Stonehenge England - Where is, Facts, Tour, Location, Maps, Tickets Stonehenge, England PDF The Stonehenge Monument in England Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, is a prehistoric monument that may have served as a burial ground for Neolithic and Bronze Age societies. A circular arrangement of standing stone pillars, many of which are topped with a horizontal stone slab, the architecture of Stonehenge is a marvel in itself, which has caused scholars to study how the structure was built. The stones are arranged in the post-and-lintel formation. Five trilithons make up the inner horse-shoe shape. The outer ring of the Neolithic monument has 30 lintel stones joined with the tongue and groove joint woodworking technique. The biggest stones, also called sarsens, are believed to have been brought from Marlborough Down. The small stones, or the bluestones are believed to have been quarried from about 200 km away in Pembroke County, Wales. A huge heel stone lies in front of the northeast entry. It is an enormous unshaped boulder. The Slaughter Stone is also located close to this entrance. It seems to be a fallen monolith that extends into the river.

The mysteries surrounding Stonehenge draw visitors from around the world. Some believe that it was used for burial of the dead while others believe that it was a place of healing. Some reckon that it is a kind of solar calendar while others opine that it is a place of worship. The questions such as who were the people behind the construction of Stonehenge or why was the monument erected, are still a mystery. Yet, the Stonehenge was decoded to some extent, by Prof. Mike Parker Pearson, University of Sheffield. While excavating in a farmer’s field, located about less than 2 miles of the Stonehenge, the team of Prof. Pearson comprising of several archeologists, found out the remains of a big prehistoric village. In a National Geographic Channel documentary, he has tried to uncover some secrets of the monument, which are discussed as under: The radiocarbon dating of the circle suggests the origins of the Stonehenge around 4500 years ago, long before King Arthur’s reign. It was exactly the period when the Great Pyramids were being constructed.

The Stonehenge temple is made up of 75 massive sarsen stones (local sandstones) set up between 3500 and 5000 years ago. The monument is aligned along the axis of the sun, thus it catches the sun at its center during the summer solstice. In 2004, long trenches were excavated to find avenues that connect the wooden circle and the river. In 2005, carbon dating was performed on the wooden Stonehenge, which led to the conclusion that it was built during the same time (as the stone Stonehenge). The wooden replica of the monument had 160 massive poles. Its inner rings were similar in shape and size to the Stonehenge. The creation of such masterpieces require sophisticated engineering techniques. It is the only rock structure with carved stones and joined with the tongue and groove joint at the ends. Prof. Pearson also believes that the design of the Stonehenge hints that the monument occupied a central position in the ceremonial landscape. It was used to house the spirits of the dead. It may have associations with another mysterious monument. A grand avenue connected the Stonehenge to the River Avon. Among other theories, Prof.

Pearson proposes that several tribes gathered from Southern Britain during the summer solstice to thank their ancestors to bring back life to the land, animals, and themselves. During the winter solstice, they would probably again gather at the site to perform the ceremony for the dead. Around 240 human remains were discovered at the site. The carbon dating technique unveiled that the remains belonged to the 5th century. As the number of remains was less, Prof. Pearson proposed that these may have been the remains of the ruling dynasty and the remains of all other people were deposited somewhere else. Probably, the river symbolized the beginning of another journey, the remains of the dead were put into it. About two-and-a-half km away to the North, lies one of the sites that was once believed to be the race track for the Roman Chariots. It predates the Stonehenge (was constructed about 500 years before the monument). It is believed to have connections with the monument. It may have been used as a dividing line. The sacred zone with circular Henge, surrounded by a ditch and a bank, lies beyond this line. Of late, several theories regarding the connection of aliens with the Stonehenge have emerged.

Some people also say that the Stonehenge was the work of astronomers. There is no valid evidence regarding the same. This invaluable monument that used to be an active place in the history, is in ruins today. Several restorations performed on the Stonehenge between 1901 and 1964 have made it possible for the monument to sustain till date. However, lately, vandalism of Stonehenge emerged as one of the threats to the site. The pre-historic things and monuments are a mystery. Another mysterious Stonehenge was found by a squad of underwater archeologists under Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay. The Crown owns this legally protected stone monument, but it is managed by English Heritage. The National Trust owns the skirting land. This fascinating monument is a must visit place. A news website reported recently that the discovery of warm springs just a few steps away from the monument could help the scientists and archaeologists solve the mystery behind Stonehenge. This monument may have served as a home to Mesolithic cavemen. The location near the pools suggest that wildlife would have been abundant here, thereby providing food for them. You must also visit the nearby attractions such as Woodhenge, Salisbury St.

