tokenpocket钱包官方安卓下载|stonehenge

Stonehenge | History, Location, Map, Meaning, & Facts | Britannica

Stonehenge | History, Location, Map, Meaning, & Facts | Britannica

Search Britannica

Click here to search

Search Britannica

Click here to search

Login

Subscribe

Subscribe

Home

Games & Quizzes

History & Society

Science & Tech

Biographies

Animals & Nature

Geography & Travel

Arts & Culture

Money

Videos

On This Day

One Good Fact

Dictionary

New Articles

History & Society

Lifestyles & Social Issues

Philosophy & Religion

Politics, Law & Government

World History

Science & Tech

Health & Medicine

Science

Technology

Biographies

Browse Biographies

Animals & Nature

Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates

Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates

Environment

Fossils & Geologic Time

Mammals

Plants

Geography & Travel

Geography & Travel

Arts & Culture

Entertainment & Pop Culture

Literature

Sports & Recreation

Visual Arts

Companions

Demystified

Image Galleries

Infographics

Lists

Podcasts

Spotlights

Summaries

The Forum

Top Questions

#WTFact

100 Women

Britannica Kids

Saving Earth

Space Next 50

Student Center

Home

Games & Quizzes

History & Society

Science & Tech

Biographies

Animals & Nature

Geography & Travel

Arts & Culture

Money

Videos

Stonehenge

Table of Contents

Stonehenge

Table of Contents

Introduction & Top QuestionsSpeculation and excavationStages of StonehengeFirst stage: 3000–2935 bceSecond stage: 2640–2480 bceThird stage: 2470–2280 bceFourth, fifth, and sixth stages: 2280–1520 bceStonehenge in the 21st century

References & Edit History

Related Topics

Images & Videos

For Students

Stonehenge summary

Quizzes

A Quiz About Walls and More

Related Questions

Who built Stonehenge?

Was Stonehenge built by aliens?

Read Next

What’s the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom?

Why Is Ireland Two Countries?

5 Fascinating British Coronation Objects

British Royal Line of Succession

Discover

America’s 5 Most Notorious Cold Cases (Including One You May Have Thought Was Already Solved)

6 Fast Facts about Alexander Graham Bell

Have Any U.S. Presidents Decided Not to Run For a Second Term?

Pro and Con: School Uniforms

How Did Helen Keller Fly a Plane?

The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time

11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

Home

Philosophy & Religion

Ancient Religions & Mythology

History & Society

Stonehenge

ancient monument, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom

Actions

Cite

verifiedCite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.

Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

MLA

APA

Chicago Manual of Style

Copy Citation

Share

Share

Share to social media

Facebook

Twitter

URL

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Stonehenge

Give Feedback

External Websites

Feedback

Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).

Feedback Type

Select a type (Required)

Factual Correction

Spelling/Grammar Correction

Link Correction

Additional Information

Other

Your Feedback

Submit Feedback

Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

Smart History - Stonehenge

English Heritage - History of Stonehenge

World History Encyclopedia - Stonehenge, England, United Kingdom

LiveScience - Stonehenge: Facts and Theories About Mysterious Monument

Humanities LibreTexts - Stonehenge

Khan Academy - Stonehenge

Stetson University - Neolithic Studies - Stonehenge stone circle, near Amesbury, Wiltshire, England

Social Studies for Kids - Stonehenge is Still a Mystery

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Stonehenge - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)

Stonehenge - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Print

print

Print

Please select which sections you would like to print:

Table Of Contents

Cite

verifiedCite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.

Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

MLA

APA

Chicago Manual of Style

Copy Citation

Share

Share

Share to social media

Facebook

Twitter

URL

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Stonehenge

Feedback

External Websites

Feedback

Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).

Feedback Type

Select a type (Required)

Factual Correction

Spelling/Grammar Correction

Link Correction

Additional Information

Other

Your Feedback

Submit Feedback

Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

Smart History - Stonehenge

English Heritage - History of Stonehenge

World History Encyclopedia - Stonehenge, England, United Kingdom

LiveScience - Stonehenge: Facts and Theories About Mysterious Monument

Humanities LibreTexts - Stonehenge

Khan Academy - Stonehenge

Stetson University - Neolithic Studies - Stonehenge stone circle, near Amesbury, Wiltshire, England

Social Studies for Kids - Stonehenge is Still a Mystery

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Stonehenge - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)

Stonehenge - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Written by

Mike Parker Pearson

Professor of British Later Prehistory, Institute of Archaeology, University College London. Author of Bronze Age Britain, The Archaeology of Death and Burial, and other publications...

Mike Parker Pearson

Fact-checked by

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated:

Feb 28, 2024

•

Article History

Table of Contents

Category:

History & Society

On the Web:

Stetson University - Neolithic Studies - Stonehenge stone circle, near Amesbury, Wiltshire, England (Feb. 13, 2024)

(Show more)

See all related content →

Recent News

Feb. 23, 2024, 4:13 AM ET (Yahoo News)

West Burton A: Appeal to save 'carbon Stonehenge' from demolition

Feb. 20, 2024, 5:51 AM ET (BBC)

Stonehenge tunnel campaigners vow to keep fighting

Top Questions

Who built Stonehenge? It is not clear who built Stonehenge. The site on Salisbury Plain in England has been used for ceremonial purposes and modified by many different groups of people at different times. Archaeological evidence suggests that the first modification of the site was made by early Mesolithic hunter-gatherers. DNA analysis of bodies buried near Stonehenge suggests that some of its builders may have come from places outside of England, such as Wales or the Mediterranean. When was Stonehenge built? The monument called Stonehenge was built in six stages between 3000 and 1520 BCE. The site was used for ceremonial purposes beginning about 8000–7000 BCE. What is Stonehenge made of? Stonehenge is constructed from sarsen stones, a type of silicified sandstone found in England, and bluestones, a dolomite variation extracted from western Wales. What was Stonehenge used for? There is debate surrounding the original purpose of Stonehenge. Previously thought to be a Druid temple, Stonehenge may instead be, according to researchers and others, a burial monument, a meeting place between chiefdoms, or even an astronomical “computer.”   Was Stonehenge built by aliens? Stonehenge was not built by aliens. The claim gained popularity by way of the book Chariots of the Gods?, published in 1968, in which its author, Erich von Däniken, claimed that many monuments, including Stonehenge, may have been built by extraterrestrials. Von Däniken’s claims and others like them have been debunked by scientists and other researchers. StonehengeSunlight shining through a portion of the stone circle at Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England.(more)StonehengeStonehenge, Wiltshire, England, designated a World Heritage site in 1986.(more)Stonehenge, prehistoric stone circle monument, cemetery, and archaeological site located on Salisbury Plain, about 8 miles (13 km) north of Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Though there is no definite evidence as to the intended purpose of Stonehenge, it was presumably a religious site and an expression of the power and wealth of the chieftains, aristocrats, and priests who had it built—many of whom were buried in the numerous barrows close by. It was aligned on the Sun and possibly used for observing the Sun and Moon and working out the farming calendar. Or perhaps the site was dedicated to the world of the ancestors, separated from the world of the living, or was a healing centre. Whether it was used by the Druids (Celtic priests) is doubtful, but present-day Druids gather there every year to hail the midsummer sunrise. Looking toward the sunrise, the entrance in the northeast points over a big pillar, now leaning at an angle, called the Heel Stone. Looking the other way, it points to the midwinter sunset. The summer solstice is also celebrated there by huge crowds of visitors.Stonehenge 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), including the kindred temple complex at Avebury, Stonehenge was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. Speculation and excavation StonehengeStonehenge, on the Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England.(more)aerial view of StonehengeFull aerial view of the Stonehenge site, Wiltshire, England.(more)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. 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.

Britannica Quiz

A Quiz About Walls and More

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. StonehengeStanding stones at Stonehenge, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.(more)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 William 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.

Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content.

Subscribe Now

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. Timothy Darvill and Geoffrey Wainwright’s 2008 excavation was smaller but nonetheless important.

Stages of Stonehenge illustration of StonehengeStonehenge (from top) c. 3100 bce, c. 2100 bce, and c. 1550 bce, near Salisbury in Wiltshire, England.(more)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.

