Stonehenge: The Ancient Mystery of England’s Megalithic Wonder

Stonehenge, located in southern England, is one of the world’s most iconic archaeological sites and enduring mysteries. This megalithic stone circle on Salisbury Plain continues to inspire awe, fascination, and debate more than 4,600 years after its construction by ancient Britons who left no written record.

Legends and Folklore

The monument’s enigmatic history has sparked countless legends. Some tales claim Merlin, the wizard of Arthurian legend, magically transported the massive stones from Ireland. Other myths claim that invading Danes erected the stones, while some propose that Romans left them as remnants of a temple.

While modern interpretations can be colorful, theories focus more on purpose than magic. Scholars debate whether Stonehenge functioned as a ceremonial site, an astronomical observatory, or a center for healing rituals.

How Stonehenge Was Built

Archaeological study of Stonehenge dates back to the 1660s, when antiquarian John Aubrey first surveyed the site. Initially, he incorrectly attributed it to the much later Celts. Modern research shows the monument developed over more than a millennium, beginning about 5,000 years ago as a circular earthen bank and ditch surrounded by burial mounds.

Around 2600 B.C., workers replaced wooden posts with 80 dolerite bluestones from Wales, rearranging them multiple times. Later, they added larger sarsen stones, forming a continuous outer circle and a heel stone. Each sandstone block weighed about 25 tons, and laborers transported them over 19 miles (30 kilometers), while chemical tests trace the Altar Stone to Scotland, nearly 466 miles away.

Inside the circle, five trilithons—pairs of standing stones topped with lintels—form a horseshoe shape. Estimates suggest that constructing Stonehenge required over 20 million work hours.

Purpose and Theories

Debate continues about why Stonehenge was built. Two primary theories exist: some scholars view it as a sacred site, while others see it as an ancient observatory. Evidence includes alignments with the sun, moon, and stars, which could indicate seasonal rituals, solstice celebrations, or a megalithic calendar to predict astronomical events such as solar eclipses.

A more radical theory suggests Stonehenge served as a prehistoric healing center, particularly due to the bluestones believed to hold magical powers. Excavations have revealed Bronze Age skeletons with bone deformities, possibly supporting this hypothesis.

Research led by University College London’s Mike Parker Pearson supports the idea that Stonehenge was part of a larger ceremonial landscape. People linked the stone circle to a wooden circle at nearby Durrington Walls using avenues and the River Avon. Parker Pearson theorizes that the two sites represented the realms of the living and the dead, with Stonehenge serving as a spiritual home for ancestors.

A Monument of Enduring Mystery of Stonehenge

Stonehenge continues to captivate historians, archaeologists, and the public alike. Its construction, purpose, and cultural significance remain subjects of study and debate, embodying the ingenuity and ritual life of prehistoric Britain.