Thomas Beckett Church, and Salisbury Cathedral on your Stonehenge tour. Update: Entry to Stonehenge will be managed through online bookings only w.e.f. 18th December, 2013. Advance booking is highly recommended. Online booking will start from 2 December. You may like to check: Tours to Stonehenge, UK Stonehenge Facts Archaeologists believe that the Stonehenge was constructed between 3000 and 2000 BC. The archaeological site along with its surroundings was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 in a co-listing with Avebury Henge. One of the largest archeological monuments, the Stonehenge Cursus, is located at a distance of about 100 meters from the Stonehenge. In 1920, during an excavation, about 56 mysterious holes were discovered. In 1967, when the roads were being built around the region, some holes were discovered 3 km away from the Stonehenge. In 2002, an ancient grave was discovered a few kilometers away from the site.

The stone faces in the Easter Island have also been compared to the rocks of the Stonehenge. A watercolor painting of Stonehenge was made by John Constable in July 1820. Presently, the painting is housed in the British Museum. Radiocarbon dating used in 2008 proposed that the first stones were placed around 2400 to 2200 BC. However, another theory proposes that bluestones may have been placed at the site around 3000 BC. A movie has also been made with the name of this monument as the title, viz. “Stonehenge Apocalypse”. This Sci-Fi movie was released in 2010. Where is Stonehenge Stonehenge is located on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire County, England. The monument is situated on a large field, about 13 kilometers (8 miles) north of the city of Salisbury, and 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) west of Amesbury. Visitors to Stonehenge usually drive or visit by tour bus, because the monument is located far from major cities.

Stonehenge Map Best time to visit Stonehenge It’s best to visit Stonehenge when the weather is mild, not snowy or rainy, but warm sunny days are a rarity there. Summer solstice celebrations, though attendance is limited, allow for a unique method of experiencing Stonehenge. The attendees gather before sunrise to bring in the new season amid the stones. Address: A344, Amesbury, Wiltshire, SP4 7DE, United Kingdom Distance of Stonehenge from London: About 89.6 miles via M3 and A303; Estimated travel time by road 1 hour and 42 minutes. Distance of Stonehenge from Bath: About 35.2 miles via A36; Estimated travel time by road 58 minutes. Stonehenge Hours The opening timings vary. The opening time from 16th October, 2013 to 17th December, 2013 is from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. For updated times visit the English Heritage Website : Stonehenge Tickets The ticket fee for adults is £8.00 while for children the ticket costs £4.80.

More on Stonehenge How tall are the stones of the monument? The biggest of the rocks of the Stonehenge (known as sarsens) rise up to 30 feet (9 meters) height. What is the average weight of the tallest stone of the Stonehenge? About 25 tons (22.6 metric tons). Who protects the Stonehenge? As it is a UNESCO Site, it is legally protected by the UNESCO. How can you protect Stonehenge? Many of the stones of the monument have been lost. Some of the ones that are still standing are under the threat of getting crumbled down or weathered down. You can donate to help the world heritage site of Stonehenge. Check out the UNESCO website for details. Which tribes gathered for the spring equinox? It is believed that the Druids gathered for the spring equinox. Where are the replicas of the Stonehenge located? A replica of the Stonehenge named Stonehenge II is located in Texas. The Georgia Guidestones, also called as the “American Stonehenge”, are located in Elbert County, Georgia. The Maryhill Stonehenge replica is located in Maryhill, Washington.

Stonehenge Facts - FactualFacts.com Stonehenge Facts Prev Article Next Article Where is Stonehenge? Stonehenge sits on the Salisbury Plain in the county of Wiltshire, England. It is a mysterious collection of ancient stones, arranged into a man-made structure believed to be approximately 5000 years old. Listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage register, Stonehenge is one of the world’s most recognisable structures. Whilst many are familiar with the popular image of the site, in reality Stonehenge is quite a diverse location. Stonehenge is believed to be around 5000 years old Having gone through many construction phases throughout its early life, Stonehenge currently consists of a circular bank of earthworks where concentric rings of standing stones majestically rise from the Plain. The standing stones (sarsens) consist of massive blocks up to nine (9) metres tall weighing around 25 tonnes, set vertically into the earth. Sitting horizontally across the sarsens are ‘blue stones’ (due to their colour when wet or cut) weighing up to four (4) tonnes. These blue stones are cut and crafted, and then dovetail joined together.