巨石阵（时代遗址）_百度百科

时代遗址）_百度百科 网页新闻贴吧知道网盘图片视频地图文库资讯采购百科百度首页登录注册进入词条全站搜索帮助首页秒懂百科特色百科知识专题加入百科百科团队权威合作下载百科APP个人中心巨石阵是一个多义词，请在下列义项上选择浏览（共3个义项）展开添加义项巨石阵播报讨论上传视频时代遗址收藏查看我的收藏0有用+10本词条由“科普中国”科学百科词条编写与应用工作项目 审核 。巨石阵，时代遗址。较为出名的为英国伦敦西南100多千米的索巨石阵，又称索尔兹伯里石环、环状列石、太阳神庙、史前石桌、斯通亨治石栏、斯托肯立石圈等名，是欧洲著名的史前时代文化神庙遗址，位于英格兰威尔特郡索尔兹伯里平原，约建于公元前4000～2000年（2008年3月至4月，英国考古学家研究发现，巨石阵的比较准确的建造年代在公元前2300年左右）的索尔兹伯里平原上，一些巍峨巨石呈环形屹立在绿色的旷野间，这就是英伦三岛最著名、最神秘的史前遗迹—巨石阵。巨石阵不仅在建筑学史上具有的重要地位，在天文学上也同样有着重大的意义：它的主轴线、通往石柱的古道和夏至日早晨初升的太阳，在同一条线上；另外，其中还有两块石头的连线指向冬至日落的方向。因此，人们猜测，这很可能是远古人类为观测天象而建造的，可以算是天文台最早的雏形了。 [10]快速导航全景图中文名巨石阵外文名Stonehenge地理位置英格兰西南威尔特郡的埃夫伯里开放时间4月1日-5月31日9:30-19:00，6月1日-12月23日9:30-17:00，12月24/26日/31/元旦10：00-16：00，12月25日关闭 [9]门票价格成人标准票17.5镑，儿童10.5镑，婴儿免费。家庭票45.5镑所属国家英国所属城市威尔特郡（Wiltshire）建议游玩时间1-2小时最佳游玩季节5、6月最佳，7、8月其次目录1历史沿革▪前3100年▪公元前3000年之前▪公元前2600年左右▪前2100年▪公元前2000年▪其后的500年间2世界文化遗产▪基本数据▪遗产描述▪世界遗产委员会评价3基本介绍4遗产介绍5巨石阵建造▪一期建筑—奥布里洞遗迹▪二期建筑—“种石”▪三期建筑——巨石阵6下山越海远道而来的巨石7考察研究▪巨石阵公元前7500年就有人居住▪研究进展8搭建试验9主要功能▪推测用途▪祭祀场所▪贵族墓地▪治疗中心▪天文平台▪王室墓地▪庆祝节日10巨石阵主题展11旅游信息▪门票▪开放时间历史沿革播报编辑约建于公元前4000-2000年，属新石器时代末期至青铜时代。早在20世纪50年代，考古工作者就推断，巨石阵至少已有几千年以上的历史。考古证明，巨石阵的修建是分几个不同阶段完成的。2008年3月至4月，英国考古学家研究发现，巨石阵的准确建造年代距今已经有4300年，即建于公元前2300年左右。前3100年大约在公元前3100年，开始了巨石阵的第一阶段的修建。人们先挖了一道环形旱沟，在沟的外侧斜置了一块石块，在环沟内侧，修建了一些土坛，坛中有56个土坑。蓝砂岩排成的两个圆圈，是巨石阵的雏形。巨石阵是欧洲著名的史前时代文化神庙遗址，考古碳年代鉴定技巧的结论是约建于西元前4000-2000年，属新石器时代末期至青铜时代。关于巨石阵的年代，至今尚有争议。但是大多数史学家综合各种周遭因素后相信，巨石阵是公元前2500年到公元前2000年之间石器时代晚期建成的。巨石阵(3张)在公元前3300年到公元前900年这段时间中，巨石阵的建造有几个重要的阶段。公元前3000年之前这段时期的巨石阵分布在Irish海以及Irish-Scolttish海路信道的周边地区，数量不多但却令人印象深刻，直径超过30公尺以上，在圆阵之外都有一个独立石，似乎是一种宣告"此地已被占有"似的标示。巨石阵(2张)考古证明，巨石阵的修建是分几个不同阶段完成的。大约在公元前3100年，开始了第一阶段的修建。首先是修建环形的沟渠和土台。由蓝砂岩排列成两个圆环，是巨石阵的雏形。在公元前2100年至公元前1900年，修建了通往中央的道路。又建成了规模庞大的巨石阵：以巨石为柱，顶上则横卧巨石为楣。构成直径30米左右的圆环。而其后的500年间，这些巨石的位置曾经被不厌其烦地重新排列。形成今天的格局。公元前2600年左右金属被引入不列颠全岛，坚硬的凿刻工具被制作出来，这个时期的巨石阵更精致完美，像Somerset的Stanton Drew，Orkneys的BrodgarRing，直径超过90公尺。然而一些其它主要的石阵则小多了，一般只有18到30公尺。它们有个特殊的现象，就是除了圆形石阵之外，还会现椭圆形的石阵，长轴方向指向太阳和月亮的方位。数目在宗教上也呈现一个有趣的现象，我们发现不论巨石阵的圆周有多大，各地的立石数量都有独特的数目，如Lake District地区的数量都是12，Hebrides地区的则是13，苏格兰中部则是4、6或8个，Land‘s End地区是19或20个，而爱尔兰南部是5。英国巨石阵 [6]英国考古专家在巨石阵附近发掘出青铜器时代早期一位弓箭手的坟墓。研究发现，这个人大约生活于公元前2300年，巨石阵正是在此前后于伦敦西南120公里外的埃姆斯伯里形成。从坟墓中的陪葬品多达100件，包括金耳环、铜刀子和很多陶器，这个人可能是当时巨石阵附近地区的一位显赫人物，一些考古学家因此猜测他参与主持建造了巨石阵。前2100年在公元前2100年，人们修建了通往石柱群中央部位的道路，又建成了规模庞大的巨石阵，形成了夏至观日出的轴线。人们以巨石作柱，上卧一巨石作楣，构成直径30米左右的圆圈。圆圈内是呈马蹄形的巨石牌坊。公元前2000年在这个最后时期，以传统方法建立的巨石阵数量便开始减少。整体形状也不是很完美，不是呈现椭圆形就是扭曲的环状。在规模上也大不如前，有的直径甚至还不到3公尺。其后的500年间其后的500年间，人们不厌其烦地多次重新排列这些巨石的位置，形成了今天大致能看出的格局。从现存的遗址看，这个环形石柱群被直径达120米的土堤围绕着，其石高6米，单块重30吨~50吨，石柱上面是厚重的石楣梁，紧密相连，形成柱廊形状；石环外侧土墙的东部有一巨大的石拱门，整个结构呈马蹄形。石环内有5座门状石塔，总高约7米，呈向心圆状排列。公元1130年，英国的一位神父在一次外出时，偶然发现了巨石阵，从此这座由巨大的石头构成的奇特古迹，开始引起了人们的注意。巨石阵 [4]的英文名字叫做“Stonehenge”。"Stone"意为“石头”，henge意为“围栏”（王同亿主编的《英汉辞海》：“henge，在英格兰发现的青铜时代的一种圆形构筑物（如木构），周围有埂和沟”）。在英国人(British)的心目中，这是一个神圣的地方。世界文化遗产播报编辑基本数据遗产名称：巨石阵、埃夫伯里和相关遗迹群Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites入选时间：1986年遴选依据：文化遗产(i)(ii)(iii)地理位置：N51 10 43.9 W01 49 31.6（巨石阵）N51 25 43.2 W01 51 14.1（埃夫伯里）遗产编号：373遗产描述英国世界遗产地地理位置示意图“巨石阵”、埃夫伯里及周围的巨石遗迹，位于英格兰西南威尔特郡的埃夫伯里。巨石阵、埃夫伯里是世界上最大的巨石林，也是欧洲最大的史前古迹。在英国人的心目中，巨石阵、埃夫伯里是一处非常古老而又非常神圣的地方。这个巨大的石建筑群位于一个空旷的原野上，占地大约11公顷。巨石阵也叫做圆形石林，距伦敦大约120公里车程。那里的几十块巨石围成一个大圆圈，其中一些石块足有六米之高。据估计，圆形石林已经在这个一马平川的平原上矗立了几千年。根据放射性碳定年法的结论是约建于公元前4000-2000年，属新石器时代末期至青铜时代。 [1]但是迄今为止，没有人确切知道当初建造它的目的到底是什么。也没有人知道古代的威尔士人是如何把这些几十吨重的巨石运到300多公里之外的索尔兹伯里平原（Salisbury Plain）的。1986年，根据文化遗产遴选依据标准(i)(ii)(iii)，巨石阵、埃夫伯里和相关遗迹群被联合国教科文组织世界遗产委员会批准作为文化遗产列入《世界遗产名录》。遴选依据标准(i):巨石阵、埃夫伯里和相关遗址的遗迹展示了史前时代杰出的创造性和技术成就。巨石阵是世界上建筑最复杂的史前石圈。它的设计和独特的工程是无与伦比的，以巨大的水平石楣盖住外圈和三立石柱，通过精心塑形的接缝锁在一起。它的独特之处在于使用了两种不同的石头(青石和沙森石)，它们的大小(最大的重量超过40吨)和运输距离(高达240公里)。周围的一些古迹的规模也是引人注目:巨石阵和林荫大道都是长约3公里,而杜灵顿墙是英国最大的已知的石阵，直径约500米，证明史前人民构思、设计和构建具有巨大尺寸和复杂性的特征的能力。埃夫伯里史前石圈是世界上最大的。环绕的石阵由一个周长1.3公里的巨大的河岸和沟渠组成，其中180块局部的未成形的石头形成了较大的外圆和两个较小的内圆。从四个入口中的两个，由平行站立的石头组成的西肯尼特大道和贝克汉普顿大道仍然将它与景观中的其他纪念碑连接在一起。另一个杰出的纪念碑是锡尔伯里山，它是欧洲最大的史前土丘。它建于公元前2400年左右，高395米，由50万吨白垩土组成。这座宏伟的、精心设计的纪念碑的用途至今仍不为人所知。 [2] 世界遗产委员会评价位于威尔特郡的“巨石阵”、埃夫伯里是世界上最负盛名的巨石林，它们由巨石围成圆圈，其排列方式对天文学的重要意义仍在探索之中。这个圣地和周围的新石器时代遗址为研究史前时代提供了至关重要的证据。 [2-3]基本介绍播报编辑巨石阵(5张)在英国伦敦西南100多千米的索尔兹伯里平原上，一些巍峨巨石呈环形屹立在绿色的旷野间，这就是英伦三岛最著名、最神秘的史前遗迹—巨石阵，又称索尔兹伯里石环、环状列石、太阳神庙、史前石桌、斯通亨治石栏、斯托肯立石圈等名，是欧洲著名的史前时代文化神庙遗址。在英国人（British）的心目中，这是一个神圣的地方。索尔兹伯里是一座历史古城，距英国首都伦敦120多公里，附近有一个名叫阿姆斯伯里的小村庄。巨石阵约建于公元前4000～2000年（2008年3月至4月，英国考古学家研究发现，巨石阵的比较准确的建造年代在公元前2300年左右。 [4]公元1130年，英国的一位神父在一次外出时，偶然发现了巨石阵，从此这座由巨大的石头构成的奇特古迹，开始引起了人们的注意。巨石阵的英文名字叫做“Stonehenge”。"Stone"意为“石头”，henge意为“围栏”（王同亿主编的《英汉辞海》：“henge，在英格兰发现的青铜时代的一种圆形构筑物（如木构），周围有埂和沟”）。遗产介绍播报编辑巨石阵不仅在建筑学史上具有的重要地位，在天文学上也同样有着重大的意义：它的主轴线、通往石柱的古道和夏至日早晨初升的太阳，在同一条线上；另外，其中还有两块石头的连线指向冬至日落的方向。因此，人们猜测，这很可能是远古人类为观测天象而建造的，可以算是天文台最早的雏形了。巨石阵的主体由几十块巨大的石柱组成，这些石柱排成几个完整的同心圆，巨石阵的外围是直径约90米的环形土沟与土岗，内侧紧挨着的是56个圆形坑，由于这一些坑是由英国考古学家约翰·奥布里发现的，因此又叫“奥布里”坑。巨石阵最不可思议的是石阵中心的巨石，这些巨石最高的有8米，平均重量近30吨，更有重达7吨的巨石是横架在两根竖起的石柱上。最近公布的消息称巨石阵下方存在15处未知的纪念碑体。科学家之所以给出这个结论是因为传感器探测到巨石阵下方存在物体，存在大量人类活动的痕迹，比如宗教仪式，古人将太阳的升起、落下与某种仪式结合起来，以供当时的人们“朝圣”。英国巨石阵(6张)几千年来，人们无不感叹巨石阵的壮观，其代表了人类一个地区性文明，其建造的目的仍然是一个谜，最新探测到15处未知的遗址使得巨石阵更加神秘莫测，考古学家认为这些证据表明巨石阵围成的区域是一个异教徒仪式区，这是4000多年前人们进行活动的场地。早在1620年，科学家就在巨石阵附近挖掘到一些牛头骨，还有一些煤燃烧后留下的痕迹，碳测定年代表明，巨石阵建造于公元前2600年，这暗示巨石阵可能是一个与逝者有关的宗教活动场所。进行这项研究的是伯明翰大学的考古学家，研究小组对巨石阵周围地区进行大规模排查，对将近6平方公里的面积进行探测，考古学家试图找到巨石阵地下是否存在一些重要的线索。2009年，地球物理学家使用磁探仪扫描巨石阵周围区域，探测到未知的结构。虽然巨石阵是一处重要的风景名胜，但却记录着4000多年前人类的活动情况。2003年，伦敦大学研究人员迈克·帕克皮尔森也发现了一些动物骨骼和工具，这些证据都暗示巨石阵是一处集宗教活动、权力、死亡于一体的“圣地”。神秘的巨石阵(15张)那么巨石阵是如何建造的呢？目前没有人知道当时的人们凭借何种手段建造了巨石阵，不过科学家也得出了几种可能的方法，或多或少地解释了如何移动如此重的石头，但还没有一个权威的解释。科学家发现巨石阵与太阳的关系最大，从某个方向看，正好是夏至日出日落的位置，换一个方向就是冬至日出日落的位置，说明古人通过巨石阵来证明他们对太阳的运动观察已久。 [5]巨石阵建造播报编辑巨大的石建筑群位于一个空旷的原野上，占地大约11公顷，主要是由许多整块的蓝砂岩组成，每块约重50吨。这些石柱排成圆形，其中一些石块足有8米之高，最高的石柱高达10米，不少横架在两根竖直的石柱上。20世纪50年代中期，考古人员研究发现，巨石阵在史前时代分为三个时期建造，前后将近一千年。一期建筑—奥布里洞遗迹第一阶段可追溯至公元前2800年左右的新石器时代晚期，考古学家称之为「巨石阵第一期」。在这一时期中，最令人费解的事是被称为「奥布里洞」的遗迹。不过当时还没有巨石，只是建造了一个能容纳数百人的圆形土堤，在土堤内挖出了56个圆形坑，据考证，坑内当时很可能埋入了木桩，而木桩的作用是用来测量季节变化的。这些洞是十七世纪石一位古文物学家约翰奥布里发现的。这些洞是位在环状沟的内缘，同样围成一圈，总共有五十六个。根据牛津大学亚历山大·汤姆教授的研究指出，在综合英国境内其它环状石遗迹的研究后他发现，这些洞的排列与金字塔的构造有相同的地方，就是它们同样运用了「黄金分割比」。汤姆以英国环保局所绘制的标准地图为准，将第四号、二十号和三十六号洞穴连结后，便出现了一个顶端指向南方的金字塔图形。现代人建造巨石阵(2张)霍金斯认为，巨石阵中几个重要的位置，似乎都是用来指示太阳在夏至那天升起的位置。而从反方向看刚好就是冬至日太阳降下的位置。除了太阳之外，月亮的起落点似乎也有记载。不过月亮的运行不是像太阳一样年年周而复始，它有一个历时十九年的太阴历。在靠近石阵入口处有四十多个柱孔，排成六行，恰巧和月亮在周期中到达最北的位置相符，所以六行柱孔很有可能代表六次周期，也就是六个太阴历的时间，观测及纪录月亮的运行有一百多年的时间。二期建筑—“种石”巨石阵(3张)巨石阵的主体由几十块巨大的石柱组成，这些石柱排成几个完整的同心圆(在古代这是一个象征“完美”的符号)，在当地出现的第一块石头是位于圆圈“洞口”位置上的一块重约5吨的沙岩（又被称为“种石”）。在此石出现200年之后，若干石柱才从英格兰西部的威尔士运来，矗立在中央，并形成两个一大一小的圆周。考古学家称之为“巨石阵”的二期建筑。公元前2000年，铜器时代初期，人们对巨石阵的进口进行了改造，当时铺设了壕沟和两道500米长的人行道，被称作“斯泰申石碑”的四座石柱，竖立在了巨石阵内侧，在这个阶段，似乎曾决定在中央竖起两圈蓝砂岩石柱，大约竖起四分之三圈石柱之后，可能由于计划改变，这项工程突然停止，于是石柱被搬走坑被填平。三期建筑——巨石阵巨石阵的主体由几十块巨大的石柱组成，这些石柱排成几个完整的同心圆，巨石阵的外围是直径约90米的环形土沟与土岗，内侧紧挨着的是56个圆形坑，由于这一些坑是由英国考古学家约翰·奥布里发现的，因此又叫“奥布里”坑。巨石阵最不可思议的是石阵中心的巨石，这些巨石最高的有8米，平均重量近30吨，更有重达7吨的巨石是横架在两根竖起的石柱上。巨石阵 [6]大约在公元前1000年，“种石”被挪走，巨石阵进入了建筑的第三个阶段，人们运来了100多块巨大的砂粒岩，与原来的青石柱重新排列成圆形和马蹄形结构，建成了有30多个石柱的外圈，在外圈里侧布置了马蹄形结构。在第三阶段中期，在这5座石碑坊的里侧布置了许多蓝砂岩石柱，其中蓝砂岩的石柱残存到了今天。事实上从现有的遗迹上，人们也可窥见“巨石阵”第三阶段的基本风貌。据估算，以当时的生产力水平，建造“巨石阵”需要至少3000万小时的人工，相当于1万人工作整整1年。下山越海远道而来的巨石播报编辑巨石阵的主要材料是蓝砂岩，小的有5吨，大的重达50吨。但在索尔兹伯里地区的山脉中并没有蓝砂岩，最后，考古学家在南威尔士普利赛力山脉中发现了蓝砂岩，但是没有人知道古代的威尔士人如何把这些几十吨重的巨石运到三百多公里之外的索尔兹伯里平原。考证结论说明，数千年前的人们，不仅能将坚硬的蓝砂岩从山体中开凿下来，还能将原本粗糙锐利的表面打磨光滑。考古人员在普利赛力山脉的采石场发现了一些废弃的石斧和金属工具，这些工具至少有两千多年的历史，考古人员推测，当时的建造者已经掌握了凿刻巨石的技术，巨石就是用这些工具从山体中开凿下来的。在找到需要的石块后，还要将这些较大的石块分割成预定尺寸的小石块，专家们从石块的开凿痕迹中判定，当时的人们用的是一种木楔断口的方法，接下来用非常硬的沙砾连续打磨石块，来完成巨石最后的修整工作。这些巨石是怎样从南威尔士采石场运到索尔兹伯里巨石阵的呢？运输蓝砂岩最合理的路线是：巨石首先从普利塞里山经陆路到达靠近海岸的米尔福得港，然后将石料装上船，最后到达巨石阵。这条线路，水路长达300多公里，专家推测当时的人们已经能够制造出载运巨石的船只。从普利塞里山脉到达巨石阵，陆地行程将近40多公里，当时的人们又是如何在陆地上运输这些巨石的呢？研究人员认为，运输巨石并不像想象的那么困难，运输的工具很可能是利用撬杠、滚木和绳子。古时候巨石阵周围的山谷里有茂密的树林，人们利用坚硬的树木充当滚木和撬杠，而一种叫做椴树的树皮可以制造出绳子，考古学者首先将树皮放在湿泥里浸泡6个星期，树皮就变成了富有韧性的纤维，把它们绞在一起，就成了简单结实的绳索。在没有起重设备的条件下，古人又是如何准确地将横梁放到石柱顶部的呢？专家们认为，架置石块横梁很可能用的是“土屯法”。专家介绍说，土屯法就是利用斜面原理，用很多的土把两个柱子埋起来，形成一座山形，高度就是这个石头要到的高度，做成一个斜坡，然后从斜坡上把石头拉上去，下面用撬杠，很可能要铺原木，就位之后把土挖掉。 [3] [8]考察研究播报编辑巨石阵公元前7500年就有人居住2013年4月22日，英国每日邮报报道，考古学家表示，人类在巨石阵地区生存的时间要比之前预想的早几千年。科学家在距离巨石阵一英里处发现了人类居住的证据，时间要追溯到公元前7500年，比之前研究证实的时间还要早5000年。对该地区发现的物质进行的碳年代测定法显示，该地区在公元前7500年至公元前4700年都一直有人居住，英国广播公司播出的《飞行的考古学家》节目中这样说道。专家认为研究小组进行的这项研究发现的社区，在公元前8500至7000年间，也就是中石器时代，建造了巨石阵第一个纪念碑——一个巨大直立的木制标杆。英国公开大学的考古学家大卫·雅克（David Jacques）和朋友开始调查距离巨石阵主要纪念碑1英里处从未被调查过的区域。该地区包含一个喷泉，雅克认为它可能作为早期人类的水源供应。“在这片区域，你能够理解为什么考古学家和古文物研究者在过去200年间都在全力的研究这些纪念碑，因此存在太多地方值得探索和发掘。”“我认为我的研究小组所进行的略微创新的探索便是寻找天然地点，也就是你想象动物们可能会前往寻找水源的地方。我的设想是，你能够找到野生动物的地方，就很可能会发现人类存在的迹象，当然包括一批狩猎者。”“我们发现了最近的一处适合动物和人类的安全水源，该处一年四季都有新鲜的水。”雅克将这片区域称之为“关键事物”。来自英国南安普顿大学、巨石阵河畔项目的乔什·波拉德（JoshPollard）认为，考虑到中石器时期活动主要集中在埃姆斯伯里附近的埃文河，研究小组的发现只是冰山一角。“研究小组发现了该社区在公元前9世纪至7世纪之间，建造了巨石阵第一座纪念碑。”“大卫研究的重要性在于发现了巨石阵地区中石器时代人类居住的确凿证据，且能够证实在公元前9世纪至5世纪，该地区一直人丁兴旺络绎不绝，存在反复的人群来访。” [4]研究进展很多专家认为，圆形石林建造的时间在公元前五千年到公元前三千六百年之间，但是到了大约公元前一千五百年，也就是三千五百年以前，英格兰的早期居民就不在这个地方举行任何活动了。然而英国科学家发现，圆形石林可能到更晚一些的时期仍然在发挥某种功能。根据科学验证，在圆形石林内发现的一名男子的骨架是两千多年前留在那里的。科学家经过多次详细的考察之后，已经大概估计出它的建造年代和过程。科学家认为，圆形石林可能最早于四、五千年前开始动工，整个工程前后进行了数百年，才成为同现在状况类似的格局。英国公众6月份在圆形石林举行了1984年以来的第一次纪念夏至的活动，圆形石林内的巨石正好同夏至那天太阳升起的位置排成一线。在圆形石林纪念夏至的人大都相信英国古代克尔特人的巫师宗教，他们认为他们举行的活动同当年在圆形石林举行的宗教仪式相似。甚至有人认为，信奉多神灵的古代凯尔特人是圆形石林的建筑师。最早的克尔特巫师是法官、立法人员和神职人员。他们在那里举行宗教仪式，解决法律纠纷，并向老百姓发布指令和提供帮助。但是据认为，这种宗教在一千五百年前就销声匿迹了。2013年4月未，研究人员在史前巨石阵附近发现人类活动的历史可追溯至9500年前，大约公元前7500年，这比之前预期的时代早5000年。研究小组在距离史前巨石阵大约1英里处发现早期人类的活动证据，当时处于公元前7500年，他们对这一地点进行碳定年法勘测得出该结论。专家猜测这项研究发现了筑造史前巨石阵最早纪念碑的早期人类群体，较大的木制标志竖立在公元前8500年至公元前7000年间的中石器时代。英国开放大学考古学家大卫-雅克斯和同事开始调查这一地点，它距离史前巨石阵纪念碑大约1英里。这一地点存在着泉水，从而使雅克斯认为这里提供水源供给早期人类，他说：“该地点的地质特征将揭晓为什么过去200年间考古学家和古文物研究者如此着迷史前巨石阵，这里有更多的谜团有待揭开。这一地点会让人们联想到动物会到这里饮用水。我的想法是哪里有野生动物，哪里就会有早期人类的活动，人们会捕猎获取食物。这里存在着供给人类和动物的水源，这是一种全年流淌的泉水。” [4]搭建试验播报编辑今人架起巨石的试验英国考古学者动用130人试验成功。自从巨石阵被发现以来，人们对它的出现一直在猜测。这么巨大的石头究竟是怎么搭建起来的呢？这成为长久无法破解的一大谜团。尤其令人称奇的是，史前当然没有大型吊车等工具，先人是如何把这些重达数十吨的大石头高高架起来的呢？这样奇怪的阵势引来后人连绵不绝的猜测，这些巨大的石头阵究竟是如何搭建的呢？朱利安“滑轮吊升”许多奇思妙想也应运而生。最著名的一个说法来自英国的考古学家朱立安，他曾经用“滑轮吊升”复制巨石搭建过程。据有关报道，1998年夏天，英国考古学家朱利安，经过几年的研究和考察，决定用最古老的建筑方法重新运送和竖立一块长8米，重40吨的复制巨石，朱利安认为，如果只用滚木来运输巨石，滚木很可能会被压碎，于是，他和他的实验小组，把滚木放在一段木轨上，并在轨上涂上了油脂，朱利安相信古人有能力设计出这种轨道，而油脂是为了减少摩擦。朱利安动用了130多名志愿者参与了这次实验，志愿者很快就慢慢移动了这块巨石。朱利安根据这次实验推算出，如果以当时的生产力水平，建造巨石阵至少需要3000万小时的人工，所需的人数应在数千人以上。据介绍，朱利安的方法是，他们先挖了一个2.4米深的土坑，并将巨石的中心放在土坑边缘的上方，朱利安决定用压跷跷板的方式，把巨石拖入事先挖好的坑中。然而由于巨石太重，无法彻底使它垂直，他们采用了一个A字形支架，因为A字形支架比门形支架更为稳固，为了慎重起见，朱利安先用一个模型来计算需要拉绳的人数，他最后算出如果用A字形支架，要将近80人才能拉起这块40吨重的巨石。朱利安A字形滑轮支架产生效果，他们轻易地树起了第一块巨石。紧接着实验小组又用同样的方法立起了第二块巨石。诸多谜团有一些专家提出，当时的人们可能利用到了冰川特殊的地貌，使这些石块运送到了巨石阵，但是在索尔兹伯里平原没有任何冰川的痕迹。专家们经过初步考证认为，这些兰砂岩确实是通过人力从南威尔士被搬运到这个位置，至于胆矾巨石是如何辗转380公里来到此处，至今仍是个谜。英国巨石阵建造4步：1、将50吨重的石打好，2、从起点到目的地挖一条小水沟（3米宽*3米深*300公里），充满水，3、冬天英国这条小水沟结冰，50吨重大石沿这条小冰沟拉到目的地。4、将20吨重大石拉上8米高方法是：在其四周填满规格石块形成A形石斜波，在A形石斜波上涂上猪油润滑，形成金字搭样，和建金字搭同样的方法在搭对面把20吨石拉上去。然后把四周的石块清除。完工。主要功能播报编辑推测用途巨石阵的用途几个世纪以来，没有人知道巨石阵的真正用途，也没有人知道是谁建造了巨石阵，而古老的传说和人们的种种推测，让巨石阵更增加了神秘的氛围。许多年以来，巨石阵吸引了众多的人们对它进行考察，人们对这座巨石阵的用途做出了种种猜测。一些人通过考古发掘，发现土堤内侧有多处墓穴，便据此推测它是古代部落酋长的坟墓。而出土的大量兽骨残骸则被怀疑是祭陵用的牺牲品。于是有人判断，巨石阵是祭祖用的祭祀场所。还有结论认为这是一座古代天文台。牛津大学的霍金斯教授通过仔细观察和严密的计算认为通过巨石阵石环和土环的结构关系，可以精确了解太阳和月亮的12个方位，并观测和推算日月星辰在不同季节的起落，所以，这应当是一座古天文台。真正大规模的考察发掘是在20世纪后期。1980年——1984年，英国考古学者巨石柱遗址进行了发掘考察，通过现代科学技术手段，证明巨石阵始建于公元前3100年。距今已逾5000年，当时，这里有绵亘的森林，维塞克斯的原始部落就在这里繁衍生息。因此，学者们认为，这里是不列颠岛的人类文明发祥地。而正是这一灿烂的维塞克斯文明，推动了英伦三岛的进步。公元5世纪的盎格鲁撒克逊王国就是在这一带建立的，这个王国在公元9世纪统一了全英格兰。迄今发现的巨石阵共有人工琢凿过的巨石130多块。这些巨石也引起了许多推测。人们曾经认为这些巨石中的蓝砂岩石采自威尔士南部的普雷斯塞利山脉，这些蓝砂岩块被放在木筏上由水运而来。但也有地质学家认为，巨石阵的石头种类繁多，也许是由冰川活动把它们从更遥远的地方带到附近，然后被建筑者采集来用做材料的。如果这种推测属实，那么也许那个时候的人们把这些不明来历的巨石纯粹作为具有神力的东西来崇拜，把它们树立起来并不是为了建筑(天文台、宇宙）的目的，或者，它们可能是一些原始的祭拜对象。在漫长的年代里，巨石阵犹如强劲的磁铁，一直吸引着人们的目光。许多人更愿意相信，这是远古祖先有意留给后人的一个巨大谜题。祭祀场所1997年，英国科学家在一次实验中发现，巨石阵具有令人惊异的声学特性。科学家们在一些巨石中放入先进的录音器材进行实验，发现组成巨石阵的巨大扁平石块能非常精确地放射巨石阵内部的回声，并将其集中于巨石阵的中心，形成共鸣效应。科学家们推测，巨石阵很可能是古代祭祀的主要场所。早在17世纪，英国古董学家奥波雷就认为，巨石阵是罗马统治时期德鲁伊教的祭祀场所。相传德鲁伊教在英国索尔兹伯里平原上建造了巨石阵，目的是用来献祭太阳神，从此在巨石阵的故事里出现了德鲁伊教。德鲁伊教是公元前5世纪至公元前1世纪，散居在不列颠、爱尔兰等地的凯尔特人信仰的一种宗教。据说德鲁伊教的形式和教义非常神秘，凯撒远征高卢时说，德鲁伊教士精通物理、化学，他们在树林中居住，甚至用活人献祭。在英国除了索尔兹伯里巨石阵外，还有900多座圆形巨石阵，这些巨石阵分布在英国不同的地区。其似圆形形态好像是以黄金分割比例排列。贵族墓地关于神秘的巨石阵，人们仍旧继续做着各种各样的推测和解释。2003年，考古学家在巨石阵不远的地方发现了一座古墓，墓中出土的陪葬品有100多件，包括金、银、铜等装饰品，陪葬品的数量要比同年代墓葬多达10倍，经专家考证，墓中的主人地位非常显赫，他就是阿彻。阿彻大约生活在公元前2300年，而这个阶段恰好是巨石阵形成的时期，考古人员发现，阿彻墓中的陪葬品大部分来自阿尔卑斯山，从阿彻遗留下的牙齿形状和损坏的程度检测来看，他的童年是在阿尔卑斯山区度过的，他很有可能是来自瑞士或者是奥地利一带。如果是阿彻建造了巨石阵，那么被视为英国古老象征的史前巨石阵将会是一名外来人的作品。考古学家们推测，几千年前的维赛克斯人和阿彻都有可能参加了巨石阵的建造，但从他们分别生活的时代可以看出，巨石阵的建造经过了一个漫长的时期。英国威尔特郡的史前巨石阵曾是一个远古墓地，科学家最新研究推翻了史前巨石阵曾是天文历法测算工具或者是天文台的假设。这项最新研究是科学家在近十年内考古挖掘、图书馆资料整理以及对63具古人类尸骨分析得出的。考古学家在史前巨石阵挖掘发现5万多块骨骼碎片，分析至少包含63位死者的骨骼。这些骨骼年代测定显示巨石阵的历史可追溯至公元前2500年-公元前3000年前，皮尔森认为，最初这里曾是墓地，后来的建造形成了巨石阵。这些墓地要比巨石阵建造早接近100年，除了丢弃的尸体之外，主要掩埋尸体是成年男性。然而，最新分析技术首次显示这些死者中男女比例相当，其中还包括一些新生婴儿的尸体。在尸体旁还发现一个彰显高等社会地位的权杖头，以及一个小碗。皮尔森认为这个小碗可能是用于焚香，暗示着曾存在着宗教祭祀，或者对政治领导人或直系亲属的祭奠。治疗中心2008年，英国考古学家杰弗里·温莱特和蒂莫西·达维尔认为，巨石阵无异于“新石器时代的卢尔德”。卢尔德是法国圣地，因被认为具有神奇的治疗功能而名噪一时。墓葬用品散落在巨石阵及其岩石碎屑周围，代表一种避邪之物，表明巨石阵在古代的作用首先是一处朝圣地。同时，巨石阵一带发现了数量非比寻常的骨骼，上面均留有重病或重伤的迹象。对遗骸牙齿分析的结果表明，其中一半人来于巨石阵以外地区。考古学家根据这次发掘结果推测，人们来到此地的原因或许是认为这里的石头具有治病“神力”。达维尔猜测，人们当时怀着一种悲伤、绝望的心情来到巨石阵。生病或受伤的古人来到那里，冀望“神石”能帮助他们康复。新的考古发现表明了巨石阵曾经是史前朝圣者的康复中心，验证了它在史前社会的重要性。天文平台巨石阵不仅在建筑学史上具有重要的地位，在天文学上也同样有着重大的意义：它的主轴线、通往石柱的古道和夏至日早晨初升的太阳在同一条线上；另外，其中还有两块石头的连线指向冬至日落的方向。（具体看巨石阵·建筑结构）12世纪初期，英国流传着这样一个传说，公元5世纪，亚瑟王的宫廷巫师梅林用神力从爱尔兰运来了巨石阵，而建造巨石阵的目的，是墨林准备用一座永恒的纪念碑来纪念亚瑟王的部下。考古工作者并不相信是神力搬运来的巨石，他们根据搜集的一些资料认为，早在17世纪史前巨石阵就引起了人们的兴趣。一种流行的说法是巨石块有天文现象的功用。巨石块与一年中白昼最长一日的日出相吻合。这可能意味着，巨石阵的建造者们是太阳的崇拜者。巨石块肯定不是德鲁伊特（古代凯尔特人中一批有学问的人—译注）建造的。在巨石阵被废弃后很久他们才在这里生存。巨石阵所在的地区有许多坟墓和神庙，它们都已有好几百年的历史了。许多世纪以来巨石阵本身就是一个圣地，但我不知道该圣地在什么时候或为什么废弃了。不幸的是，几个世纪以来有些石块已搬走去造房子，而另一些已经倒下。王室墓地英国研究人员29日说，英格兰西南部的史前“巨石阵”可能是一个古代王室墓地。研究人员将从“巨石阵”挖掘出的人类遗体作放射性同位素检测，以确定这些遗体的埋葬年份。他们认为，公元前3000年到公元前2500年间，“巨石阵”是一处墓地。谢菲尔德大学考古学家帕克领导了发掘工作。他说：“我们的猜想是，‘巨石阵’原是一处安葬死者的地方。进一步的猜想是，这里葬的可能是当时的社会精英，可能是英国古代一个王室成员。”考古学家估计，600年间“巨石阵”共有150人到240人下葬。埋葬人数如此之少，可能意味着这些人属于同一显赫家族。谢菲尔德大学古代人口统计学专家钱伯莱恩说，“巨石阵”埋葬的是同一家族成员的线索是，早期在那里下葬的人很少，但此后几个世纪，随着家族后代人数增加，下葬人数也相应增加。英国政府从大约八十年前开始修复圆形石林。从那时起，圆形石林已经成为英国最热的旅游点之一，每年都有一百万人到那里游览。到那里参观的人当中有一名美国教师。参观过后，这名教师颇有感慨地说，建造圆形石林的古代人当中一定有很伟大的发明家和工程师。庆祝节日截止到2013年8月，考古学家在史前巨石阵挖掘发现5万多块骨骼碎片，分析至少包含63位死者的骨骼。同时，该研究发现史前巨石阵建造于“格拉斯顿堡时期”，当时人们数以千计穿越大不列颠岛聚集在此庆祝冬至节日。专家认为人们每年聚集在这里建造巨石纪念碑，并庆祝重大节日。英国伦敦大学学院的马克-皮尔森教授称，这项最新研究推翻了之前认为的史前巨石阵是作为天文历法测算工具或者天文台的猜测。巨石阵(3张)该研究表明建造巨石阵的谜团可通过建造该遗址的人们来解答，他们穿过大不列颠岛聚集到此。研究工作是历经十年的考古挖掘、图书馆资料整理以及对63具古人类尸骨的分析。 [7]巨石阵主题展播报编辑2022年2月17日至7月17日，“巨石阵的世界”的大展在伦敦举行，共展出430多件来自英国以及欧洲各地的文物，揭秘巨石阵背后的故事。 [11]旅游信息播报编辑门票成人（18-64岁）标准票17.5磅，65岁以上或全日式学生标准票15.5磅，Child（5-17岁）标准票10.5磅，Infant(0-4)免费。家庭票（2大+2或3小）45.5磅。停车免费。开放时间10月16日-次年3月15日9:30-17:00，3月16日-3月19日9:30-19:00。圣诞节前夜与圣诞节关闭，圣诞节翌日与元旦节开放时间为10:00-16:00。新手上路成长任务编辑入门编辑规则本人编辑我有疑问内容质疑在线客服官方贴吧意见反馈投诉建议举报不良信息未通过词条申诉投诉侵权信息封禁查询与解封©2024 Baidu 使用百度前必读 | 百科协议 | 隐私政策 | 百度百科合作平台 | 京ICP证030173号 京公网安备110000020000

