Stonehenge

Believed to be Britain’s greatest monument, Stonehenge is a formation of stones on the Salisbury Plains in Southern England that remains a mystery to this day. Many believe that Stonehenge was built in many different phases, between 2800-1800 BC. Its purpose has been debated over the years, but most believe that it was built to allow for astronomical studies and observation. Other people believe that Stonehenge was used as a temple of worship and a burial ground. The specific formation of the stones has baffled many scholars, but a common conclusion is that the formation of certain stones is able to predict the movement of the sun and the moon. There are many myths that surround Stonehenge in addition to the scientifical theories. One such myth derives from a story written by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century. According to this story, Aurelius, the king of the Britons, wanted to build a monument over the site of several graves believed to contain Saxon soldiers, at which point Merlin the magician pointed out the site of Stonehenge when asked where such a place could be found. The location of Stonehenge is a very significant detail. Stonehenge sits in the middle of a vast area of land that consists of many historic ceremonial formations. The area has been named a World Heritage Site due to its great historic significance. The main mystery behind Stonehenge is the ability the people of the time had to construct a formation with such advanced architecture. Another mystery behind Stonehenge is how people were able to transport such stones such far distances, due to the fact that some of the main stones in the formation weigh up to several tons.