Researchers agree that the blue stones originated from Wales, 250klm away. Though there are differing theories as to how they came to be in Wiltshire. Cremated human remains have been located in and around the site, and the surrounding area contains numerous burial mounds. Leading away from the Stones are paths to these burial mounds and an avenue ends in a rock slab known as the ‘Slaughter Stone’. Two of the mysteries surrounding Stonehenge are what was its purpose? And how did the ancient people transport and erect such massive stones? The henge stones appear to mark and accentuate important stages of the year such as the passing of seasons and particular sunrises and sunsets. This has led many experts to surmise the site was a religious or spiritual landmark used as an astrological observatory. It is believed that Stonehenge also sits proudly on the most prominent Ley line in Britain. Over the centuries many different explanations have been put forward as to how the monument was built. One theory being that the builders cut the blue stones and transported them by river and the sarsens were moved overland using logs and animal fat. This method was replicated in the 1990s’ and proved to be possible.

It is further postulated that a glacier melting caused the blue stones to be deposited closer to the area. Throughout English history people have promoted differing theories as to who constructed Stonehenge. These range from the magician Merlin, through to Celtic Druids and local shepherds and even alien visitors! Stonehenge is not a unique structure within Great Britain, more than 900 stone circles have been located in the British Isles; however Stonehenge is the largest and most well-known. Whilst it is not fully understood how and why this henge was important for ancient people, it is obvious that the site was relevant and for thousands of years it was built, modified, utilised and honoured. Stonehenge | ancient monument, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom | Britannica.com ancient monument, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom Written By: Wiltshire Stonehenge, prehistoric stone circle monument, cemetery, and archaeological site located on Salisbury Plain , about 8 miles (13 km) north of Salisbury , Wiltshire , England . It was built in six stages between 3000 and 1520 bce, during the transition from the Neolithic Period (New Stone Age) to the Bronze Age .

As a prehistoric stone circle, it is unique because of its artificially shaped sarsen stones (blocks of Cenozoic silcrete ), arranged in post-and-lintel formation, and because of the remote origin of its smaller bluestones ( igneous and other rocks) from 100–150 miles (160–240 km) away, in South Wales . The name of the monument probably derives from the Saxon stan-hengen, meaning “stone hanging” or “gallows.” Along with more than 350 nearby monuments and henges (ancient earthworks consisting of a circular bank and ditch), Stonehenge was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. Sunlight shining through a portion of the stone circle at Stonehenge, Wiltshire, Eng. age fotostock/SuperStock Stonehenge, Wiltshire, Eng., designated a World Heritage site in 1986. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Speculation and excavation Stonehenge has long been the subject of historical speculation, and ideas about the meaning and significance of the structure continued to develop in the 21st century.

English antiquarian John Aubrey in the 17th century and his compatriot archaeologist William Stukeley in the 18th century both believed the structure to be a Druid temple. This idea has been rejected by more-recent scholars, however, as Stonehenge is now understood to have predated by some 2,000 years the Druids recorded by Julius Caesar . Stonehenge, on the Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England. © albo/Fotolia Full aerial view of the Stonehenge site, Wiltshire, England. Aerofilms Ltd., London In 1963 American astronomer Gerald Hawkins proposed that Stonehenge had been constructed as a “computer” to predict lunar and solar eclipses; other scientists also attributed astronomical capabilities to the monument. Most of these speculations, too, have been rejected by experts. In 1973 English archaeologist Colin Renfrew hypothesized that Stonehenge was the centre of a confederation of Bronze Age chiefdoms.

Other archaeologists, however, have since come to view this part of Salisbury Plain as a point of intersection between adjacent prehistoric territories, serving as a seasonal gathering place during the 4th and 3rd millennia bce for groups living in the lowlands to the east and west. In 1998 Malagasy archaeologist Ramilisonina proposed that Stonehenge was built as a monument to the ancestral dead, the permanence of its stones representing the eternal afterlife. Similar Topics Westminster Abbey In 2008 British archaeologists Tim Darvill and Geoffrey Wainwright suggested—on the basis of the Amesbury Archer, an Early Bronze Age skeleton with a knee injury, excavated 3 miles (5 km) from Stonehenge—that Stonehenge was used in prehistory as a place of healing. However, analysis of human remains from around and within the monument shows no difference from other parts of Britain in terms of the population’s health. The Stonehenge that is visible today is incomplete, many of its original sarsens and bluestones having been broken up and taken away, probably during Britain’s Roman and medieval periods.