Stonehenge | English Heritage

Stonehenge | English Heritage

Your browser is out of date:

You are using an old version of Internet Explorer. It may not display all the features of this and other websites. To improve security and online experience, please use a different browser or

update Internet Explorer

.

×

English Heritage

Basket

Visit

Places To Visit

Stonehenge

Dover Castle

Overseas Visitors Pass

Group visits

Find a place to visit

What's On

Family events

Members' events

Find an event near you

Easter

Family Days out

Top 10 family days out

Days out for under £20

Rainy days out

Family property guides

Inspire Me

Historic gardens

Podcast

Travel Guides

Dog friendly places

Rainy Days Out

Blue Plaques

About the scheme

Find a blue plaque

Propose a blue plaque

Support the scheme

Weddings & Venue Hire

Wedding venues

Corporate venues

Private parties

Filming Locations

Holiday Cottages

Find a holiday cottage

Cottages by the sea

Late Availability

About Us

About Us

Our places

Our vision & values

Our people

Our priorities

Our history

Contact Us

General enquiries

Group visits

Film & TV locations

Jobs

Search jobs

Working at our historic places

Our benefits

Modern Slavery Statement

News

Twitter

Facebook

Press office

Annual reports

Support Us

Support Us

Donate Now

Guardians

Gifts in Wills

Grants

How your support helps

Our Appeals

Learning Appeal

Blue Plaques

Volunteer

Find a volunteer opportunity

Meet our volunteers

Why volunteer?

Volunteer focus magazine

Partnership and Sponsorship

Corporate Partnerships

Marketing Partnerships

Licensing

Learn

Learn

1066 and the Norman Conquest

School visits

Teaching resources

Histories

History of Stonehenge

History of Hadrian's Wall

Women in history

LGBTQ history

Find more...

Conservation

Caring for our collections

Collections advice & guidance

Gardens & landscapes

Paintings conservation

Clothes moth research

Story of England

Prehistory

Romans

Tudors

Victorians

Find more...

Shop

Join

Search

Members' Area

https://www.facebook.com/englishheritage

https://twitter.com/englishheritage

Basket

https://www.youtube.com/user/EnglishHeritageFilm

https://instagram.com/englishheritage

Visit

Menu • Visit

Places To Visit

Visit • Places To Visit

PLACES TO VISIT

Stonehenge

Dover Castle

Overseas Visitors Pass

Group visits

Find a place to visit

What's On

Visit • What's On

WHAT'S ON

Family events

Members' events

Find an event near you

Easter

Family Days out

Visit • Family Days out

FAMILY DAYS OUT

Top 10 family days out

Days out for under £20

Rainy days out

Family property guides

Inspire Me

Visit • Inspire Me

INSPIRE ME

Historic gardens

Podcast

Travel Guides

Dog friendly places

Rainy Days Out

Blue Plaques

Visit • Blue Plaques

BLUE PLAQUES

About the scheme

Find a blue plaque

Propose a blue plaque

Support the scheme

Weddings & Venue Hire

Visit • Weddings & Venue Hire

WEDDINGS & VENUE HIRE

Wedding venues

Corporate venues

Private parties

Filming Locations

Holiday Cottages

Visit • Holiday Cottages

HOLIDAY COTTAGES

Find a holiday cottage

Cottages by the sea

Late Availability

About Us

Menu • About Us

About Us

About Us • About Us

ABOUT US

Our places

Our vision & values

Our people

Our priorities

Our history

Contact Us

About Us • Contact Us

CONTACT US

General enquiries

Group visits

Film & TV locations

Jobs

About Us • Jobs

JOBS

Search jobs

Working at our historic places

Our benefits

Modern Slavery Statement

News

About Us • News

NEWS

Twitter

Facebook

Press office

Annual reports

Support Us

Menu • Support Us

Support Us

Support Us • Support Us

SUPPORT US

Donate Now

Guardians

Gifts in Wills

Grants

How your support helps

Our Appeals

Support Us • Our Appeals

OUR APPEALS

Learning Appeal

Blue Plaques

Volunteer

Support Us • Volunteer

VOLUNTEER

Find a volunteer opportunity

Meet our volunteers

Why volunteer?

Volunteer focus magazine

Partnership and Sponsorship

Support Us • Partnership and Sponsorship

PARTNERSHIP AND SPONSORSHIP

Corporate Partnerships

Marketing Partnerships

Licensing

Learn

Menu • Learn

Learn

Learn • Learn

LEARN

1066 and the Norman Conquest

School visits

Teaching resources

Histories

Learn • Histories

HISTORIES

History of Stonehenge

History of Hadrian's Wall

Women in history

LGBTQ history

Find more...

Conservation

Learn • Conservation

CONSERVATION

Caring for our collections

Collections advice & guidance

Gardens & landscapes

Paintings conservation

Clothes moth research

Story of England

Learn • Story of England

STORY OF ENGLAND

Prehistory

Romans

Tudors

Victorians

Find more...

Shop

Join

Members' Area

Menu • Members' Area

Members' Area

LOGIN TO MEMBERS' AREA

LOGIN TO THE MEMBERS' AREA

REGISTER FOR THE MEMBERS' AREA

Please login or register for the Members' area. The new Members' area allows you view details of your membership and your payments as well as requesting amendments.

Stonehenge

Home

Visit

Places to Visit

Stonehenge

More Pages

Plan Your Visit

Things to see and do

Prices and Opening Times

Events

School Visits

History and Stories

Get involved

Group Visits

Tunnel

Mon - Sun 9.30-5, last entry at 3

See full prices and opening times

Address

Near Amesbury, Wiltshire, SP4 7DE

Book Online and Save

Book Online and Save

Book Online and Save

Uncover the incredible story of one of the world’s most famous places. This must-see monument is a powerful testament to human ingenuity, imagination and creativity, and a visit today offers something for everyone to enjoy.

Experience the unforgettable atmosphere of the Stone Circle and follow in the footsteps of the prehistoric people who lived here 4,000 years ago as you walk among the Neolithic houses. Dig deeper in the world-class exhibition, and take time to explore the monuments and mysteries of the wider Stonehenge landscape.

With plenty for the whole family to discover, book your ticket now for the best price and get ready for an unmissable day out at this iconic site.

Don’t miss:

Come face to face with a 5,500-year-old man in the exhibition

Step into a Neolithic village and find out if you have what it takes to move a mighty Sarsen stone

Get up close to the iconic Stone Circle and take the perfect picture

BOOK ONLINE SAVE 10% FAQs

General Admission

Pre-book to explore this unique prehistoric monument and World Heritage Site. 

Membership

Visit Stonehenge and hundreds of other historic places for free when you become an English Heritage Member from as little as £4.75 a month. 

VIP Experience

For something really special, go inside the stones with Stone Circle Experience: an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime visit to Stonehenge. Now booking to March 2025.

There’s so much more to a day out at Stonehenge than the awe-inspiring Stone Circle.

Discover how the Stonehenge builders lived and worked in our fascinating exhibition, ask our knowledgeable staff and volunteers your burning questions about the stones, then grab a snack from the café to enjoy with the best view in the world!

