Why is Stonehenge a mystery? 5 interesting Stonehenge theories
Why is Stonehenge a mystery?
Let’s solve the Stonehenge mystery!
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument that has been the cause of speculation for a long time. The stone circle monument was built between 3000 and 1520 BCE. Its name potentially comes from the Saxon ‘stan-hengen’, which means “stone hanging” or “gallows”. It is located on Salisbury Plain, close to Salisbury, Wiltshire, in southern England. Theories emerged about its purpose – was it a religious site, was it used to observe the stars as a sort of calendar, or was it a cemetery? Its exact purpose is not known as there are no written documents about its construction. Still, around 1 million people visit the monument each year, and about 30,000 gather for the summer solstice.
Continue reading to find out more about Stonehenge and five theories that emerged about its purpose!
How was Stonehenge built?
Stonehenge was built in six stages between 3000 and 1520 BCE. That was the era of the transition between the Neolithic Period and the Bronze Age. Its oldest part includes a circle of 56 pits named the Aubrey Holes, after John Aubrey, who discovered them. Stonehenge was constructed using sarsen stones, which were carved by people, and bluestones, rocks on the inner ring, which come from more than 200 km away from hills in Southwest Wales and weigh up to 4 tons each! Long before that, hunter-gatherers who lived around 8000-7000 BCE put up posts made from pinewood. It was not common for them to build monuments, and there is no other comparable monument dating back to that era in the northwest of Europe. It was around 2500 BCE that the sarsen stones were transported to the location. Around 2200 BCE, the bluestones were rearranged and put into the inner circle. But why exactly was Stonehenge built? Read on to find out the Stonehenge theories that have been proposed!
Stonehenge theories about its purpose
Stonehenge has sparked curiosity for centuries. Many think it was used to observe the night sky, while the remains found at the site may indicate it was used as a cemetery. We’ve prepared five Stonehenge theories that aim to explain its purpose. Did you know that people used to think it was the work of Merlin, the wizard from the story of King Arthur? You’ll find out more at the end!
1. Astronomical observatory
One of the theories about why Stonehenge was built says that it was probably used to observe the Sun and Moon. The people could then keep track of the farming calendar to know when warmer weather was coming, plant their seeds, and have a more bountiful harvest. So, it was used as a sort of calendar, and different parts of the structure were used to observe the summer and winter solstices, equinoxes, and eclipses. On the summer solstice (the longest day of the year, 21 June), the sun rises over the Heel Stone, a pillar outside of the sarsen circle and the bluestones circle, and sets over it on the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year, 21 December). The positions of the stars have changed in the long centuries that Stonehenge has stood on Salisbury Plain, so its first builders looked up at a different night sky. If you wish to see Stonehenge at sunset and learn more about the monument, book a sunset tour of Stonehenge!
2. A place of healing
Another Stonehenge theory states that the monument might have been a place of healing. The human remains at Stonehenge were found with injuries and signs of disease, so some thought that they came there to be healed. The human remains at Stonehenge span 1,000 years. Some have supported this claim by saying that the smaller bluestones, the stones on the inner ring, are important for this theory. They were brought from the Preseli Hills in Southwest Wales, 233 km away, so people may have believed they had magical properties if they went through all of that hard work. The Altar Stone, named so because it looked like an altar to an architect, probably came from mountains 100 km east of the Preseli Hills. Another theory says that ice-age glaciers were involved in bluestones getting to Stonehenge. Glacial erratics, rocks that were once carried by moving ice floes, have been found in other parts of the world, too.
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Stonehenge Half-Day Tour
Join our guided morning Stonehenge tour from London, departing early in the day. This tour includes an organized air-conditioned transport. Enjoy priority entry to the site and explore the monument and exhibition. Learn about Stonehenge’s history with an audio guide available in 5 languages.
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Stonehenge Sunset Tour
Learn about Stonehenge from your expert guide as you walk inside the inner circle at sunset! Seeing the sun go down while in the center of Stonehenge is a very special experience, not available to every visitor. You will visit when the monument is closed to the general public, which is perfect if you don't like crowds. You can also visit the town of Bath, where you can see where Charles Dickens lived, as well as the village of Lacock to explore more of Britain.
3. Religious site
Centuries ago, it was thought that Stonehenge was a Druid temple. In the 17th century, it was John Aubrey, an antiquarian, and in the 18th century, William Stukeley, an archeologist, who believed in this theory. Later findings using radiocarbon dating state that Stonehenge predates the Celts in the region by around 1,000 years. Whether or not it was built or used for religious purposes, one thing is certain – Druids (Celtic priests) still gather at Stonehenge to this day for the midsummer sunrise. About 30,000 people come to Stonehenge for the summer solstice. You can hear more about Stonehenge’s mysteries on a Stonehenge Audio Tour!
4. World of the ancestors
Stonehenge might have also been devoted to the world of the ancestors and was a place where people came to worship their ancestors. The circle of Stonehenge and another wooden circle at Durrington Walls, which is nearby, may have been representations of the world of the living and the world of the dead.
5. Cemetery
Stonehenge is Britain’s biggest cemetery from the 3rd millennium BCE. The site was used as a place of burial from about 3000 to 2300 BCE. Stonehenge might have been a burial ground, a place of ceremonies, and a temple of the dead. About 200 people were buried at Stonehenge, and researchers noted signs of cremation on the remains. Most of the remains that were found at the site were of adult men, leading people to think that the monument may have been used as a burial ground for prominent members of society. On the other hand, other scientists did not see any difference in signs of health on the remains in other parts of Britain. Neolithic people’s burial mounds from the 4th millennium BCE have been found in a 5-km radius of Stonehenge, too. If you’re still curious and wish to learn even more, book your private tour of Stonehenge so you can ask your guide anything that interests you!
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Stonehenge Tour from London
Join this full-day sightseeing experience of the UK's most iconic landmarks. You will visit the royal Windsor Castle, the enigmatic Stonehenge, and the ancient city of Bath. This is a small group tour that includes an expert guide. Feel free to ask them anything, and they'll be happy to share their knowledge.
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Stonehenge & Windsor Castle Tour
Visit two top attractions - the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge and the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world! Your expert guide will tell you why Stonehenge was built and who lived at Windsor Castle since the 11th century. Your tour also includes round-trip transportation from London for your convenience!
What does Merlin have to do with Stonehenge?
This is not an actual theory of Stonehenge’s purpose but an honorable mention. Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote the tale of King Arthur in the 12th century. His story was thought to be true until some time in the Middle Ages. According to the story, the wizard Merlin managed to build Stonehenge, and King Arthur’s father, Uther, and his brother, Ambrosias were buried there. As British nobles were killed by the Saxons in the 5th century and buried in the area, King Aureoles Ambrosias wanted to build them a memorial. The king ordered his army to go to Ireland and bring back the Giants’ Ring, a stone circle. It was made by giants using magical bluestones from Africa. The army could not move the stones, so Merlin used his powers to bring them from Ireland. Stonehenge was, in fact, built long before the creation of Merlin – a couple of thousand years, actually!
Stonehenge today
About a million people visit Stonehenge every year, and many come to the site specifically for the summer solstice. More than 30,000 people visit then, including modern-day Druids. The Stonehenge site has a visitor center, where sightseers can learn more at the museum, enjoy a coffee at the cafe, or shop for a souvenir.
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