The ground within the monument also has been severely disturbed, not only by the removal of the stones but also by digging—to various degrees and ends—since the 16th century, when historian and antiquarian William Camden noted that “ashes and pieces of burnt bone” were found. A large, deep hole was dug within the stone circle in 1620 by George Villiers, 1st duke of Buckingham , who was looking for treasure. A century later Stukeley surveyed Stonehenge and its surrounding monuments, but it was not until 1874–77 that Flinders Petrie made the first accurate plan of the stones. In 1877 Charles Darwin dug two holes in Stonehenge to investigate the earth-moving capabilities of earthworms . The first proper archaeological excavation was conducted in 1901 by William Gowland. Standing stones at Stonehenge, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.

© camerawithlegs/Fotolia Queen Elizabeth I’s Skirt Found About half of Stonehenge (mostly on its eastern side) was excavated in the 20th century by the archaeologists William Hawley, in 1919–26, and Richard Atkinson, in 1950–78. The results of their work were not fully published until 1995, however, when the chronology of Stonehenge was revised extensively by means of carbon-14 dating . Major investigations in the early 21st century by the research team of the Stonehenge Riverside Project led to further revisions of the context and sequence of Stonehenge. Darvill and Wainwright’s 2008 excavation was smaller but nonetheless important. Stages of Stonehenge British Culture and Politics Stonehenge was built within an area that was already special to Mesolithic and Neolithic people. About 8000–7000 bce, early Mesolithic hunter-gatherers dug pits and erected pine posts within 650 feet (200 metres) of Stonehenge’s future location.

It was unusual for prehistoric hunter-gatherers to build monuments, and there are no comparable structures from this era in northwestern Europe. Within a 3-mile (5-km) radius of Stonehenge there remain from the Neolithic Period at least 17 long barrows (burial mounds) and two cursus monuments (long enclosures), all dating to the 4th millennium bce. Between 2200 and 1700 bce, during the Bronze Age, the Stonehenge-Durrington stretch of the River Avon was at the centre of a concentration of more than 1,000 round barrows on this part of Salisbury Plain. Stonehenge (from top) c. 3100 bce, c. 2100 bce, and c. 1550 bce, near … English Heritage First stage: 3000–2935 bce The oldest part of the Stonehenge monument was built during the period from 3000 to 2935 bce.

It consists of a circular enclosure that is more than 330 feet (100 metres) in diameter, enclosing 56 pits called the Aubrey Holes, named after John Aubrey, who identified them in 1666. The ditch of the enclosure is flanked on the inside by a high bank and on the outside by a low bank, or counterscarp. The diameters of the outer bank, the ditch, the inner bank, and the circle of Aubrey Holes are equivalent to 270, 300, 330, and 360 long feet (a long foot is an ancient unit of measurement equivalent to 1.056 statute feet or 0.32187 metre), respectively. Deposits in the bottom of the ditch included antler picks, which were used to dig the ditch itself, as well as bones of cattle and deer that were already centuries old when they were placed there. The circular enclosure had two entrances: the main access on the northeast and a narrower entrance on the south.

Connect with Britannica Adolf Hitler Only one of the giant trilithon’s uprights still stands, reaching a height above ground of about 23 feet (7 metres). Only six lintels (out of a total of 230) sit in place on the sarsen circle, with two more lying on the ground. Three of the five sarsen trilithon lintels are in place, with the other two on the ground. Four of the uprights from the sarsen circle are absent, and one is much shorter than the others. Although it is possible that the sarsen circle was never completed, the existence of a hole for an absent sarsen suggests that this stone and others were reused as construction materials for Roman buildings and medieval churches in the vicinity. The bluestones were observed by Atkinson to have been arranged into a double arc, which, for convenience, he called the Q and R Holes. Atkinson’s records suggested that the Q and R Holes predated the sarsen circle and trilithons, but Darvill and Wainwright’s excavation in 2008 cast doubt on this stratigraphic relationship.