Book online save 10%

Things to see and do

Stone Circle

  

Stonehenge Exhibition

   

Stone Circle Experience

Food & Drink

   

Shop

   

Visit a museum

   

What's On

Stonehenge Deaf-led BSL tours

Weds 3 April

12.30pm - 2.30pm

The Big Brick Build at Stonehenge

Sat 6 Apr - Sun 14 Apr 2024

10am - 5pm

Members' Week: Stone Circle Access

Wed 10 Apr 2024

7.30am - 9am

Playhenge

Fri 17 May - Tues 4 June 2024 (excluding Thursdays)

10am - 5pm

Plan Your Visit

Directions

Facilities

Access

Group Visits

Food & Drink

Itineraries

Pets at Stonehenge

Download our Audio Guide

Guidebook: Stonehenge

Price: £6.00

Buy Now

Stonehenge and the A303

The Stonehenge World Heritage Site is famous throughout the world and is one of the most important prehistoric landscapes in Europe. Today this landscape is split in two by a major road - the A303 - which acts as a barrier to people enjoying, exploring and understanding the World Heritage Site. 

The Government has approved plans to replace part of the A303 with a fully-bored tunnel in the Stonehenge section of the World Heritage Site landscape.

Find out more about the proposed tunnel scheme

Nearby Places

Similar Places

Woodhenge

3.19 miles from Stonehenge

Netheravon Dovecote

4.65 miles from Stonehenge

Old Sarum

6.77 miles from Stonehenge

Woodhenge

3.19 miles from Stonehenge

Old Sarum

6.77 miles from Stonehenge

Bratton Camp and White Horse

13.5 miles from Stonehenge

Nearby

Places

Woodhenge

3.19 miles from Stonehenge

Netheravon Dovecote

4.65 miles from Stonehenge

Old Sarum

6.77 miles from Stonehenge

Similar Places

Woodhenge

3.19 miles from Stonehenge

Old Sarum

6.77 miles from Stonehenge

Bratton Camp and White Horse

13.5 miles from Stonehenge

Membership starts from £57

Membership gives you unlimited access to castles and gardens, historic houses and abbeys, and kids go free ...

Join Now

UNLIMITED ACCESS TO OVER 400 HISTORIC PLACES

Live and breathe the story of England at royal castles, historic gardens, forts & defences, world-famous prehistoric sites and many others.

FREE ENTRY FOR UP TO SIX CHILDREN

Free entry for up to six children accompanied by an adult member (under 18 years and within the family group).

FREE HANDBOOK TO PLAN INSPIRING DAYS OUT, WORTH £10.95

Complimentary full colour handbook worth £10.95. Plus our award winning Members’ Magazine delivered three times a year.

FREE OR REDUCED ENTRY TO OUR EXCITING EVENTS

https://www.facebook.com/englishheritage

https://twitter.com/englishheritage

https://instagram.com/englishheritage

https://www.youtube.com/user/EnglishHeritageFilm

VisitStaySupport UsLearnAbout us

Places to Visit

What's on

Family days out

Group visits

Holiday cottages

Cottages by the sea

Special offers

Weddings and venue hire

Join

Donate

Volunteer

Shop

School visits

Histories

Story of England

Meet our experts

Contact us

Jobs

Press office

Visit

Places to Visit

What's on

Family days out

Group visits

Stay

Holiday cottages

Cottages by the sea

Special offers

Weddings and venue hire

Support Us

Join

Donate

Volunteer

Shop

Learn

School visits

Histories

Story of England

Meet our experts

About us

Contact us

Jobs

Press office

Registered Charity 1140351

Cookie policy

Accessibility

Privacy policy

Freedom of Information

Modern Slavery Statement

Terms and Conditions

欧洲景点攻略：巨石阵（Stonehenge） - 知乎

欧洲景点攻略：巨石阵（Stonehenge） - 知乎切换模式写文章登录/注册欧洲景点攻略：巨石阵（Stonehenge）Adrianne旅游前往理由 (Reason

to go)：

1. 在英国伦敦西南100多千米的索巨石阵又称索尔兹伯里石环、环状列石、太阳神庙、史前石桌、斯通亨治石栏、斯托肯立石圈等名，是欧洲著名的史前时代文化神庙遗址，位于英格兰威尔特郡索尔兹伯里平原，约建于公元前4000～2000年（2008年3月至4月，英国考古学家研究发现，巨石阵的比较准确的建造年代在公元前2300年左右）尔兹伯里平原上，一些巍峨巨石呈环形屹立在绿色的旷野间，这就是英伦三岛最著名、最神秘的史前遗迹—巨石阵。

2.在英国人(British)的心目中，巨石阵是一个神圣的地方。景点介绍 (Introduction)：

巨石阵（Stonehenge）由巨大的石头组成，每块约重50吨。它的主轴线、通往石柱的古道和夏至日早晨初升的太阳，在同一条线上；另外，其中还有两块石头的连线指向冬至日落的方向。约建于公元前4000～2000年，是欧洲著名的史前时代文化神庙遗址，位于英格兰威尔特郡索尔兹伯里平原。2008年3月至4月，英国考古学家研究发现，巨石阵的准确建造年代距今已经有4300年，即建于公元前2300年左右。

2013年8月，考古学家研究显示史前巨石阵挖掘发现至少63具人类尸骨，推测最初这里曾是一个墓地，大约100年之后才开始建造巨石阵。小贴士 (Tips)：

1. 巨石阵不仅在建筑学史上具有的重要地位，在天文学上也同样有着重大的意义：它的主轴线、通往石柱的古道和夏至日早晨初升的太阳，在同一条线上；另外，其中还有两块石头的连线指向冬至日落的方向。因此，人们猜测，这很可能是远古人类为观测天象而建造的，可以算是天文台最早的雏形了。

2. 巨石阵可以租借中文语音导览，每台£3。

3. 巨石阵位于空旷的平地，风会很大，建议做好防风措施。相关费用 (Fee)：1. 旅游团团队：

[伦敦出发] 英国巴斯巨石阵古迹一日游：每人$40巨石阵：每人£13.92. 自由行散客：

成人 £15.50 儿童（5-15岁）£9.3位置交通 (Transportation)：巨石阵地址：Amesbury SP4 7DE

1. 跟团形式：游客可以选择英国巴斯巨石阵古迹一日游，会有参观巨石阵的行程，如果时间充足的游客也可以选择旅游团套餐。

2. 自驾：游客可以根据自己的行程计划安排路线。巨石阵停车场会收取£5停车费用。

3. 公共交通：可以乘火车到Salisbury再倒公车，这样时间较长，不建议搭乘公共交通前往。巨石阵（Stonehenge） Q &

AQ1.巨石阵怎么样？

A1.在英国伦敦西南100多千米的索巨石阵又称索尔兹伯里石环、环状列石、太阳神庙、史前石桌、斯通亨治石栏、斯托肯立石圈等名，是欧洲著名的史前时代文化神庙遗址，位于英格兰威尔特郡索尔兹伯里平原，约建于公元前4000～2000年（2008年3月至4月，英国考古学家研究发现，巨石阵的比较准确的建造年代在公元前2300年左右）尔兹伯里平原上，一些巍峨巨石呈环形屹立在绿色的旷野间，这就是英伦三岛最著名、最神秘的史前遗迹—巨石阵。

在英国人(British)的心目中，巨石阵是一个神圣的地方。Q2.巨石阵介绍？

A2.巨石阵（Stonehenge）由巨大的石头组成，每块约重50吨。它的主轴线、通往石柱的古道和夏至日早晨初升的太阳，在同一条线上；另外，其中还有两块石头的连线指向冬至日落的方向。约建于公元前4000～2000年，是欧洲著名的史前时代文化神庙遗址，位于英格兰威尔特郡索尔兹伯里平原。2008年3月至4月，英国考古学家研究发现，巨石阵的准确建造年代距今已经有4300年，即建于公元前2300年左右。

2013年8月，考古学家研究显示史前巨石阵挖掘发现至少63具人类尸骨，推测最初这里曾是一个墓地，大约100年之后才开始建造巨石阵。Q3.​巨石阵周边有什么好吃的？

A3.绿树咖啡​：在绿树咖啡吃午饭，有很多选择。所有的三明治都是新鲜的。​Friar Tuck

Cafe：价格很平价。可以点许多蛋白质的东西，满足疲惫的旅行者。许多当地人在这里吃饭。The Bell Hotel​Reeve the Baker：有非常多种类的现做面包Tandoori

Nights：菜单选择很多，超过100个选择！一个很棒的印度餐厅，价格合理。工作人员穿着制服，女士在晚餐结束时居然被赠送了一朵小小的玫瑰花。​Q4.如果不跟团去巨石阵，有没有公交？

A4.如果从伦敦出发，需要先坐火车到索尔兹伯里(Sailsbury)，然后乘坐No.3公交到巨石阵发布于 2016-11-24 14:10未解之谜英国旅游伦敦（Greater London）​赞同 9​​1 条评论​分享​喜欢​收藏​申请

History of Stonehenge | English Heritage

History of Stonehenge | English Heritage

Your browser is out of date:

You are using an old version of Internet Explorer. It may not display all the features of this and other websites. To improve security and online experience, please use a different browser or

update Internet Explorer

.

×

English Heritage

Basket

Visit

Places To Visit

Stonehenge

Dover Castle

Overseas Visitors Pass

Group visits

Find a place to visit

What's On

Family events

Members' events

Find an event near you

Easter

Family Days out

Top 10 family days out

Days out for under £20

Rainy days out

Family property guides

Inspire Me

Historic gardens

Podcast

Travel Guides

Dog friendly places

Rainy Days Out

Blue Plaques

About the scheme

Find a blue plaque

Propose a blue plaque

Support the scheme

Weddings & Venue Hire

Wedding venues

Corporate venues

Private parties

Filming Locations

Holiday Cottages

Find a holiday cottage

Cottages by the sea

Late Availability

About Us

About Us

Our places

Our vision & values

Our people

Our priorities

Our history

Contact Us

General enquiries

Group visits

Film & TV locations

Jobs

Search jobs

Working at our historic places

Our benefits

Modern Slavery Statement

News

Twitter

Facebook

Press office

Annual reports

Support Us

Support Us

Donate Now

Guardians

Gifts in Wills

Grants

How your support helps

Our Appeals

Learning Appeal

Blue Plaques

Volunteer

Find a volunteer opportunity

Meet our volunteers

Why volunteer?

Volunteer focus magazine

Partnership and Sponsorship

Corporate Partnerships

Marketing Partnerships

Licensing

Learn

Learn

1066 and the Norman Conquest

School visits

Teaching resources

Histories

History of Stonehenge

History of Hadrian's Wall

Women in history

LGBTQ history

Find more...

Conservation

Caring for our collections

Collections advice & guidance

Gardens & landscapes

Paintings conservation

Clothes moth research

Story of England

Prehistory

Romans

Tudors

Victorians

Find more...

Shop

Join

Search

Members' Area

https://www.facebook.com/englishheritage

https://twitter.com/englishheritage

Basket

https://www.youtube.com/user/EnglishHeritageFilm

https://instagram.com/englishheritage

Visit

Menu • Visit

Places To Visit

Visit • Places To Visit

PLACES TO VISIT

Stonehenge

Dover Castle

Overseas Visitors Pass

Group visits

Find a place to visit

What's On

Visit • What's On

WHAT'S ON

Family events

Members' events

Find an event near you

Easter

Family Days out

Visit • Family Days out

FAMILY DAYS OUT

Top 10 family days out

Days out for under £20

Rainy days out

Family property guides

Inspire Me

Visit • Inspire Me

INSPIRE ME

Historic gardens

Podcast

Travel Guides

Dog friendly places

Rainy Days Out

Blue Plaques

Visit • Blue Plaques

BLUE PLAQUES

About the scheme

Find a blue plaque

Propose a blue plaque

Support the scheme

Weddings & Venue Hire

Visit • Weddings & Venue Hire

WEDDINGS & VENUE HIRE

Wedding venues

Corporate venues

Private parties

Filming Locations

Holiday Cottages

Visit • Holiday Cottages

HOLIDAY COTTAGES

Find a holiday cottage

Cottages by the sea

Late Availability

About Us

Menu • About Us

About Us

About Us • About Us

ABOUT US

Our places

Our vision & values

Our people

Our priorities

Our history

Contact Us

About Us • Contact Us

CONTACT US

General enquiries

Group visits

Film & TV locations

Jobs

About Us • Jobs

JOBS

Search jobs

Working at our historic places

Our benefits

Modern Slavery Statement

News

About Us • News

NEWS

Twitter

Facebook

Press office

Annual reports

Support Us

Menu • Support Us

Support Us

Support Us • Support Us

SUPPORT US

Donate Now

Guardians

Gifts in Wills

Grants

How your support helps

Our Appeals

Support Us • Our Appeals

OUR APPEALS

Learning Appeal

Blue Plaques

Volunteer

Support Us • Volunteer

VOLUNTEER

Find a volunteer opportunity

Meet our volunteers

Why volunteer?

Volunteer focus magazine

Partnership and Sponsorship

Support Us • Partnership and Sponsorship

PARTNERSHIP AND SPONSORSHIP

Corporate Partnerships

Marketing Partnerships

Licensing

Learn

Menu • Learn

Learn

Learn • Learn

LEARN

1066 and the Norman Conquest

School visits

Teaching resources

Histories

Learn • Histories

HISTORIES

History of Stonehenge

History of Hadrian's Wall

Women in history

LGBTQ history

Find more...

Conservation

Learn • Conservation

CONSERVATION

Caring for our collections

Collections advice & guidance

Gardens & landscapes

Paintings conservation

Clothes moth research

Story of England

Learn • Story of England

STORY OF ENGLAND

Prehistory

Romans

Tudors

Victorians

Find more...

Shop

Join

Members' Area

Menu • Members' Area

Members' Area

LOGIN TO MEMBERS' AREA

LOGIN TO THE MEMBERS' AREA

REGISTER FOR THE MEMBERS' AREA

Please login or register for the Members' area. The new Members' area allows you view details of your membership and your payments as well as requesting amendments.

History

Home

Visit

Places to Visit

Stonehenge

History and Stories

History

More Pages

Significance

Research

Conservation

Ferguson’s Gang

Soldiers at Stonehenge

Food and Feasting

History of Stonehenge

Stonehenge is perhaps the world’s most famous prehistoric monument. It was built in several stages: the first monument was an early henge monument, built about 5,000 years ago, and the unique stone circle was erected in the late Neolithic period about 2500 BC. In the early Bronze Age many burial mounds were built nearby.

Today, together with Avebury, Stonehenge forms the heart of a World Heritage Site, with a unique concentration of prehistoric monuments.

The Greater, or Stonehenge, Cursus, a huge rectangular earthwork enclosure 1.7 miles long, seen from the air in 2000

Before Stonehenge

The earliest structures known in the immediate area are four or five pits, three of which appear to have held large pine ‘totem-pole like’ posts erected in the Mesolithic period, between 8500 and 7000 BC.[1] It is not known how these posts relate to the later monument of Stonehenge.

At this time, when much of the rest of southern England was largely covered by woodland, the chalk downland in the area of Stonehenge may have been an unusually open landscape.[2] It is possible that this is why it became the site of an early Neolithic monument complex.

This complex included the causewayed enclosure at Robin Hood’s Ball, two cursus monuments or rectangular earthworks (the Greater, or Stonehenge, and Lesser Cursus), and several long barrows, all dating from the centuries around 3500 BC. The presence of these monuments probably influenced the later location of Stonehenge.

Explore the Stonehenge landscape

A stone (gneiss) macehead and bone pins found associated with cremated human remains in the Aubrey Holes at Stonehenge, evidence that very early in its development Stonehenge was a cemetery

© English Heritage, with permission from Salisbury Museum

The Earliest Monument

It is possible that features such as the Heel Stone and the low mound known as the North Barrow were early components of Stonehenge,[3] but the earliest known major event was the construction of a circular ditch with an inner and outer bank, built about 3000 BC. This enclosed an area about 100 metres in diameter, and had two entrances. It was an early form of henge monument.[4]

Within the bank and ditch were possibly some timber structures and set just inside the bank were 56 pits, known as the Aubrey Holes. There has been much debate about what stood in these holes: the consensus for many years has been that they held upright timber posts, but recently the idea has re-emerged that some of them may have held stones.[5]

Within and around the Aubrey Holes, and also in the ditch, people buried cremations. About 64 cremations have been found, and perhaps as many as 150 individuals were originally buried at Stonehenge, making it the largest late Neolithic cemetery in the British Isles.[6]

Download a plan of Stonehenge

A reconstruction showing the raising of a stone in the outer sarsen circle

© Historic England (illustration by Peter Lorimer)

The Stone Settings

In about 2500 BC the stones were set up in the centre of the monument. Two types of stone are used at Stonehenge – the larger sarsens and the smaller ‘bluestones’. The sarsens were erected in two concentric arrangements – an inner horseshoe and an outer circle – and the bluestones were set up between them in a double arc.[7]

Probably at the same time that the stones were being set up in the centre of the monument, the sarsens close to the entrance were raised, together with the four Station Stones on the periphery.

About 200 or 300 years later the central bluestones were rearranged to form a circle and inner oval (which was again later altered to form a horseshoe). The earthwork Avenue was also built at this time, connecting Stonehenge with the river Avon.

One of the last prehistoric activities at Stonehenge was the digging around the stone settings of two rings of concentric pits, the so-called Y and Z holes, radiocarbon dated by antlers within them to between 1800 and 1500 BC. They may have been intended for a rearrangement of the stones that was never completed.[8]

The Normanton Down Barrows lie on the crest of a low ridge just to the south of Stonehenge. Excavation of these early Bronze Age barrows has produced several rich finds, including beads and other personal ornaments

After Stonehenge was built

The stone settings at Stonehenge were built at a time of great change in prehistory, just as new styles of ‘Beaker’ pottery and the knowledge of metalworking, together with a transition to the burial of individuals with grave goods, were arriving from the Continent. From about 2400 BC, well-furnished Beaker graves such as that of the Amesbury Archer[9] are found nearby.

In the early Bronze Age, one of the greatest concentrations of round barrows in Britain was built in the area around Stonehenge. Many barrow groups appear to have been deliberately located on hilltops visible from Stonehenge itself, such as those on King Barrow Ridge and the particularly rich burials at the Normanton Down cemetery.

