B.C. that the druids first started. Many well-known astronomers and archaeologists have numerous theories as to what the Stonehenge was used for. One astronomer was Gerald Hawkins, who used his computer to proposed that the Stonehenge could have been used to measure as an astronomy device to measure specific types of movements or eclipses, but many other archaeologists have rejected that theory (“The Columbia Electronic”). However, over time more recent data collection tests have been discovered, leading to more probable and accurate theories for the uses of the Stonehenge.
As time passed, more theories were made, however none offering up a definite answer for the questions asked, however along with those theories came new methods of testing that could actually provide accurate results and answers for the many questions. One example is radiocarbon dates, which led to the development of calibration curves, from the radiocarbon dates, archaeologists were able to reach new conclusions or developments that are more realistic and probable. Recent discoveries by archaeologists, suggest that the Stonehenge was built in c.3000 to c.1500 B.C., but they have confirmed that it was built before 2000 B.C. One important aspect of the Stonehenge are the bluestones. Archaeologists were able to conclude that the bluestones were built between 2400 and 2200 B.C. through excavation and other testing (“The Columbia Electronic”). Though archaeologists have only estimated dates of construction, they have reached numerous theories and found much evidence to support their theories on the creation of the Stonehenge.
Many have reached similar conclusions about the Stonehenge’s structure by uses mathematics. An archaeologist, Alexander Thom, closely examined the Stonehenge’s structure, and many like it, and came to the conclusion that they were all built precisely and with specific details. This led to the conclusion that whoever had constructed the Stonehenge had to have had some kind of mathematical background knowledge or teaching during their life, due to the professionality and accuracy that the Stonehenge was built on (“The Columbia Electronic”). This theory was the most reasonable compared to the others, due to it’s logical explanation of mathematics and the involvement in the construction of the Stonehenge.
Most theories about the Stonehenge’s uses are astronomical and mathematical, however recent speculation claimed that it was owned by a family of higher power or authority, such as a czar or king or Emperor. It was suspected that families used the Stonehenge to care for their living or bury their dead. They have reached the conclusion, based on evidence found near the site of the Stonehenge. There, the remains of multiple bodies, female and males; elderly and young, were discovered. Many of the remains were results of cremation, and through pathology, archaeologists were able to conclude that many had issues with their spinal column, resulting in many deaths, or difficulties that could lead to death. These proposed new questions regarding the uses of the Stonehenge and the possible people who might have used the Stonehenge and what allowed them to use the Stonehenge.
The Stonehenge was also thought to have been used as ‘protection’ or a gathering place for prehistoric people to reside in during the winter solstice. This theory came from evidence that propose that the Stonehenge was built to coincide with the winter solstice. Along with the many theories that line the purposes of the Stonehenge, there was a scattering number of (about twenty five) bluestones found, that were thought to have been a part of a prior stone circle, that were in the surrounding areas of the Stonehenge. Through thorough investigation and analysis of the stones, archaeologists were able to discover that the stones made sounds when struck, resembling common pitches heard in society today (“The Columbia Encyclopedia”). Nonetheless, archaeologists are still not able to reach a solid conclusion on the Stonehenge or what either of their many purposes are.
The history and past uses of the Stonehenge are all still unknown to archaeologists, but what is known is the Stonehenge’s eye catching structure. The Stonehenge was believed to have been built in a series of three stages, each stage being essential to the creation of the Stonehenge and lasting over the course of hundreds of years. The first stage was theorized to have been the “preparational” stage of the Stonehenge. Archaeologists, theorized that it involved the digging of a single ditch and the surrounding inner and outer circles, as well as the 56 Aubrey holes that were assumed to have supported timber posts during the beginning of the construction. Along the ends of the ditches was evidence suggesting that it was in fact used in a ritual ceremony to honor the dead (“Stonehenge”). Although the first stage was just the “preparational” stage, it was essential to the construction of the second and third stage that was estimated to had started in 2400 B.C.
The second stage was known as the second most important due to the series of timber settings that surrounded the ditch dug in the previous stage. The second stage was believed to have involved the placement of the bluestones and timber settings (“Stonehenge”). The unknown fact to many is the fact that the bluestones were transported from the Preseli Hills to the center of the Stonehenge. The distance between the center of the Stonehenge and the Preseli Hills is over one hundred and fifty miles, and each bluestone is estimated to weigh about four tons. How the bluestones were transported one hundred and fifty miles, each weighing four tons, is unknown, nonetheless many theorized that the bluestones were transported by greased logs to make transportation easier (“Stonehenge Cover Story”). The first and second stage all led up to most important stage of the Stonehenge, the third and final stage.
The final stage is the most important, complex and difficult, but the final product is all worth the while and is the Stonehenge many know today. The second stage concluded with the placement of the bluestones, and the beginning of the third stage began with the temprary removal of the bluestones and the placement of the sarsen stones. The sarsen stones were heavier and larger than the bluestones, and estimated to have weighed 25 tons and were 18 feet tall (McIntosh). The theory of their transportation is equivalent to the bluestones; both were thought to have been transported on logs covered with animal grease. The sarsen stones were also transported from a distinct area, and were estimated to come from twenty miles north of the Stonehenge location. The sarsen stones were then set up into a horseshoe outline, now known as the inner sarsen stone horseshoe. In the center of the inner sarsen stone horseshoe is the Altar Stone, and the surrounding that was the bluestone oval and sarsen trilithon horseshoe. Border that, was the outer bluestone circle and sarsen circle. Throughout the conclusion of stage three, there were many minor placement changes to the Stonehenge, that caused it to take the structure that attracts many tourists today.
The Stonehenge has gained much popularity over the years and continue to in the present. It is a major tourist attraction located in Wiltshire, Southern England. The Stonehenge is well known in England, compared to the other stone rings in the British Isles. About 800,000 tourists from all over the world visit the Stonehenge each year. Many of them may or may not know that the Stonehenge has been standing longer than all of the pyramids in Egypt, yet archaeologists still have not reached a conclusion on the Stonehenge’s uses or purpose of its creation. Although no alterations or configurations have been made to the Stonehenge, archaeologists and scientists have been running many different testings to hopefully uncover more evidence to support their theories. Nonetheless, it is the mystery of the Stonehenge that attracts tourists. The Stonehenge is a wonder to all, and brings along many questions and wonders, but is a remarkable structure that is sure worth a trip.