It is more likely that the bluestone arc was indeed constructed as part of the sarsen circle and trilithon monument, with bluestones brought from the Aubrey Holes. Bluestones may also have been brought to Stonehenge at this time, or slightly later, from Bluestonehenge (where they had been removed by at least 2280 bce). The bluestones weigh up to 4 tons each, and the taller ones are over 6 feet (2 metres) high. Most of them are unworked natural pillars. Four upright stones, called the Station Stones, were erected near the Aubrey Hole ring, probably also during the second stage of Stonehenge, if not during the period between the monument’s first and second stages. Only two of the stones—both of sarsen—have survived. The four Station Stones were placed in a rectangular formation, aligned along the same solstitial axis as the great trilithon and the bluestone arc. The two missing Station Stones were partially covered by low mounds known as the South Barrow and the North Barrow.

The South Barrow was raised on top of the floor of a 36-by-33-foot (11-by-10-metre) building in the shape of a D that lay immediately to the east of the small southern entrance through Stonehenge’s bank and ditch. From this entrance an undated passageway marked by timber posts led toward the centre of the monument. Other sarsens were erected within the northeastern entrance. Three of them formed a facade across the entrance, of which the sarsen known as the Slaughter Stone is the sole survivor. Beyond them lies the Heelstone, set within a circular ring ditch. From the Slaughter Stone to just past the Heelstone, three evenly spaced stone holes (undated) share the same axis as the timber posts thought to belong to Stonehenge’s first stage. About the same time the sarsens were erected, two sets of concentric timber circles were built within a large settlement almost 2 miles (3 km) to the northeast of the Stonehenge monument. One of these circles, called the Southern Circle, was set at the centre of an ancient settlement of small houses. The other, the smaller Northern Circle, was built on the north side of the settlement.

Nine houses, up to about 18 feet (5.5 metres) square in plan, were excavated in 2004–07 and reckoned to form part of a 42-acre (17-hectare) settlement that may have supported up to 1,000 such dwellings. This seasonally occupied and short-lived community is thought to have been the builders’ camp. By 2460 bce its ruins were enclosed by the bank and ditch of Britain’s largest henge enclosure, Durrington Walls . Outside its south entrance stood a third concentric timber circle—Woodhenge. Third stage: 2470–2280 bce Radiocarbon dating indicates that the side ditches and banks of a ceremonial avenue almost 2 miles (3 km) long were dug from Stonehenge to the River Avon at some time in the period between 2470 and 2280 bce. It is possible that the avenue traces the path of the bluestones that were moved from the Aubrey Holes and Bluestonehenge to the Q and R holes during Stonehenge’s second stage of construction.

The avenue varies in width from about 60 to 115 feet (18 to 35 metres) and terminates at a small henge at the riverside. This henge, measuring 100 feet (30 metres) in diameter, was built after the bluestones at its centre were removed. About the first 1,600 feet (500 metres) of the avenue from Stonehenge are aligned toward the summer solstice sunrise and the winter solstice sunset. Excavations in 2008 revealed that this stretch of the avenue’s banks was built upon preexisting natural chalk ridges coincidentally sharing this same solstitial alignment. At Durrington Walls a similar avenue about 560 feet (170 metres) long and 100 feet (30 metres) wide had been built about 2500 bce between the Southern Circle and the River Avon and remained in use for several centuries. The Durrington avenue was aligned toward the summer solstice sunset, while the Southern Circle faced the winter solstice sunrise.

This solstitial alignment raises the possibility that Stonehenge and Durrington were built as complementary halves of a single complex, articulated by the River Avon. Aerial view of Stonehenge, Wiltshire, Eng. Jason Hawkes/Corbis Fourth, fifth, and sixth stages: 2280–1520 bce The fourth stage of Stonehenge’s construction occurred between 2280 and 2030 bce. About 2200 bce the bluestones were rearranged to form a circle and an inner oval. Atkinson thought that this inner oval was subsequently modified in prehistory to form a horseshoe , but this transformation may have been the result of Roman removal of the stones or of later stone-robbing. At some point during Stonehenge’s fifth stage, between 2030 and 1750 bce, a ring of pits known as the Z Holes was dug outside the sarsen circle. A second ring of pits, called the Y Holes, was dug during the monument’s sixth and final stage of construction, between 1640 and 1520 bce.