Four of the sarsens at Stonehenge were adorned with hundreds of carvings depicting axe-heads and a few daggers. They appear to be bronze axes of the Arreton Down type, dating from about 1750–1500 BC. Perhaps these axes were a symbol of power or status within early Bronze Age society, or were related in some way to nearby round barrow burials.[10]

more about Stonehenge’s Connections

A mid-14th-century manuscript illustration showing the wizard Merlin building Stonehenge. This idea, explained by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his ‘History of the Kings of Britain’ in 1136, was widely accepted until as late as the 16th century

© British Library Board (Egerton MS 3028 fol 30)

Later History

From the middle Bronze Age, less communal effort went into the construction of ceremonial monuments such as Stonehenge and more on activities such as the creation of fields.[11]

In the Iron Age, probably about 700 BC, a major hillfort later known as Vespasian’s Camp was constructed 1¼ miles east of Stonehenge overlooking the river Avon.[12] Stonehenge appears to have been frequently visited in the Roman period (from AD 43), since many Roman objects have been found there.[13] Recent excavations raised the possibility that it was a place of ritual importance to Romano-British people.[14]

The small town of Amesbury is likely to have been established around the 6th century AD at a crossing point over the Avon. A decapitated man, possibly a criminal, was buried at Stonehenge in the Saxon period.[15] From this time on, sheep husbandry dominated the open downland around Stonehenge.[16] The earliest surviving written references to Stonehenge date from the medieval period, and from the 14th century onwards there are increasing references to Stonehenge and drawings and paintings of it.

more about research on Stonehenge

This photograph from 1914 shows one of the lintels being replaced during restoration work on the Stonehenge sarsen circle

© Historic England Archive

Stonehenge in the 20th and 21st Centuries

Since 1897, when the Ministry of Defence bought a vast tract of land on Salisbury Plain for army training exercises, the activities of the military have had an impact on the area. Barracks, firing ranges, field hospitals, airfields and light railways were established.[17] Some of these, such as the First World War Stonehenge airfield, have long since been demolished, but others, such as the Larkhill airfield sheds, still stand and are important in the history of early military aviation.[18]

Meanwhile, the introduction of turnpike roads and the railway to Salisbury brought many more visitors to Stonehenge. From the 1880s, various stones had been propped up with timber poles, but concern for the safety of visitors grew when an outer sarsen upright and its lintel fell in 1900. The then owner, Sir Edmund Antrobus, with the help of the Society of Antiquaries, organised the re-erection of the leaning tallest trilithon in 1901.

Find out more about the WWI Aerodrome

The Avenue leading up to Stonehenge, seen in the snow. The monument has been gradually returned to its original landscape and grassland setting

This was the start of a sequence of campaigns to conserve and restore Stonehenge – the last stones were consolidated in 1964.[19]

The monument remained in private ownership until 1918 when Cecil Chubb, a local man who had purchased Stonehenge from the Atrobus family at an auction three years previously, gave it to the nation.[20] Thereafter, the duty to conserve the monument fell to the state, today a role performed on its behalf by English Heritage.

From 1927, the National Trust began to acquire the land around Stonehenge to preserve it and restore it to grassland. Large areas of the Stonehenge landscape are now in their ownership. More recent improvements to the landscape – including the removal of the old visitor facilities and the closure of the section of the old A344 that ran close to the stones – have begun the process of returning Stonehenge to an open grassland setting, but there is more that can be done. English Heritage welcomes government plans to invest in a tunnel, which would remove much of the busy A303 and help reconnect the monument to its ancient landscape.

Find out more about the tunnel proposals

      By Susan Greaney 

Read more about Stonehenge

Building Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a masterpiece of engineering. How did Neolithic people build it using only the simple tools and technologies available to them?

Why Does Stonehenge Matter?

Stonehenge is a unique prehistoric monument, lying at the centre of an outstandingly rich archaeological landscape. It is an extraordinary source for the study of prehistory.

Research on Stonehenge

Our understanding of Stonehenge is constantly changing as excavations and modern scientific techniques yield more information. Read a summary of both past and recent research.

Restoration to Conservation

Since coming into the care of the Ministry of Works in 1918, Stonehenge has had several phases of work to protect it. Find out more about the conservation work undertaken by English Heritage.

Stonehenge Collection Highlights

Hundreds of prehistoric objects from the Stonehenge World Heritage Site are on display at the visitor centre. You can explore ten of them here in detail.

Virtual Tour of Stonehenge

Take an interactive tour of Stonehenge with this 360 degree view from inside the stones, which explores the monument’s key features.

Explore the Stonehenge Landscape

Use these interactive images to discover what the landscape around Stonehenge has looked like from before the monument was built to the present day.

The First World War Stonehenge aerodrome

As they travel from the visitor centre to the stones, few of today’s visitors to Stonehenge realise they are crossing the site of a First World War airfield. Find out more.

Plan of Stonehenge

Download this PDF plan to see the phases of the building of Stonehenge, from the first earthwork to the arrangement of the bluestones.

Buy the guidebook

The guidebook includes a tour and history of the site and its remarkable landscape, with many reconstruction drawings, historic images, maps and plans.

More histories

Delve into our history pages to discover more about our sites, how they have changed over time, and who made them what they are today.

Footnotes

1.G Vatcher and F de M Vatcher, ‘Excavation of three post-holes in Stonehenge car park’, Wiltshire Archaeological and History Magazine, 68 (1973), 57–63.

2.C French et al, ‘Durrington Walls to West Amesbury by way of Stonehenge: a major transformation of the Holocene landscape’, Antiquaries Journal, 92 (2012), 1–36 (subscription required; accessed 26 Aug 2015).

3.D Field and T Pearson, World Heritage Site Landscape Project: Stonehenge, Amesbury, Wiltshire Archaeological Survey Report, English Heritage Research Department Report 109-2010 (Swindon, 2010).

4.J Last, Introduction to Heritage Assets: Prehistoric Henges and Circles (English Heritage, 2011).

5.M Parker Pearson, A Chamberlain, M Jay, P Marshall, J Pollard, C Richards, J Thomas, C Tilley and K Welham, ‘Who was buried at Stonehenge?’ Antiquity, 83 (2009), 23–39 (subscription required; accessed 26 Aug 2015).

6.M Parker Pearson, Stonehenge: Exploring the Greatest Stone Age Mystery (London, 2012), 193.

7.T Darvill, P Marshall, M Parker Pearson and G Wainwright, ‘Stonehenge remodelled’, Antiquity, 86 (2012), 1021–40 (subscription required; accessed 26 Aug 2015).

8.R Cleal, K Walker and R Montague, Stonehenge in Its Landscape: Twentieth-century Excavations, English Heritage Archaeological Report 10 (English Heritage, London, 1995), 256–65.

9.AP Fitzpatrick, The Amesbury Archer and the Boscombe Bowmen: Bell Beaker Burials at Boscombe Down, Amesbury, Wiltshire (Wessex Archaeology, Salisbury, 2011).

10.M Abbott and H Anderson-Whymark, Stonehenge Laser Scan: Archaeological Analysis, English Heritage Research Department Report 32-2012 (Swindon, 2012), 26–37.

11.The earliest field systems and associated settlements, for example, at Winterbourne Stoke crossroads, date from this period. See J Richards, The Stonehenge Environs Project (London, 1990), 208–10.

12.K Hunter-Mann, ‘Excavations at Vespasian’s Camp Iron Age hillfort’, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, 92 (1999), 39–52.

13.Cleal et al, op cit, 431–5.

14.T Darvill and G Wainwright, ‘Stonehenge excavations 2008’, Antiquaries Journal, 89 (2009), 1–19 (subscription required; accessed 26 Aug 2015).

15.M Pitts, A Bayliss, J McKinley, A Boylston, P Budd, J Evans, C Chenery, A Reynolds and S Semple, ‘An Anglo-Saxon decapitation and burial at Stonehenge’, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, 95 (2002), 131–46.

16.A Lawson, Chalkland: An Archaeology of Stonehenge and Its Region (Salisbury, 2007), 239.

17.Wessex Archaeology, Stonehenge Military Installations: A Desk-based Assessment, Report 44411 (Salisbury, 1998).

18.NC Parker, Aviation in Wiltshire: A Historical Survey, South Wiltshire Industrial Archaeology Society, History Monograph 5 (1984), 49.

19.For a fantastic series of photographs of this work see J Richards, Stonehenge: A History in Photographs (English Heritage, London, 2004).

20.C Chippindale, Stonehenge Complete, 4th edn (London, 2012), 176.

https://www.facebook.com/englishheritage

https://twitter.com/englishheritage

https://instagram.com/englishheritage

https://www.youtube.com/user/EnglishHeritageFilm

VisitStaySupport UsLearnAbout us

Places to Visit

What's on

Family days out

Group visits

Holiday cottages

Cottages by the sea

Special offers

Weddings and venue hire

Join

Donate

Volunteer

Shop

School visits

Histories

Story of England

Meet our experts

Contact us

Jobs

Press office

Visit

Places to Visit

What's on

Family days out

Group visits

Stay

Holiday cottages

Cottages by the sea

Special offers

Weddings and venue hire

Support Us

Join

Donate

Volunteer

Shop

Learn

School visits

Histories

Story of England

Meet our experts

About us

Contact us

Jobs

Press office

Registered Charity 1140351

Cookie policy

Accessibility

Privacy policy

Freedom of Information

Modern Slavery Statement

Terms and Conditions

Stonehenge - Location, Definition & Age | HISTORY

ehenge - Location, Definition & Age | HISTORYShowsThis Day In HistoryScheduleTopicsStoriesHistory ClassicsLive TVYour ProfileYour ProfileHistoryFind History on Facebook (Opens in a new window)Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window)Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window)Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window)Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window)Email UpdatesLive TVHistory ClassicsShowsThis Day In HistoryScheduleTopicsStoriesVideosHistory PodcastsHistory VaultShopHomeTopicsEuropean HistoryStonehengeStonehengeBy: History.com EditorsUpdated: June 5, 2023 | Original: June 1, 2010copy page linkPrint PageDavid Goddard/Getty ImagesTable of ContentsStonehenge’s Multiphase Construction The Megaliths of Stonehenge Who Built Stonehenge? Stonehenge’s Function and Significance Stonehenge Today For centuries, historians and archaeologists have puzzled over the many mysteries of Stonehenge, the prehistoric monument that took Neolithic builders an estimated 1,500 years to erect. Located in southern England, it is comprised of roughly 100 massive upright stones placed in a circular layout. While many modern scholars now agree that Stonehenge was once a burial ground, they have yet to determine what other purposes it served and how a civilization without modern technology—or even the wheel—produced the mighty monument. Its construction is all the more baffling because, while the sandstone slabs of its outer ring hail from local quarries, scientists have traced the bluestones that make up its inner ring all the way to the Preseli Hills in Wales, some 200 miles from where Stonehenge sits on Salisbury Plain. Today, nearly 1 million people visit Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, every year.Stonehenge’s Multiphase Construction StonehengeArchaeologists believe England most iconic prehistoric ruin was built in several stages, with the earliest constructed 5,000 or more years ago. First, Neolithic Britons used primitive tools—possibly made from deer antlers—to dig a massive circular ditch and bank, or henge, on Salisbury Plain. Deep pits dating back to that era and located within the circle—known as Aubrey holes after John Aubrey, the 17th-century antiquarian who discovered them—may have once held a ring of timber posts, according to some scholars.Did you know? In 1620, George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, dug a large hole in the ground at the center of Stonehenge looking for buried treasure.Several hundred years later, it is thought, Stonehenge’s builders hoisted an estimated 80 non-indigenous bluestones, 43 of which remain today, into standing positions and placed them in either a horseshoe or circular formation. During the third phase of construction, which took place around 2000 B.C., sarsen sandstone slabs were arranged into an outer crescent or ring; some were assembled into the iconic three-pieced structures called trilithons that stand tall in the center of Stonehenge. Some 50 sarsen stones are now visible on the site, which may once have contained many more. Radiocarbon dating suggests that work continued at Stonehenge until roughly 1600 B.C., with the bluestones in particularly being repositioned multiple times.The Megaliths of Stonehenge Stonehenge’s sarsens, of which the largest weighs more than 40 tons and rises 24 feet, were likely sourced from quarries 25 miles north of Salisbury Plain and transported with the help of sledges and ropes; they may even have already been scattered in the immediate vicinity when the monument’s Neolithic architects first broke ground there. The smaller bluestones, on the other hand, have been traced all the way to the Preseli Hills in Wales, some 200 miles away from Stonehenge. How, then, did prehistoric builders without sophisticated tools or engineering haul these boulders, which weigh up to 4 tons, over such a great distance?According to one longstanding theory, Stonehenge’s builders fashioned sledges and rollers out of tree trunks to lug the bluestones from the Preseli Hills. They then transferred the boulders onto rafts and floated them first along the Welsh coast and then up the River Avon toward Salisbury Plain; alternatively, they may have towed each stone with a fleet of vessels. More recent hypotheses have them transporting the bluestones with supersized wicker baskets or a combination of ball bearings, long grooved planks and teams of oxen.As early as the 1970s, geologists have been adding their voices to the debate over how Stonehenge came into being. Challenging the classic image of industrious Neolithic builders pushing, carting, rolling or hauling the craggy bluestones from faraway Wales, some scientists have suggested that glaciers, not humans, did most of the heavy lifting. The globe is dotted with giant rocks known as glacial erratics that were carried over long distances by moving ice floes. Perhaps Stonehenge’s mammoth slabs were snatched from the Preseli Hills by glaciers during one of the Ice Ages and deposited a stone’s throw away—at least comparatively—from Salisbury Plain. Most archaeologists have remained cool toward the glacial theory, however, wondering how the forces of nature could possibly have delivered the exact number of stones needed to complete the circle.Who Built Stonehenge? According to the 12th-century writer Geoffrey of Monmouth, whose tale of King Arthur and mythical account of English history were considered factual well into the Middle Ages, Stonehenge is the handiwork of the wizard Merlin. In the mid-fifth century, the story goes, hundreds of British nobles were slaughtered by the Saxons and buried on Salisbury Plain. Hoping to erect a memorial to his fallen subjects, King Aureoles Ambrosias sent an army to Ireland to retrieve a stone circle known as the Giants’ Ring, which ancient giants had built from magical African bluestones. The soldiers successfully defeated the Irish but failed to move the stones, so Merlin used his sorcery to spirit them across the sea and arrange them above the mass grave. Legend has it that Ambrosias and his brother Uther, King Arthur’s father, are buried there as well.While many believed Monmouth’s account to be the true story of Stonehenge’s creation for centuries, the monument’s construction predates Merlin—or, at least, the real-life figures who are said to have inspired him—by several thousand years. Other early hypotheses attributed its building to the Saxons, Danes, Romans, Greeks or Egyptians. In the 17th century, archaeologist John Aubrey made the claim that Stonehenge was the work of the Celtic high priests known as the Druids, a theory widely popularized by the antiquarian William Stukeley, who had unearthed primitive graves at the site. Even today, people who identify as modern Druids continue to gather at Stonehenge for the summer solstice. However, in the mid-20th century, radiocarbon dating demonstrated that Stonehenge stood more than 1,000 years before the Celts inhabited the region, eliminating the ancient Druids from the running.Many modern historians and archaeologists now agree that several distinct tribes of people contributed to Stonehenge, each undertaking a different phase of its construction. Bones, tools and other artifacts found on the site seem to support this hypothesis. The first stage was achieved by Neolithic agrarians who were likely indigenous to the British Isles. Later, it is believed, groups with advanced tools and a more communal way of life left their stamp on the site. Some have suggested that they were immigrants from the European continent, but many scientists think they were native Britons descended from the original builders.Stonehenge’s Function and Significance If the facts surrounding the architects and construction of Stonehenge remain shadowy at best, the purpose of the arresting monument is even more of a mystery. While historians agree that it was a place of great importance for over 1,000 years, we may never know what drew early Britons to Salisbury Plain and inspired them to continue developing it. There is strong archaeological evidence that Stonehenge was used as a burial site, at least for part of its long history, but most scholars believe it served other functions as well—either as a ceremonial site, a religious pilgrimage destination, a final resting place for royalty or a memorial erected to honor and perhaps spiritually connect with distant ancestors.In the 1960s, the astronomer Gerald Hawkins suggested that the cluster of megalithic stones operated as an astronomical calendar, with different points corresponding to astrological phenomena such as solstices, equinoxes and eclipses. While his theory has received quite a bit of attention over the years, critics maintain that Stonehenge’s builders probably lacked the knowledge necessary to predict such events or that England’s dense cloud cover would have obscured their view of the skies. More recently, signs of illness and injury in the human remains unearthed at Stonehenge led a group of British archaeologists to speculate that it was considered a place of healing, perhaps because bluestones were thought to have curative powers.Stonehenge Today One of the most famous and recognizable sites in the world, Stonehenge draws more than 800,000 tourists a year, many of whom also visit the region’s numerous other Neolithic and Bronze Age marvels. In 1986 Stonehenge was added to UNESCO’s register of World Heritage sites in a co-listing with Avebury, a Neolithic henge located 17 miles away that is older and larger than its more famous neighbor. Stonehenge has undergone several restorations over the years, and some of its boulders have been set in concrete to prevent collapse. Meanwhile, archaeological excavations and development of the surrounding area to facilitate tourism have turned up other significant sites nearby, including other henges.HISTORY Vault: Ancient HistoryFrom the Sphinx of Egypt to the Kama Sutra, explore ancient history videos.WATCH NOWBy: History.com EditorsHISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Articles with the “HISTORY.com Editors” byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan, Matt Mullen and Christian Zapata.

