Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument that stands on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. Since it stood long before writing was invented, archeologists have yet to pinpoint exactly when Stonehenge was constructed. In addition, there is no proven explanation for why this monument was built. Most of it remains a mystery to this day.
The Mystery
Thanks to radiocarbon dating, many archeologists have drawn a conclusion that Stonehenge was built sometime between 3,100 BCE and 2,000 BCE. Though its a 1,100 year gap, it is the best answer that is currently produced.
The massive sizes of the stones at Stonehenge also add to its mystery. Within the monument is an inner ring and an outer ring of standing stones, each around 13 feet (4 m) high and 7 feet (2 m) wide. The largest stones weigh around 25 tons, which would have been extremely difficult for the ancient people to lift up and set onto other stones.
Hauling such heavy stones would require the brute force of hundreds of men. However, we know this is possible, as this method was used to build the Great Pyramid of Egypt around the same time period.
Yet, we are able to understand the Great Pyramid much better due to the Ancient Egyptians leaving behind hieroglyphs (symbols) even before writing was around. The people who built Stonehenge left us little to nothing in order to understand its purpose.
Probabilities
For Antiquity, Stonehenge is very complex. This gives a hint that it must have served a purpose. For now, that exact purpose remains unknown. There are, however, several educated probabilities as to how ancient people used Stonehenge.
1: Stonehenge may have been used as a place of worship. Locals may have gathered to practice an early religion that may have given the people a sense of control over the world.
2: The monument could have been used to simply bring people together. Locals and travelers alike may have gathered here to socialize, feast, or relax.
3: Stonehenge was possibly a place for the dead. Rituals or burials for the deceased may have been performed here. Another nearby monument, known as Woodhenge, may have been for the living.
4: The large stones could serve as an ancient astronomical calendar, measuring the years and seasons.
Conclusion
In 1882, Stonehenge became legally protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. It was, by far, not the only monument to be protected. Today, there are over 20,000 Scheduled Ancient Monuments in England. Woodhenge is among these monuments, and is relatively nearby to Stonehenge.
All over the world, ancient humans have left behind some structures that have given us more questions than answers. Stonehenge is only one of these examples.