As with all radiocarbon dating, the precise dates of such events can only be estimated within many decades, if not centuries. Diagram of Stonehenge as it appeared c. 1550 bce. English Heritage Stonehenge in the 21st century Stonehenge is the world’s most famous stone circle, visited by more than a million people per year. It stands as an icon for all that is mysterious and awe-inspiring about humanity’s prehistoric past. For well over a century, people have gathered at the monument to celebrate the summer solstice . Although banned in 1985 as a result of violent clashes with police , the annual gathering resumed in 2000 and now draws a crowd of more than 30,000. Modern-day Druidic societies have claimed Stonehenge as their own temple , even though the identification of Stonehenge with the original Druids is suspect. The first such society, the Ancient Order of Druids, was formed in 1781; more recently, the number of similar Druidic and other Neo-Pagan groups has risen in tandem with the decline in conventional religious belief.

Ground-level view of the stone block assemblage at Stonehenge, Wiltshire, Eng. © Photos.com/Jupiterimages In 2009 the British government proposed the construction of a new visitor centre at Airman’s Corner, about 1.5 miles (2 km) from the stones, at the edge of the World Heritage site . In 2010, however, core funding for the project was withdrawn as a part of government budget cuts. Two more circles of pits—one at Airman’s Corner and the other just to the northwest of Stonehenge proper—were discovered by geophysical survey in 2009 and 2010. The dates of these circles are unknown, and it remains to be determined whether the pits held posts or stones or were merely circles of holes. Mike Parker Pearson In December 2015, archaeologists announced that they had discovered two quarries in the Preseli Mountains from which the bluestones had been extracted about 140 miles (225 km) from Stonehenge.

Recesses in rock at both sites matched the dimensions of the bluestones, and several stones that were similar to the bluestones in size and shape remained at the sites. Discovering the quarries allowed archaeologists to establish (by performing radiocarbon dating of hazelnut shells and charcoal left by the workers at the quarries) that the stones had been quarried approximately 500 years before Stonehenge was erected. The archaeologists speculated that the bluestones may have been part of an earlier monument that was dismantled and its stones reused to build Stonehenge. Famous Landmarks: Satellite View of Stonehenge, Wiltshire, UK - Nations Online Project ___ Most Famous Landmarks - Satellite View of Stonehenge Sunrise at Stonehenge on the summer solstice. - Image: Andrew Dunn About Stonehenge Annotated Satellite view is showing Stonehenge, a Neolithic monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about 8 miles (13 km) north of Salisbury. It is one of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world and one of the oldest, built around 3100 BC.

Main features on the map are stone circles of Stonehenge, the Avenue, the ancient avenue on Salisbury plain (yellow line on the map), the Cursus, a 3 km long and about 100 m to 150 m wide Neolithic cursus, several hundred years older than the stone circles of Stonehenge, the Durrington Walls, another mystery 3 km north-east of Stonehenge, it is the largest henge ever discovered, measuring nearly 500 m in diameter, the oval shaped henge had four entrances, it is possibly the site of a village where the builders of Stonehenge lived, Woodhenge, a timber circle monument, it was a kind of artificial forest surrounded by a ditch located 3 km north-east of Stonehenge at the edge of the Durrington Walls, Normanton Down Barrows, a field of Neolithic and Bronze Age barrows located about 1 km to the south of Stonehenge. The satellite image shows an immense amount of various barrows, and other earthwork enclosures. Computer rendering of the overall site of Stonehenge (2011).

Image: Joseph Lertola The main sanctuary consist of circles of menhirs arranged in a pattern whose astronomical significance is still being explored. New archaeological evidence indicates that Stonehenge might has served as a center of healing, other theories propose that it was a burial ground or a place to worship ancestors. Anyhow, the people who built Stonehenge must have been of the opinion that the stones and the place harbor great powers, otherwise they wouldn't have carried the stones (the largest weighs as much as 50 tons) over 240 km (150 miles) to the place where they were erected. More unknown archaeological monuments hidden in the Stonehenge landscape have been discovered recently by archaeologists of the "Stonehenge Hidden Landscape Project". In 2014 the University of Birmingham announced findings including evidence of adjacent stone and wooden structures and burial mounds, overlooked previously, that may date as far back as 4,000 BC. φ Latitude, λ Longitude (of Map center; move the map to see coordinates): , Stonehenge.co.uk - Your guide to Stonehenge, the World's Favourite Megalithic Stone Circle in Britain.