Citation InformationArticle TitleStonehengeAuthorHistory.com EditorsWebsite NameHISTORYURLhttps://www.history.com/topics/european-history/stonehengeDate AccessedMarch 9, 2024PublisherA&E Television NetworksLast UpdatedJune 5, 2023Original Published DateJune 1, 2010Fact CheckWe strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.Print PageSign up for Inside HistoryGet HISTORY’s most fascinating stories delivered to your inbox three times a week.Sign UpBy submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.More details: Privacy Notice | Terms of Use | Contact UsA+E NetworksOur Family of BrandsHistory EducationHistory VaultMobile/AppsNewsShopShare Your OpinionFollow Historydepm+BiographyCrime and InvestigationHistory en EspanolLRWMilitary HistoryAd ChoicesAdvertise With UsAccessibility SupportCopyright PolicyCorporate InformationEmployment OpportunitiesFAQ/Contact UsPrivacy NoticeCookie NoticeTerms Of UseTV Parental GuidelinesContact UsCopyright PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseAd ChoicesAccessibility Support© 2024, A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserv

Stonehenge | National Geographic

Stonehenge | National Geographic

Skip to contentNewslettersSubscribeMenu1 of 10The 5,000-year-old Stonehenge monument in Wiltshire, England, shown here bathed in pastel twilight, has been examined by scientists for centuries. And though our understanding of the structure has increased greatly, particularly in recent years, questions persist about who built Stonehenge and why.

Photograph by Richard NowitzSCIENCEStonehengeByJames Owens4 min readStonehenge in southern England ranks among the world's most iconic archaeological sites and one of its greatest enigmas. The megalithic circle on Salisbury Plain inspires awe and fascination—but also intense debate some 4,600 years after it was built by ancient Britons who left no written record.The monument's mysterious past has spawned countless tales and theories. According to folklore, Stonehenge was created by Merlin, the wizard of Arthurian legend, who magically transported the massive stones from Ireland, where giants had assembled them. Another legend says invading Danes put the stones up, and another theory says they were the ruins of a Roman temple. Modern-day interpretations are no less colorful: some argue that Stonehenge is a spacecraft landing area for aliens, and even more say it's a giant fertility symbol in the shape of female genitalia.Archaeological investigation of the site dates back to the 1660s, when it was first surveyed by antiquarian John Aubrey. Aubrey wrongly credited Stonehenge to the much later Celts, believing it to be a religious center presided over by Druid priests.Centuries of fieldwork since show the monument was more than a millennium in the making, starting out 5,000 years ago as a circular earthen bank and ditch. A complicated pattern of wooden posts was replaced in about 2600 B.C. by 80 dolerite bluestones from Wales that were rearranged at least three times once the larger sarsen stones were added several hundred years later. These huge sandstone blocks, each weighing around 25 tons, were transported some 19 miles (30 kilometers) to create a continuous outer circle with five trilithons (pairs of uprights with a lintel on top) forming a horseshoe within. It's been estimated that it took well over 20 million hours to construct Stonehenge.Holy Site or Scientific Observatory?Modern debate over the monument's meaning has two main camps: those who see it as a holy site, and others who believe it represents a scientific observatory. Both camps base their theories on the site's celestial influence, with alignments to the sun and moon taken as evidence of rituals linked to the changing seasons and the summer and winter solstices. Alternatively, alignments identified particularly with stars point to a megalithic calendar used for working out dates or to reflect or predict astronomical events such as solar eclipses.Recently a radical new theory has emerged—that Stonehenge served as a "prehistoric Lourdes" where people came to be healed. This idea revolves around the smaller bluestones, which, researchers argue, must have been credited with magical powers for them to have been floated, dragged, and hauled 145 miles (233 kilometers) from west Wales. A team lead by Tim Darvill of Bournemouth University, U.K., announced in 2005 that it had located the quarry the bluestones came from, only for another study to suggest the stones had made the journey earlier, powered naturally by ice age glaciers. Excavations at Stonehenge co-directed by Darvill in 2008 bolstered the hypothesis, also based on a number of Bronze Age skeletons unearthed in the area that show signs of bone deformities.Competing to solve the enduring prehistoric puzzle is Sheffield University's Mike Parker Pearson, co-leader of the Stonehenge Riverside Project, which is partly funded by the National Geographic Society. Discoveries by the project team supported Parker Pearson's claim that Stonehenge was a center for ancestor worship linked by the River Avon and two ceremonial avenues to a matching wooden circle at nearby Durrington Walls. The two circles with their temporary and permanent structures represented, respectively, the domains of the living and the dead, according to Parker Pearson."Stonehenge isn't a monument in isolation," he says. "It is actually one of a pair—one in stone, one in timber. The theory is that Stonehenge is a kind of spirit home to the ancestors."(Read: Stonehenge Was Cemetery First and Foremost, Study Says.)Related TopicsRUINSARCHAEOLOGYLANDMARKSCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYLEGENDSYou May Also LikeHISTORY & CULTUREEverything we thought we knew about the ancient Maya is being upendedHISTORY MAGAZINEThis ancient diary reveals how Egyptians built the Great PyramidHISTORY MAGAZINEWho was Merlin the Great, really? Here’s the history.HISTORY MAGAZINE‘Send beer!’ Life on the Roman frontier revealed by soldiers’ private lettersHISTORY MAGAZINEThe mystery of London's elusive Roman amphitheaterGo FurtherAnimalsHow do fireflies get their glow? We finally have some answers.AnimalsHow do fireflies get their glow? We finally have some answers.Bird flu is spreading from pole to pole. Here’s why it matters.AnimalsBird flu is spreading from pole to pole. Here’s why it matters.Resort flamingos are being returned to the wildAnimalsResort flamingos are being returned to the wildHow an ‘extinct’ cicada was rediscovered 100 years laterAnimalsHow an ‘extinct’ cicada was rediscovered 100 years laterThe mystery of the Coast Salish woolly dogAnimalsThe mystery of the Coast Salish woolly dogSingle orca seen killing great white shark for first time everAnimalsSingle orca seen killing great white shark for first time everEnvironmentThis exploding mine holds a treasure that may change the worldEnvironmentThis exploding mine holds a treasure that may change the worldHow animals are adapting to the rise of wildfiresEnvironmentHow animals are adapting to the rise of wildfiresFast fashion goes to die in this Chilean desertEnvironmentFast fashion goes to die in this Chilean desertThis is where ‘forever chemicals’ are hiding in your kitchenEnvironmentThis is where ‘forever chemicals’ are hiding in your kitchenYou're not imagining it—winters are getting warmerEnvironmentYou're not imagining it—winters are getting warmerMexico is treating corn from the U.S. as a threat. Here's why.EnvironmentMexico is treating corn from the U.S. as a threat. Here's why.History & CultureHow did this female pharaoh survive being erased from history?History MagazineHow did this female pharaoh survive being erased from history?How Black artists helped make country music what it is todayHistory & CultureRace in AmericaHow Black artists helped make country music what it is todayThese 3 samurai women were heroes of shogun era JapanHistory & CultureThese 3 samurai women were heroes of shogun era JapanLincoln was killed before their eyes—then their own horror beganHistory & CultureLincoln was killed before their eyes—then their own horror beganWas Manhattan really sold to the Dutch for just $24?History & CultureWas Manhattan really sold to the Dutch for just $24?Why Ramadan is the most sacred month in Islamic cultureHistory & CultureWhy Ramadan is the most sacred month in Islamic cultureScienceDaylight saving time is back. Here are 7 tips for better sleep.ScienceDaylight saving time is back. Here are 7 tips for better sleep.How to photograph a total solar eclipsePhotographyHow to photograph a total solar eclipseYou actually can consume too much caffeineScienceMind, Body, WonderYou actually can consume too much caffeineHow did life on Earth begin? Here are 3 theories.ScienceHow did life on Earth begin? Here are 3 theories.What's the source of your headaches? It could be your neck.ScienceMind, Body, WonderWhat's the source of your headaches? It could be your neck.These 4 medicinal herbs may help keep men healthyScienceThese 4 medicinal herbs may help keep men healthyTravelA guide to Berlin, Germany's most creative cityTravelA guide to Berlin, Germany's most creative cityWhen to visit Washington, DC: a guide to the city’s best eventsPaid ContentWhen to visit Washington, DC: a guide to the city’s best eventsThe new rules on carrying liquids through UK airport securityTravelThe new rules on carrying liquids through UK airport securityThe essential camping checklist for beginnersLifestyleThe essential camping checklist for beginnersTravelling during Ramadan? Here's what you need to know.TravelTravelling during Ramadan? Here's what you need to know.How to plan the ultimate road trip in CanadaTravelHow to plan the ultimate road trip in CanadaLegalTerms of UsePrivacy PolicyYour US State Privacy RightsChildren's Online Privacy PolicyInterest-Based AdsAbout Nielsen MeasurementDo Not Sell or Share My Personal InformationOur SitesNat Geo HomeAttend a Live EventBook a TripBuy MapsInspire Your KidsShop Nat GeoVisit the D.C. MuseumWatch TVLearn About Our ImpactSupport Our MissionMastheadPress RoomAdvertise With UsJoin UsSubscribeCustomer ServiceRenew SubscriptionManage Your SubscriptionWork at Nat GeoSign Up for Our NewslettersContribute to Protect the PlanetFollow usNational Geographic InstagramNational Geographic FacebookNational Geographic TwitterNational Geographic YoutubeNational Geographic LinkedinNational Geographic TiktokNational Geographic RedditUnited States (Change)Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

An introduction to Stonehenge | British Museum

An introduction to Stonehenge | British Museum

Facebooksprite-icon-instagramTwittersprite-icon-wechatWeiboXsprite-icon-youtubesprite-icon-accessibleGroup 3sprite-icon-arrowsprite-icon-audio-descriptionsprite-icon-calendarsprite-icon-cameraUI/Chevron/Large/Blacksprite-icon-chevronArtboard 1sprite-icon-copyrightsprite-icon-datasprite-icon-downloadsprite-icon-gridsprite-icon-imageisprite-icon-listsprite-icon-magazinesprite-icon-maximisesprite-icon-museumsprite-icon-osd-minussprite-icon-osd-plusGroup 6sprite-icon-pinsprite-icon-plussprite-icon-printFill 1sprite-icon-sharesprite-icon-shopsprite-icon-tagsprite-icon-teasprite-icon-ten-percent-tagArtboard 1sprite-icon-walletsprite-icon-zoom

Skip to main content

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

Menu

Main navigation

Visit

Toggle Visit submenu

Back to previous menu

—

Visit

—

Visit

—

Family visits

—

Group visits

—

Audio app

—

Out-of-hours tours

—

Tours and talks

—

Object trails

—

Accessibility

—

Food and drink

—

Late opening on Fridays

—

Museum map

Exhibitions and events

Collection

Toggle Collection submenu

Back to previous menu

—

Collection

—

Collection

—

Collection online

—

Galleries

—

Blog

—

The British Museum podcast

Learn

Toggle Learn submenu

Back to previous menu

—

Learn

—

Learn

—

Schools

—

Communities

—

Adult learning

—

Young people

Membership

Toggle Membership submenu

Back to previous menu

—

Membership

—

Membership

—

Members' events

—

Young Friends

—

Existing Members

—

Visiting as a Member

Support us

Toggle Support us submenu

Back to previous menu

—

Support us

—

Donate

—

Corporate support

—

Become a Patron

—

Supporter case studies

—

Become a Volunteer

—

Existing Patrons

—

Leave a legacy

—

American Friends of the British Museum

Secondary navigation

Shop

Search

Donate

Hide menu

An introduction to Stonehenge

Show image caption

Close image caption

Stonehenge at sunrise © English Heritage.

You are in the Blog section

Home

Blog

An introduction to Stonehenge

Share the page

Share on Facebook

Share on X (formerly Twitter)

By Jennifer Wexler,

Project Curator, The world of Stonehenge

Publication date: 7 December 2021

What is Stonehenge? How old is it? And why was it constructed?

Find out how and why Stonehenge was built and learn more about the people creating these extraordinary monuments and their beliefs in Britain, Ireland and continental Europe 4,500 years ago.

An introduction to Stonehenge

The ancient stone circle of Stonehenge is known around the world, surrounded by myths, folklore and speculation. But who built it and what went on there?

It's a story that transcends where the monument stands in Wiltshire in the south of England, and reaches far into continental Europe. Let's take a closer look ahead of our next major exhibition – The world of Stonehenge.

Stonehenge was constructed about 4,500 years ago at around the same time as the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. Despite their differences, these distant sites had much in common. Most importantly, the desire and ability to bring together – often over long distances – the people, materials, objects and ideas required to undertake creative feats that remain compelling after millennia.

Far from being static places, monuments like these have their roots in the changing religious, political and social practices of their era. To unravel the many mysteries these famous sites still hold, they must be set in the wider context of their time. The story of the landscape that Stonehenge was built in, the people who built it, the objects they carried and the world it belonged to provide an opportunity to see the monument with new eyes.

What is Stonehenge?

Around 5,000 years ago, people in Britain, Ireland, Germany and France starting building large monuments in the landscape, some of these we refer to as 'henges'.

Ariel view of Stonehenge © English Heritage.

So what is a 'henge'? A 'henge' is a term, originally coined by British Museum curator Thomas Kendrick in the early 1930s, used to describe a series of ceremonial monuments defined by ditches and banks of soil, usually circular or oval in shape, used to enclose a sacred space. Strangely, despite its name, Stonehenge is not a true henge! This is because, according to Kendrick's definition, a henge is supposed to have the bank outside the ditch. At Stonehenge the opposite is the case. The usefulness of the term is questionable and insignificant by comparison with the social and religious role played by these important monuments.

When was Stonehenge built?

Scientific dating techniques and painstaking archaeological research undertaken around the monument over the last few decades have brought the timeline of the site into focus. It is not possible to talk about 'one' Stonehenge – the monument was built, altered, and revered for over 1,500 years. That is equivalent to around 100 generations – it is worth pausing to let the sheer length of time sink in!

Cremated remains, carried from distant Wales, were placed along with grave goods, such as this macehead, into the foundation pits dug for the bluestones in the first phase of Stonehenge's development. Banded gneiss macehead, Scotland, about 3000 BC. © The Salisbury Museum.

The first Stonehenge was built around 5,000 years ago and comprised of 'bluestones' transported on a remarkable long-distance journey, or more likely a series of journeys, from west Wales. The term 'bluestones' refers to a type of blue volcanic rock that were specially quarried in the Preseli Mountains. They were transported on sledges, taking approximately 40–60 days to make the 200km journey from Wales to Wiltshire. The epic journey the stones made enhanced their value, meaning and symbolic significance.

At this time, the monument served as a cremation cemetery and it is estimated that possibly 150–200 people were buried there. Analysis suggests that several lived and died in west Wales before their remains may have moved with bluestones to become part of the monument. Many objects from this period have been found buried with the dead – including a beautifully crafted mace-head made of banded Gneiss (a type of rock with distinctly coloured bands), probably brought from the north of Scotland and symbolising the authority associated with several important religious centres across Britain and Ireland.

Summer solstice sunrise over Salisbury Plain as seen from the entrance of the Larkhill enclosure. © Matt Leivers.

By the time the first monument at Stonehenge was raised 5,000 years ago, the surrounding landscape was already an established and impressive place. A considerable number of similar ceremonial complexes emerged across Britain and Ireland around the same period. The monumental enclosure just a few miles away at Larkhill enshrined solstice alignments as early as 3750–3650 BC, raising the possibility that Stonehenge's key solar alignments marking the longest and shortest days of the year were prefigured by one of the earliest monuments built in the landscape. It may have inspired the construction of the 'first' Stonehenge using the Welsh bluestones.

Around 500 years later, the monument underwent a major transformation. The bluestones were rearranged, and the great sarsens (a type of hard silicified sandstone) were painstakingly moved, each requiring at least 1,000 people to transport them the 25 kilometers from their source. Each of the massive stones were pounded into shape and raised into the central setting of uprights and capping lintels – the familiar image we know today. This work required unprecedented co-operation, planning and patience in the name of social and religious service. There were perilous and dramatic moments, and the looming fear of failure must have stalked the inspired and innovative builders.

How is Stonehenge connected to the sun?

Stonehenge at sunset © English Heritage.

When the sarsens were raised at Stonehenge around 4,500 years ago, they enshrined an important solstice alignment within the fabric of the monument. The centrality of the solstices at Stonehenge, other henge monuments and stone circles suggests that linking the monument to the cycles of the cosmos was an expression of religious and symbolic ideas.

At Stonehenge, the axis of the stones at its centre marked the position of the rising midsummer and setting midwinter sun. On midsummer, the sun rises on the horizon approached by the Avenue and would be framed by the upright known as the Heel Stone. On midwinter, the sun sets in the opposite direction, between the two uprights of the tallest trilithon at the heart of the monument. Recent examination of the surfaces of the sarsen stones has shown that great care was taken to shape and dress those that framed the sun on these auspicious occasions when the sun was at the extremes of its solar journey and the fortunes of the community were thought to hang in the balance.

Across Britain, Ireland and continental Europe, monuments of equal standing to Stonehenge were being raised between 5,000 and 4,000 years ago. It is estimated that there are around 1,300 of these stone circles are still standing. Distinctive objects, decorative motifs and art from this time also convey new religious and social practices and principles. In Orkney in the northern isles of Scotland, some of the most impressive feats of ancient architecture were underway as stone circles, henges and sophisticated stone-built villages were constructed alongside grand houses of the dead, such as at the Ness of Brodgar and Ring of Brodgar shown below.

Highly-decorated stone excavated at the ceremonial settlement site of Ness of Brodgar, Orkney. © Jim Richardson.

The Ring of Brodgar © Jim Richardson.

In northeast Ireland, along the Brú na Bóinne, massive stone passage tombs like Newgrange and Knowth were constructed with long, stone-lined passageways leading to a central chamber. The magnificent tomb at Newgrange (shown below) constructed around the same time as the first monument at Stonehenge, was designed to let light into the interior of the tomb through an ingeniously placed opening in the roof, illuminating the long passage with new light at the midwinter sunrise. The intentional illumination of burial chambers by the sun at turning points in the year has clear metaphorical associations with rebirth and regeneration, and would no doubt have spoken to communities about the cyclical nature of time, the journeys of celestial bodies across the sky and of humanity's place in the wider cosmos.

Winter Solstice light, Newgrange. © Ken Williams/Shadows and Stone.

The flint macehead from deep in the chamber at Knowth shown below is a miniature masterpiece worthy of its final resting place. Carved from a single, colourful nodule of flint, it is one of the most elaborately decorated objects unearthed in Britain and Ireland from this period of remarkable stone-working at every scale.

