Stonehendge, Mystery of another world
Stonehenge is an icon of the ancient time. The site was built long before mankind invented writing and started building large cities and empires. Of course, this means that we have little evidence to work with to recreate its history. Fortunately enough, the human race was made with unparalleled determination which allowed us to conquer these ancient worlds. Now, back to the world's most famous stone circle.
Stonehenge is located in southern England, on the Great Britain island, in the middle of a large plain in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Sitting mid-way from Bristol and Southampton, it’s quite uncommon for something to be in such a remote location on an island; although Great Britain isn’t exactly small.
The site in itself contains many structures. The first one is a circular ditch that is approximately dated from as far back as 3000 BC. Surrounding this first structure were uncovered various smaller ditches and pits, and even today we still don’t know for sure their use. The favourite theory is that they were here to hold more stones. The famous stone structures that we all know, and love, came roughly 500 years later. Mind you that those multi-toned heavy rocks were carved out, transported and set up with nothing but horses, men and wooden structures. Imagine you and your buddies decided one day to move around rocks the size of a car without using any trucks, cranes and other modern equipment. Once again, humans can achieve a lot through sheer stubbornness and dedication.
Of course, the actual original structure is unknown, and chances are we will never find out. It is also speculated that it was changed many times over time. Its original use is also unsure, from being a burial site to a shrine to the pagan gods we don’t really know. It’s not like we can ask its original builder or read their notes after all. Despite this, later civilizations in the area used this site for various purposes. The later Romano-British people used it for their own ritual, as many Roman artifacts were found in the surroundings. Also, in the middle-age, it was probably used as a burial ground, as a few skeletons dating from the 6th century were found on the spot.
In the end, Stonehenge surely captivated the mind of many. A strange structure built by people a long time ago at a period lost to time. Its very existence is shrouded with mysteries forever unsolvable, leaving great minds to speculate. All of these unknowns might very well be the reason why Stonehenge is such a captivating place.
And today, the site is still used for ceremonies during the summer solstice. This is due to the fact that the rising sun is perfectly aligned with the stone circles. The access however, isn’t open to everyone.