Ancient Sites in Wiltshire Have a look at Window on Britain, which will take you through every County for ancient sites and includes Scotland and Northern Ireland. Click here. Avebury Without doubt, Avebury today is the most impressive of all remaining pre-historic earthworks in Europe. While Stonehenge was dedicated to the worship of the sun and moon, Avebury seems to have been dedicated to more human themes. Find out more... Salisbury Wiltshire's only city and is home to the famous Salisbury Cathedral with 800 years of history and a majestic 404 foot (123 metre) spire. The cathedral houses Europe's oldest clock, dating from 1386 and one of the four copies of the Magna Carta still in existence. 1000+ images about Wiltshire, England on Pinterest | Cottages, White horses and Shire horse Crop Circle at Woodborough Hill, Nr Alton Barnes, Wiltshire. Reported 20th August 2012.

See More Wiltshire | county, England, United Kingdom | Britannica.com county, England, United Kingdom Henry Saint John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke Wiltshire, administrative, geographic, and historic county of southern England . It is situated on a low plateau draining into the basins of the Bristol Channel , the English Channel , and the eastward-flowing River Thames . Trowbridge , on the western side of the county, is the administrative centre. Sarsen horseshoe of Stonehenge III, Wiltshire, Eng. Katherine Young/EB Inc. The administrative, geographic, and historic counties occupy slightly different areas. The administrative county of Wiltshire is bounded to the north by the administrative county of Gloucestershire , to the northeast by the unitary authority of Swindon , to the east by the unitary authority of West Berkshire , to the southeast by the administrative county of Hampshire , to the south by the administrative county of Dorset , to the southwest by the administrative county of Somerset , and to the west by the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset and the unitary authority of South Gloucestershire .

Until 2009 the administrative county was divided into four districts: Salisbury , West Wiltshire , Kennet , and North Wiltshire .The geographic county encompasses the entire administrative county together with the unitary authority of Swindon . The historic county of Wiltshire is nearly coterminous with the geographic county but also includes a small area north of Sherston in the district of Cotswold in the administrative county of Gloucestershire. Chalk uplands constitute much of Wiltshire. Salisbury Plain occupies central Wiltshire, and north of the River Kennet are the Marlborough Downs . Along the county’s western border rise parts of the Cotswolds , a range of limestone hills. Between these two upland areas lie the clay vales of Wardour and Pewsey. South of Trowbridge the vales are fairly heavily wooded, in marked contrast to the open, rolling countryside of the uplands. Parts of the Marlborough Downs, the Cotswolds, and the vale of Pewsey have been designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Beeches in Savernake Forest, Wiltshire, England.

Cheesby Lancashire In prehistoric times the chalk uplands were the most heavily populated parts of England, and Wiltshire has many prehistoric monuments. Stonehenge , 8 miles (13 km) north of Salisbury , dates from the Neolithic Period; its use by prehistoric peoples has been a topic of much debate. Nearby lie other important Neolithic monuments, including those at Avebury and Windmill Hill . The latter is believed to have been a centre of ritual and of seasonal tribal fasting in the 4th millennium bce. Long Neolithic burial mounds, or barrows, abound, as do round burial mounds from the Bronze Age . Durrington Walls , a large ditch-enclosed ceremonial earthwork, dates from the late 3rd millennium bce. During the Iron Age , hill forts were constructed, such as those at Yarnbury Castle, near Berwick St. James, and at Old Sarum, outside Salisbury. Stonehenge, Avebury, and other associated locations were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. Stonehenge, on the Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England.

© Gail Johnson/Fotolia The county has played a relatively minor role in national affairs in historical times. There is little evidence of Roman occupation, and in the Middle Ages sheep farming by Cistercian monks was probably the most important activity. Salisbury has long been the ecclesiastical centre of the county and is renowned for its 13th-century cathedral. The cathedral and many other buildings in the county have been designated as being of special architectural and historic interest. Church of St. Mary and St. Nicholas, Wilton, Wiltshire, England. Alan Ford Outside Salisbury and industrial Swindon , agriculture is the most important activity. A large part of Salisbury Plain is occupied by the Ministry of Defense for military purposes. Sand and gravel, chalk, limestone, and clay are worked in various parts of the county. Tourism is of great importance, and Stonehenge is one of the most heavily visited sites in Britain . Area administrative county, 1,257 square miles (3,255 square km); geographic county, 1,346 square miles (3,485 square km). Pop.