Decorated flint macehead, Knowth, Ireland, about 3500–3000 BC. © National Museum Ireland.

The sun was a dominant element in the world of Stonehenge. For farming communities, the length of the days and the turning of the seasons was central to the patterns of life and religious belief. As people started to transition to using metalwork around 4,000 years ago, gold was turned into jewellery and cult objects (see below) imbued with the power of the sun.

Gold discs from Ireland with solar 'cross' design for personal adornment, Ireland, about 2500–2000 BC.

Is Stonehenge related to Seahenge?

In 1998, a well-preserved timber circle emerged from the shores of Holme-next-the-Sea, on the coast of Norfolk in the east of England. This unique survival was called 'Seahenge', in a reference to its similarity to timber circles that once stood in the Stonehenge landscape.

The circle had originally been built on a saltmarsh, between land and sea. In the wide horizons of this flat landscape, the land appears to touch both sea and sky. It consisted of 55 large oak posts, many of which were half-split trunks from 15 to 20 substantial oak trees felled from the same piece of oak woodland. A narrow entranceway was positioned exactly to align on the sun's path  – the midsummer rising sun illuminating the interior of the monument. The posts were tightly packed with the bark-covered sides facing outwards, creating the form of a giant tree.

Seahenge at the time of excavation. © Wendy George.

Inside the circle is the base of a mighty oak weighing two and a half tons, its roots turned towards the heavens like branches. The tree had been hauled to the site and maneuvered into place using a rope made from honeysuckle vine. This powerful vision invokes trees of life from other cultural traditions, including Yggdrasil, a huge ash tree that linked different worlds in Norse cosmology. Inversion of the everyday world may have brought the other world closer within the confines of the timber circle.

From a study of the tree rings, it is known that Seahenge was built in the spring or summer of 2049 BC, at a time when stone tools and weapons were rapidly being replaced by metal as the material of choice for social and economic life and for offerings to supernatural forces. During that period, circles of wood and stone were in decline. Seahenge was constructed near the end of a religious tradition that had lasted for almost a millennium.

Why did Stonehenge fall out of use?

In the centuries that followed the raising of the great sarsens, burying bodies with valued objects on sacred land became the dominant way of expressing cultural and spiritual meaning across Britain. At Stonehenge, hundreds of burial mounds were raised for the illustrious dead. In fact, the site has one of the densest concentrations of surviving burial mounds anywhere in Britain. The emphasis of people's labour had shifted from building large-scale monuments requiring massive communal effort to the smaller-scale construction of mounds that reflected relationships between individuals, families and communities.

Even in these changing circumstances, Stonehenge was still at the centre of religious and cultural life.

Around 3,500 years ago, there was little perceptible activity or building work at Stonehenge. This date marks a major threshold. Rather than being an active place where episodic acts of construction and modification had previously renewed the circle's vitality, Stonehenge became a monument in stasis, a situation that has continued to the present day. Several archaeologists have suggested that the circle was already in ruins by the middle of the second millennium BC, although undoubtedly the monument remained a powerful symbol.

Stonehenge still captures the modern imagination, as shown here in William Blake's illustration 'connecting monuments of the deep past with a fair and just society.' William Blake (1757–1827), Jerusalem: The Emanation of The Giant Albion. Relief etching with black ink and grey wash applied with a brush, England, 1804–1821.

Stonehenge stands not for a landscape, region or even country, but for the generations of people who have made meaning from an enduring place in a changing world.

Our exhibition The world of Stonehenge ran from 17 February to 17 July 2022, setting the great monument in context and bringing together exceptional objects that shed new light on its meaning and significance.

Books and gifts from the exhibition are still available to buy from our online shop.

Join as a Member to visit special exhibitions anytime.

Supported by bp

Organised with the State Museum of Prehistory, Halle/Saale, Germany.

You may also be interested in

Exhibitions and events / 16 February 2022

How was Stonehenge built?

Archaeologist Mike Pitts takes looks at how Stonehenge was constructed, and how people transported its huge stones to the famous site.

Read more

A timeline of Stonehenge: from hunter-gatherers to solstice alignment and beyond

Discover the rise, influence and decline of Stonehenge across 6,000 years of history.

Explore the Rosetta Stone

Get closer to the Rosetta Stone, the key that unlocked the mysterious hieroglyphic script of ancient Egypt. 

Exhibitions and events / 15 June 2022

Here comes the sun! Stonehenge and the summer solstice

Dr Susan Greaney takes a look at Stonehenge and how the summer solstice has been celebrated at the famous monument.

Read more

Connect with us

Enter your email address to receive our newsletter

Facebook

X (formerly Twitter)

Instagram

Youtube

weibo

wechat

. Opens a pop-up detailing how to access wechat.

Close

wechat

Scan the QR code to be taken to WeChat.

Back to the top

Free entry

Great Russell Street

London WC1B 3DG

+44 (0)20 7323 8000

 

Opening hours

Daily: 10.00–17.00 (Fridays: 20.30)Last entry: 16.45 (Fridays: 20.15)

Footer

About us

Governance

The British Museum story

Jobs

Press

Contact us

Visit

Museum map

Exhibitions and events

Accessibility

Food and drink

Audio guide

Commercial

Commercial hire

Filming

BM Images

Licensing

British Museum Press

Travel trade tours

Our work

Departments

National

International

How to borrow

Research

Research projects

Research publications

Scientific studies

Resources

Study rooms

Library and archive

Search the collection

Blog

Footer Legal Links

Privacy policy

Cookies

Accessibility statement

Terms of use

Modern Slavery Act Statement

Chinese site 中文

© 2024 The Trustees of the British Museum

Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites - UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites - UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Your browser does not support JavaScript.

World Heritage Convention

Help preserve sites now

Explore UNESCO

English

English

Français

Login

Our expertise About World Heritage News Events The Convention Convention Text Operational Guidelines Policy Compendium Declaration of principles to promote international solidarity and cooperation to preserve World Heritage Governing Bodies The General Assembly The Committee Resolutions / Decisions Sessions since 1976 The States Parties The Advisory Bodies Funding World Heritage Fund Financial regulations International Assistance The Emblem Questions and answers The Centre Employment & Internships Who's Who / Contacts Director of the World Heritage Centre Africa Arab States Asia & Pacific Europe & North America Latin America and the Caribbean The List Global Strategy Criteria Upstream Process Tentative Lists World Heritage List Nominations World Heritage List New Inscribed Properties World Heritage Online Map Platform Interactive Map World Heritage in Danger The List in Danger Reporting & Monitoring State of Conservation Periodic Reporting Questionnaires 2018-2024 Questionnaires 2008-2015 Reactive Monitoring List of factors affecting the properties Success Stories Examples of the Convention at work Activities Activites The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international community’s efforts to protect and preserve. Browse all activities World Heritage Canopy Heritage Solutions for Sustainable Futures Browse case studies Featured Activities Indicators Culture|2030 World Heritage Cities Programme Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape Cultural Landscapes Capacity Building Category 2 Centres Natural World Heritage Climate Change and World Heritage World Heritage Marine Programme World Heritage and Biodiversity Corporate sector and the World Heritage ‘no-go’ commitment Reducing Disasters Risks at World Heritage Properties World Heritage and Indigenous Peoples World Heritage Education Programme World Heritage Volunteers Initiative World Heritage and Sustainable Development Sustainable Tourism Programme World Heritage Programme for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Initiative on Heritage of Religious Interest Partnerships World Heritage partnerships for conservation Ensuring that World Heritage sites sustain their outstanding universal value is an increasingly challenging mission in today’s complex world, where sites are vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled urban development, unsustainable tourism practices, neglect, natural calamities, pollution, political instability, and conflict. Our Partners Donate Partnerships Marketplace Our Partners Donate Publications Publications Paper Series Urban Notebooks Brochures & Info kits Resource Manuals Other materials Newsletter Review Wall Map Documents Resources Search Glossary About this Website Terms / Policies Syndication Site Map Useful Websites Search search

World Heritage Convention

close

Searchsearch

Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information.

search

tune Filter

By Properties

By States Parties

By Regions

Danger Site

Delisted

Transboundary Property

Nomination file

Historical Description

Protections by other conservation instruments

Programme/Convention

Elements

Year Inscribed

Themes

All

Cities

Cultural Landscape

Forest

Marine & coastal

Earthen Architecture

Criteria

with

only with

Cultural Criteria:

i

ii

iii

iv

v

vi

Natural Criteria:

vii

viii

ix

x

Keywords

Category

Cultural

Natural

Mixed

Media

All

With videos

With photo gallery

Display with the brief description

Without

With

Display component parts

Less component parts

All Component parts

Order by

Country

Region

Year

Name of the property

Search 

The List

Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites

Print

Share on social media

Facebook

Twitter

UNESCO social media

Facebook

Youtube

Twitter

RSS World Heritage

Terms / Policies

Syndication

Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites

Description

Maps

Documents

Gallery

Video

Indicators

Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites

Stonehenge and Avebury, in Wiltshire, are among the most famous groups of megaliths in the world. The two sanctuaries consist of circles of menhirs arranged in a pattern whose astronomical significance is still being explored. These holy places and the nearby Neolithic sites are an incomparable testimony to prehistoric times.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Stonehenge, Avebury et sites associés

Stonehenge et Avebury, dans le Wiltshire, sont parmi les ensembles mégalithiques les plus célèbres du monde. Ces deux sanctuaires sont constitués de cercles de menhirs disposés selon un ordre aux significations astronomiques encore mal expliquées. Ces lieux sacrés et les divers sites néolithiques proches sont des témoins irremplaçables de la préhistoire.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

ستونهنج وأفيبوري والمواقع الملحقة بها

يعدّ ستونهنج وأفيبوري في ويلتشاير من المجمعات المغليثية الأشهر عالمياً وهما ضريحان مؤلفان من دوائر من المنهير (النصب الصخرية العمودية) المرتّبة وفق نظام يحمل معاني فلكية لم يتم فهمها بعد. ويشكل هذان المكانان المقدسان ومختلف المواقع النيوليتية القريبة منهما شهوداً لا مثيل لها على مرحلة ما قبل التاريخ.

source: UNESCO/CPE

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

“巨石阵”、埃夫伯里及周围的巨石遗迹

位于威尔特郡的“巨石阵”、埃夫伯里是世界上最负盛名的巨石林，它们由巨石围成圆圈，其排列方式对天文学的重要意义仍在探索之中。这个圣地和周围的新石器时代遗址为研究史前时代提供了至关重要的证据。

source: UNESCO/CPE

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Мегалитические памятники Стоунхендж, Эйвбери и прилегающие археологические объекты

Стоунхендж и Эйвбери в Уилшире являются одной из самых известных групп мегалитов в мире. Эти два святилища состоят из выстроенных кольцом больших каменных столбов-менгиров, поставленных в определенном порядке, астрономическое значение которого все еще не объяснено. Эти священные места и прилегающие неолитические объекты являются уникальными свидетельствами доисторической цивилизации.

source: UNESCO/CPE

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Stonehenge, Avebury y sitios anejos

Situados en el condado de Wiltshire, los conjuntos megalíticos de Stonehenge y Avebury figuran entre los más célebres del mundo. Ambos santuarios están constituidos por círculos de menhires dispuestos en un orden cuya significación astronómica todavía no se ha dilucidado. Estos lugares sagrados y los distintos sitios neolíticos de los alrededores son testimonios incomparables de los tiempos prehistóricos.

source: UNESCO/CPE

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

ストーンヘンジ、エーヴベリーと関連する遺跡群

イングランド南部のソールズベリー平原にあるストーンサークル（環状列石）で有名な巨石遺跡。直径約100mの土盛りの遺構の内側に、立石の輪と穴が同心円状に広がっている。BC2000年～同1600年ごろのものと考えられているが、その目的は墓域、太陽崇拝、天文台など諸説があり、謎に包まれている。ストーンヘンジの北約30kmほどにあるエーヴベリーにも同様の遺跡がある。

source: NFUAJ

Stonehenge, Avebury en bijbehorende locaties

Stonehenge en Avebury in Wiltshire behoren tot de meest bekende megalithische monumenten ter wereld. De twee heiligdommen bestaan uit cirkels van menhirs gerangschikt in een patroon waarvan de astronomische betekenis nog wordt onderzocht. Deze heilige plaatsen en de nabijgelegen neolithische gebieden vormen unieke overblijfselen van de prehistorie. Er zijn uitzonderlijk veel prehistorische monumenten bewaard gebleven. Ze geven inzicht in de dodenverering en ceremoniële praktijken uit deze periode en zijn het bewijs van prehistorische technologie, architectuur en astronomie. Daarnaast geeft de zorgvuldige plaatsing van de monumenten in relatie tot het landschap, meer inzicht in de Neolithische en Bronstijd.

Source: unesco.nl

English

French

Arabic

Chinese

Russian

Spanish

Japanese

Dutch

Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

© UNESCO

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

The World Heritage property Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites is internationally important for its complexes of outstanding prehistoric monuments. Stonehenge is the most architecturally sophisticated prehistoric stone circle in the world, while Avebury is the largest. Together with inter-related monuments, and their associated landscapes, they demonstrate Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial and mortuary practices resulting from around 2000 years of continuous use and monument building between circa 3700 and 1600 BC. As such they represent a unique embodiment of our collective heritage.

The World Heritage property comprises two areas of Chalkland in southern Britain within which complexes of Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial and funerary monuments and associated sites were built. Each area contains a focal stone circle and henge and many other major monuments. At Stonehenge these include the Avenue, the Cursuses, Durrington Walls, Woodhenge, and the densest concentration of burial mounds in Britain. At Avebury they include Windmill Hill, the West Kennet Long Barrow, the Sanctuary, Silbury Hill, the West Kennet and Beckhampton Avenues, the West Kennet Palisaded Enclosures, and important barrows.

Stonehenge is one of the most impressive prehistoric megalithic monuments in the world on account of the sheer size of its megaliths, the sophistication of its concentric plan and architectural design, the shaping of the stones - uniquely using both Wiltshire Sarsen sandstone and Pembroke Bluestone - and the precision with which it was built.

At Avebury, the massive Henge, containing the largest prehistoric stone circle in the world, and Silbury Hill, the largest prehistoric mound in Europe, demonstrate the outstanding engineering skills which were used to create masterpieces of earthen and megalithic architecture. 

There is an exceptional survival of prehistoric monuments and sites within the World Heritage property including settlements, burial grounds, and large constructions of earth and stone. Today, together with their settings, they form landscapes without parallel. These complexes would have been of major significance to those who created them, as is apparent by the huge investment of time and effort they represent. They provide an insight into the mortuary and ceremonial practices of the period, and are evidence of prehistoric technology, architecture and astronomy. The careful siting of monuments in relation to the landscape helps us to further understand the Neolithic and Bronze Age.

Criterion (i): The monuments of the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites demonstrate outstanding creative and technological achievements in prehistoric times.

Stonehenge is the most architecturally sophisticated prehistoric stone circle in the world. It is unrivalled in its design and unique engineering, featuring huge horizontal stone lintels capping the outer circle and the trilithons, locked together by carefully shaped joints. It is distinguished by the unique use of two different kinds of stones (Bluestones and Sarsens), their size (the largest weighing over 40 t) and the distance they were transported (up to 240 km). The sheer scale of some of the surrounding monuments is also remarkable: the Stonehenge Cursus and the Avenue are both about 3 km long, while Durrington Walls is the largest known henge in Britain, around 500 m in diameter, demonstrating the ability of prehistoric peoples to conceive, design and construct features of great size and complexity.

Avebury prehistoric stone circle is the largest in the world. The encircling henge consists of a huge bank and ditch 1.3 km in circumference, within which 180 local, unshaped standing stones formed the large outer and two smaller inner circles.  Leading from two of its four entrances, the West Kennet and Beckhampton Avenues of parallel standing stones still connect it with other monuments in the landscape. Another outstanding monument, Silbury Hill, is the largest prehistoric mound in Europe. Built around 2400 BC, it stands 39.5 m high and comprises half a million tonnes of chalk. The purpose of this imposing, skilfully engineered monument remains obscure.

Criterion (ii): The World Heritage property provides an outstanding illustration of the evolution of monument construction and of the continual use and shaping of the landscape over more than 2000 years, from the early Neolithic to the Bronze Age.  The monuments and landscape have had an unwavering influence on architects, artists, historians and archaeologists, and still retain a huge potential for future research.

The megalithic and earthen monuments of the World Heritage property demonstrate the shaping of the landscape through monument building for around 2000 years from circa 3700 BC, reflecting the importance and wide influence of both areas.

Since the 12th century when Stonehenge was considered one of the wonders of the world by the chroniclers Henry de Huntington and Geoffrey de Monmouth, the Stonehenge and Avebury Sites have excited curiosity and been the subject of study and speculation. Since early investigations by John Aubrey (1626-1697), Inigo Jones (1573-1652), and William Stukeley (1687-1765), they have had an unwavering influence on architects, archaeologists, artists and historians. The two parts of the World Heritage property provide an excellent opportunity for further research.

Today, the property has spiritual associations for some.

Criterion (iii): The complexes of monuments at Stonehenge and Avebury provide an exceptional insight into the funerary and ceremonial practices in Britain in the Neolithic and Bronze Age. Together with their settings and associated sites, they form landscapes without parallel.

The design, position and interrelationship of the monuments and sites are evidence of a wealthy and highly organised prehistoric society able to impose its concepts on the environment. An outstanding example is the alignment of the Stonehenge Avenue (probably a processional route) and Stonehenge stone circle on the axis of the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset, indicating their ceremonial and astronomical character. At Avebury the length and size of some of the features such as the West Kennet Avenue, which connects the Henge to the Sanctuary over 2 km away, are further evidence of this.

A profound insight into the changing mortuary culture of the periods is provided by the use of Stonehenge as a cremation cemetery, by the West Kennet Long Barrow, the largest known Neolithic stone-chambered collective tomb in southern England, and by the hundreds of other burial sites illustrating evolving funerary rites.

Integrity

The boundaries of the property capture the attributes that together convey Outstanding Universal Value at Stonehenge and Avebury. They contain the major Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments that exemplify the creative genius and technological skills for which the property is inscribed. The Avebury and Stonehenge landscapes are extensive, both being around 25 square kilometres, and capture the relationship between the monuments as well as their landscape setting.