(2001) administrative county, 432,973; geographic county, 613,024; (2011) administrative county, 470,981; geographic county, 680,137. Learn More in these related articles: in England Stonehenge Memorial & Klickitat County Veterans’ Memorials | Maryhill Museum of Art Maryhill Museum of Art Home → Visit Maryhill Museum →Stonehenge Memorial & Klickitat County Veterans’ Memorials Stonehenge Memorial & Klickitat County Veterans’ Memorials Stonehenge Memorial, Maryhill, Wash. at night. Photography: Ben Canales Who hasn’t heard of the ancient, Neolithic structure situated in the county of Wiltshire, high on Salisbury Plain in England? Its massive stones, broken and fallen from age, have stirred the imagination for centuries. There is nothing quite like this famous prehistoric monument anywhere else in the world. Or is there? Near the town site of Maryhill, Washington, three miles east of Maryhill Museum of Art, stands a full-scale replica built by museum founder Sam Hill.

Hours & Directions Stonehenge Memorial lies at the original Maryhill town site, three miles east of the Maryhill Museum just off Highway 14. Samuel Hill’s crypt is located a short walk southwest of Stonehenge on a bluff overlooking the river. Both Stonehenge Memorial and the Klickitat County Veterans’ Memorial are open daily 7 a.m. to dusk. Admission is free. History of Maryhill’s Stonehenge Erected as the nation’s first WWI memorial and dedicated in 1918 to the servicemen of Klickitat County, Washington, who died in the service of their country during the Great War, Hill’s Stonehenge Memorial is a monument to heroism and peace. Hill erroneously believed that the original Stonehenge was constructed as a place of human sacrifice. Concluding there was a parallel between the loss of life in WWI and the sacrifices at ancient Stonehenge, he set out to build a replica on the cliffs of the Columbia as a reminder of those sacrifices and the “incredible folly” of the war.

Guided by leading authorities on archaeology, astronomy, and engineering, Hill combined their knowledge to duplicate, as nearly as possible, the original size and design of the ancient Neolithic ruin in England. The original idea was to use local stone, however, when the rock proved unsatisfactory, Hill decided to use reinforced concrete. (The rough, hand-hewn looking texture was created by lining the wooden forms with crumpled tin.) On June 8, 1918 a total eclipse of the sun was predicted, with the best viewing point in the vicinity of Goldendale, Washington. Consequently, some of the best astronomers of the day were in Klickitat County. Professor Campbell, of Lick Observatory at the University of California, agreed to fix the position of the altar stone. Unlike the ancient Stonehenge, it is aligned to the astronomical horizon rather than the actual midsummer sunrise. This results in a three degree difference from the original structure. Combined with a five degree difference in latitude and the manner in which the surrounding hills obscure the actual horizon, Stonehenge Memorial is difficult to use as an astronomical calendar.

On July 4, 1918 the altar stone was dedicated with a plaque that reads:To the memory of the soldiers and sailors of Klickitat County who gave their lives in defense of their country. This monument is erected in hope that others inspired by the example of their valor and their heroism may share in that love of liberty and burn with that fire of patriotism which death alone can quench. Stonehenge Memorial was completed in 1929 and re-dedicated on Memorial Day of that year, when 14 local service men were honored by having their names placed on the pillars of the Memorial. When Samuel Hill died in 1931, his body was cremated and the ashes placed in a crypt just below the Stonehenge Memorial. The original crypt deteriorated in the next 25 years and was replaced in 1955 by a granite monument bearing his epitaph: “Samuel Hill: Amid nature’s great unrest, he sought rest.” Klickitat County Veterans’ Memorial In 1995 the Klickitat County Veterans’ Memorial was erected near Hill’s Stonehenge to honor those who have died in service of their country since WWI.

The project was a partnership between Maryhill Museum of Art and the Klickitat County Veterans Association. Maryhill Museum of Art | 35 Maryhill Museum Drive, Goldendale, WA 98682 | 509.7773.3733 © [wpsos_year], Maryhill Museum of Art. All rights reserved. ↑

Question: Stonehenge is in which UK county?
Answer: Wiltshire