At Avebury the boundary was extended in 2008 to include East Kennet Long Barrow and Fyfield Down with its extensive Bronze Age field system and naturally occurring Sarsen Stones. At Stonehenge the boundary will be reviewed to consider the possible inclusion of related, significant monuments nearby such as Robin Hood’s Ball, a Neolithic causewayed enclosure.

The setting of some key monuments extends beyond the boundary. Provision of buffer zones or planning guidance based on a comprehensive setting study should be considered to protect the setting of both individual monuments and the overall setting of the property.

The survival of the Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments at both Stonehenge and Avebury is exceptional and remarkable given their age – they were built and used between around 3700 and 1600 BC. Stone and earth monuments retain their original design and materials. The timber structures have disappeared but postholes indicate their location. Monuments have been regularly maintained and repaired as necessary.

The presence of busy main roads going through the World Heritage property impacts adversely on its integrity. The roads sever the relationship between Stonehenge and its surrounding monuments, notably the A344 which separates the Stone Circle from the Avenue. At Avebury, roads cut through some key monuments including the Henge and the West Kennet Avenue. The A4 separates the Sanctuary from its barrow group at Overton Hill. Roads and vehicles also cause damage to the fabric of some monuments while traffic noise and visual intrusion have a negative impact on their settings. The incremental impact of highway-related clutter needs to be carefully managed.

Development pressures are present and require careful management. Impacts from existing intrusive development should be mitigated where possible.

Authenticity

Interventions have been limited mainly to excavations and the re-erection of some fallen or buried stones to their known positions in the early and mid-twentieth century in order to improve understanding. Ploughing, burrowing animals and early excavation have resulted in some losses but what remains is remarkable in its completeness and concentration. The materials and substance of the archaeology supported by the archaeological archives continue to provide an authentic testimony to prehistoric technological and creative achievement.

This survival and the huge potential of buried archaeology make the property an extremely important resource for archaeological research, which continues to uncover new evidence and expand our understanding of prehistory. Present day research has enormously improved our understanding of the property.

The known principal monuments largely remain in situ and many are still dominant features in the rural landscape. Their form and design are well-preserved and visitors are easily able to appreciate their location, setting and interrelationships which in combination represent landscapes without parallel. 

At Stonehenge several monuments have retained their alignment on the Solstice sunrise and sunset, including the Stone Circle, the Avenue, Woodhenge, and the Durrington Walls Southern Circle and its Avenue. 

Although the original ceremonial use of the monuments is not known, they retain spiritual significance for some people, and many still gather at both stone circles to celebrate the Solstice and other observations. Stonehenge is known and valued by many more as the most famous prehistoric monument in the world. 

There is a need to strengthen understanding of the overall relationship between remains, both buried and standing, at Stonehenge and at Avebury.

Protection and management requirements

The UK Government protects World Heritage properties in England in two ways:  firstly, individual buildings, monuments and landscapes are designated under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and the 1979 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act, and secondly through the UK Spatial Planning system under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Acts. The individual sites within the property are protected through the Government’s designation of individual buildings, monuments, gardens and landscapes.

Government guidance on protecting the Historic Environment and World Heritage is set out in National Planning Policy Framework and Circular 07/09. Policies to protect, promote, conserve and enhance World Heritage properties, their settings and buffer zones are also found in statutory planning documents. The protection of the property and its setting from inappropriate development could be further strengthened through the adoption of a specific Supplementary Planning Document.

At a local level, the property is protected by the legal designation of all its principal monuments. There is a specific policy in the Local Development Framework to protect the Outstanding Universal Value of the property from inappropriate development, along with adequate references in relevant strategies and plans at all levels. The Wiltshire Core Strategy includes a specific World Heritage Property policy. This policy states that additional planning guidance will be produced to ensure its effective implementation and thereby the protection of the World Heritage property from inappropriate development. The policy also recognises the need to produce a setting study to enable this. Once the review of the Stonehenge boundary is completed, work on the setting study shall begin.

The Local Planning Authority is responsible for continued protection through policy development and its effective implementation in deciding planning applications with the management plans for Stonehenge and Avebury as a key material consideration. These plans also take into account the range of other values relevant to the site in addition to Outstanding Universal Value. Avebury lies within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a national statutory designation to ensure the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty of the landscape.

About a third of the property at both Stonehenge and Avebury is owned and managed by conservation bodies: English Heritage, a non-departmental government body, and the National Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds which are both charities. Agri-environment schemes, an example of partnership working between private landowners and Natural England (a non-departmental government body), are very important for protecting and enhancing the setting of prehistoric monuments through measures such as grass restoration and scrub control. Much of the property can be accessed through public rights of way as well as permissive paths and open access provided by some agri-environment schemes. Managed open access is provided at Solstice. There are a significant number of private households within the property and local residents therefore have an important role in its stewardship

The property has effective management plans, coordinators and steering groups at both Stonehenge and Avebury. There is a need for an overall integrated management system for the property which will be addressed by the establishment of a coordinating Stonehenge and Avebury Partnership Panel whilst retaining the Stonehenge and Avebury steering groups to enable specific local issues to be addressed and to maintain the meaningful engagement of the community. A single property management plan will replace the two separate management plans.

An overall visitor management and interpretation strategy, together with a landscape strategy needs to be put in place to optimise access to and understanding of the property. This should include improved interpretation for visitors and the local community both on site and in local museums, holding collections excavated from the property as well as through publications and the web. These objectives are being addressed at Stonehenge through the development of a visitor centre and the Interpretation, Learning and Participation Strategy. The updated Management Plan will include a similar strategy for Avebury. Visitor management and sustainable tourism challenges and opportunities are addressed by specific objectives in both the Stonehenge and Avebury Management Plans.

An understanding of the overall relationship between buried and standing remains continues to be developed through research projects such as the “Between the Monuments” project and extensive geophysical surveys. Research Frameworks have been published for the Site and are regularly reviewed. These encourage further relevant research. The Woodland Strategy, an example of a landscape level management project, once complete, can be built on to include other elements of landscape scale planning.

It is important to maintain and enhance the improvements to monuments achieved through grass restoration and to avoid erosion of earthen monuments and buried archaeology through visitor pressure and burrowing animals.

At the time of inscription the State Party agreed to remove the A344 road to reunite Stonehenge and its Avenue and improve the setting of the Stone Circle. Work to deliver the closure of the A344 will be complete in 2013. The project also includes a new Stonehenge visitor centre. This will provide world class visitor facilities including interpretation of the wider World Heritage property landscape and the removal of modern clutter from the setting of the Stone Circle.  Although substantial progress is being made, the impact of roads and traffic remains a major challenge in both parts of the World Heritage property. The A303 continues to have a negative impact on the setting of Stonehenge, the integrity of the property and visitor access to some parts of the wider landscape. A long-term solution remains to be found. At Avebury, a World Heritage Site Traffic Strategy will be developed to establish guidance and identify a holistic set of actions to address the negative impacts that the dominance of roads, traffic and related clutter has on integrity, the condition and setting of monuments and the ease and confidence with which visitors and the local community are able to explore the wider property.

Links

English Heritage, Avebury (in English only)

National Trust, Avebury (in English only)

National Trust, Stonehenge Landscape (in English only)

English Heritage, Stonehenge (in English only)

Twitter account

Stonehenge & Avebury, World Heritage Site (in English only)

Activities 2

Avebury Residents’ Pack: bringing together diverse stakeholders in Avebury (United Kingdom)

Guide 4 – Case Study: Avebury World Heritage site, Wiltshire (United Kingdom)

News 6

‘Proposed Scheme’ for the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down and the State of Conservation of "Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites"

28 August 2018

State of conservation of the World Heritage Property "Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites" (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

26 September 2017

State of conservation of Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

4 August 2015

Google and UNESCO announce alliance to provide virtual visits of several World Heritage sites

3 December 2009

More add

UNESCO regrets U.K. government's decision to cancel A303 road improvement scheme for Stonehenge World Heritage property

7 December 2007

Huge Settlement Unearthed Near Stonehenge World Heritage Site

13 February 2007

Events 1

UNESCO UK World Heritage Site Youth Summit 2009

22 May 2009

Media

play_arrow Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites (UNESCO/NHK)

play_arrow Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites (UNESCO/NHK)

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Date of Inscription: 1986

Minor boundary modification inscribed year: 2008

Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)

Property :

4,985.4 ha

Dossier: 373bis

Wiltshire, England

N51 10 44 W1 49 31

Web Browser not supported for ESRI ArcGIS API version 4.10. WebGL must be enable, see documentation

State of Conservation (SOC)

by year

2023

2021

2019

2018

2017

2011

2009

2008

2007

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1998

1994

1992

Committee sessions Statutory Documents Committee decisions 46th session (2024) Extented 45th session (2023) 19th Extraordinary session (2023) General Assembly 25th GA (2025) 24th GA UNESCO Paris (2023) 23rd GA UNESCO Paris (2021) About World Heritage The Convention Convention Text Policy Compendium Declaration of principles Operational Guidelines The Emblem The States Parties The Advisory Bodies The Centre Employment & Internships Who's Who The List World Heritage List World Heritage in Danger New Inscriptions Criteria for Selection Tentative Lists World Heritage List Nominations Reporting & Monitoring State of Conservation (SOC) Periodic Reporting Questionnaires 2018-2024 Questionnaires 2008-2015 Reactive Monitoring Africa Arab States Asia & Pacific Latin America and the Caribbean Europe and North America Partnerships Become a Partner What Partners Do Our Partners Activities All our activities Volunteer Publications World Heritage Review Series Resource Manuals World Heritage wall map More publications ... Funding World Heritage Fund International Assistance More Contacts Site Map Become a member Donate Now! UNESCO UNESCO Latest News Take Action Ideas & Data Our Impact Our expertise Core Data Portal Subscribe to our Newsletter Terms of use UNESCO Name & Logo UNESCO FAQ Report fraud, abuse, misconduct Scam alert Policies Protection of human rights (Procedure 104) Access to Information Website Privacy Notice Events Privacy Notice Data Protection and Privacy Environmental and Social Policies Follow us Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube Linkedin Syndication RSS

UNESCO

Culture

World Heritage Centre

The ListWorld Heritage List

© UNESCO World Heritage Centre 1992-2024

top

×

remember my profile

Login 

Forgot your username or password?

Become a member

<

The world of Stonehenge | British Museum

The world of Stonehenge | British Museum

Facebooksprite-icon-instagramTwittersprite-icon-wechatWeiboXsprite-icon-youtubesprite-icon-accessibleGroup 3sprite-icon-arrowsprite-icon-audio-descriptionsprite-icon-calendarsprite-icon-cameraUI/Chevron/Large/Blacksprite-icon-chevronArtboard 1sprite-icon-copyrightsprite-icon-datasprite-icon-downloadsprite-icon-gridsprite-icon-imageisprite-icon-listsprite-icon-magazinesprite-icon-maximisesprite-icon-museumsprite-icon-osd-minussprite-icon-osd-plusGroup 6sprite-icon-pinsprite-icon-plussprite-icon-printFill 1sprite-icon-sharesprite-icon-shopsprite-icon-tagsprite-icon-teasprite-icon-ten-percent-tagArtboard 1sprite-icon-walletsprite-icon-zoom

Skip to main content

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

Menu

Main navigation

Visit

Toggle Visit submenu

Back to previous menu

—

Visit

—

Visit

—

Family visits

—

Group visits

—

Audio app

—

Out-of-hours tours

—

Tours and talks

—

Object trails

—

Accessibility

—

Food and drink

—

Late opening on Fridays

—

Museum map

Exhibitions and events

Collection

Toggle Collection submenu

Back to previous menu

—

Collection

—

Collection

—

Collection online

—

Galleries

—

Blog

—

The British Museum podcast

Learn

Toggle Learn submenu

Back to previous menu

—

Learn

—

Learn

—

Schools

—

Communities

—

Adult learning

—

Young people

Membership

Toggle Membership submenu

Back to previous menu

—

Membership

—

Membership

—

Members' events

—

Young Friends

—

Existing Members

—

Visiting as a Member

Support us

Toggle Support us submenu

Back to previous menu

—

Support us

—

Donate

—

Corporate support

—

Become a Patron

—

Supporter case studies

—

Become a Volunteer

—

Existing Patrons

—

Leave a legacy

—

American Friends of the British Museum

Secondary navigation

Shop

Search

Donate

Hide menu

Past exhibition

The world ofStonehenge

Exhibition

/

17 Feb 2022

– 17 Jul 2022

See current exhibitions

Supported by bp

Show image caption

Close image caption

Nebra Sky Disc, Germany, about 1600 BC. Photo courtesy of the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt. Photo: Juraj Lipták.

You are in the Exhibitions section

Home

Exhibitions

The world of Stonehenge

Share the page

Share on Facebook

Share on X (formerly Twitter)

Jump links

Contents

Explore Stonehenge

Access

Schools

Past exhibition

17 February – 17 July 2022

Room 30

The Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery

Organised with the State Museum of Prehistory, Halle/Saale, Germany

Watch the curators' exhibition tour

See current exhibitions

Sign up to our emails and be the first to hear about upcoming exhibitions and events.

For the catalogue, homewares and gifts from the exhibition, visit the British Museum Shop.

Towering above the Wiltshire countryside, Stonehenge is perhaps the world's most awe-inspiring ancient stone circle.

Shrouded in layers of speculation and folklore, this iconic British monument has spurred myths and legends that persist today. In this special exhibition, the British Museum revealed the secrets of Stonehenge, shining a light on its purpose, cultural power and the people who created it.Following the story of Britain and Europe from 4000 to 1000 BC, visitors learned about the restless and highly connected age of Stonehenge – a period of immense transformation and radical ideas that changed society forever.The human story behind the stones revealed itself through a variety of fascinating objects. Among these were stone axes from the North Italian Alps, stunning gold jewellery and astonishing examples of early metalwork including the Nebra Sky Disc – the world's oldest surviving map of the stars. A remarkably preserved 4,000-year-old timber circle dubbed Seahenge also took centre stage in the show, on loan for the very first time. All these objects offered important clues about the beliefs, rituals, and complex worldview of Neolithic people, helping to build a vivid sense of life for Europe's earliest ancestors. Informed by ground-breaking recent archaeological and scientific discoveries, this landmark exhibition offered new insight on one of the world's great wonders, bringing the true story of Stonehenge into sharper focus than ever before.

Explore Stonehenge

A timeline of Stonehenge: from hunter-gatherers to solstice alignment and beyond

Discover the rise, influence and decline of Stonehenge across 6,000 years of history.

An introduction to Stonehenge

Surrounded by myths, folklore and speculation, find out more about this ancient monument built about 4,500 years ago.

Watch past 'Stonehenge' events

From revealing new research to a special curators' tour, enjoy our programme of 'Stonehenge' events, available to watch on YouTube.

Explore Stonehenge

Stonehenge and the summer solstice

'Standing in the centre of the monument on midsummer’s day... the first rays of the day shine into the heart of Stonehenge.'

Take a tour of 'Stonehenge'

Watch the curators guide you through the exhibition as they try to answer: who were the people of Stonehenge?

How was Stonehenge built?

Archaeologist Mike Pitts takes a closer look at Stonehenge, asking who built it? Why? When? And how?

Reviews

5

of 5 stars

a knockout epic

The Guardian

5

of 5 stars

magnificent

The Times

5

of 5 stars

astonishing artefacts

The Evening Standard

Access

View the large print guide, which is designed for visually impaired visitors and provides all the exhibition text in large print. You can also view the plain English guide, which is designed for learning-disabled visitors and provides a description of 10 key objects from the exhibition in plain English.

Download The world of Stonehenge – large print guide

(PDF, 594.39 KB)

Download The world of Stonehenge – plain English guide

(PDF, 4.19 MB)

Schools

Teachers' resources

Discover ideas for learning with free downloadable resources for teachers.

For students aged 7–14 (KS2–KS3).

Download The world of Stonehenge exhibition guide for teachers

(PDF, 480.68 KB)

Download The world of Stonehenge image bank for the classroom

(PDF, 1.64 MB)

You may also be interested in

Past exhibition

Hieroglyphs: unlocking ancient Egypt

. Past exhibition

.

The hidden world of ancient Egypt was revealed through the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, which provided the key to decoding hieroglyphs.

Find out more about Hieroglyphs: unlocking ancient Egypt

Book now

Legion: life in the Roman army

. Book now

.

From family life on the fort to the brutality of the battlefield, experience Rome's war machine through the people who knew it best.

Find out more about Legion: life in the Roman army

Past exhibition

Tutankhamun reimagined

. Past exhibition

.

Egyptian graffiti artist Nofal O responded to Tutankhamun’s legacy with a powerful display painted directly onto the walls of Room 3.

Find out more about Tutankhamun reimagined

Book now

Michelangelo: the last decades

. Book now

.

This major exhibition looks at the remarkable energy and creativity Michelangelo brought to the last 30 years of his life.

Find out more about Michelangelo: the last decades

Connect with us

Enter your email address to receive our newsletter

Facebook

X (formerly Twitter)

Instagram

Youtube

weibo

wechat

. Opens a pop-up detailing how to access wechat.

Close

wechat

Scan the QR code to be taken to WeChat.

Back to the top

Free entry

Great Russell Street

London WC1B 3DG

+44 (0)20 7323 8000

 

Opening hours

Daily: 10.00–17.00 (Fridays: 20.30)Last entry: 16.45 (Fridays: 20.15)

Footer

About us

Governance

The British Museum story

Jobs

Press

Contact us

Visit

Museum map

Exhibitions and events

Accessibility

Food and drink

Audio guide

Commercial

Commercial hire

Filming

BM Images

Licensing

British Museum Press

Travel trade tours

Our work

Departments

National

International

How to borrow

Research

Research projects

Research publications

Scientific studies

Resources

Study rooms

Library and archive

Search the collection

Blog

Footer Legal Links

Privacy policy

Cookies

Accessibility statement

Terms of use

Modern Slavery Act Statement

Chinese site 中文

© 2024 The Trustees of the British Museum