The Stonehenge

For Thousands of years, this monument in modern day Wiltshire, England has left people with a mystery. The large stone circle, called the Stonehenge, astonishes scientists with how such a large scale construction was able to be pulled off within the Neolithic Period and Bronze age. It is one of the seven wonders of the world, and nobody knows what the reason for building it was. After reviewing the evidence found from the Stonehenges, they were most likely used for a feasting site, an astronomical calendar, a healing ground, or even a cemetery for people of higher status. The Stonehenges were created between 3000 and 1500 B.C. During the construction two different types of stone were used, a smaller stone and a large stone. The smaller

Many people and even scientists have came up with multiple theories as to why they were made and what they were used for. Some are much more well known than others such as it being a sacred hunting ground and feasting site, before the stonehenge was created. The site has evidence of an extinct animal bones, known as an auroch, flint tools, and signs of burning. Some believe it was built and used as a monument for unity. “During the monuments period of intense building, between 3000 B.C. and 2500 B.C., the culture of the British isle was increasingly unified, a fact exemplified by more uniform pottery styles taking hold throughout the region.”(http://www.livescience.com) The build itself would require thousands of workers and that would be a unifying experience in itself. A common belief is that it is an astronomical calendar. It thought that the people celebrated winter solstice at the stonehenge. “The avenue near Stonehenge is aligned with the winter solstice sunset, and nearby archaeological evidence suggests that pigs were slaughtered during December and January — possibly for a mid-winter feast.” (http://www.livescience.com) It also faces the sunrise during the summer solstice. Many of the skeletons buried near the site bear marks of illness or injury, leading people to propose the site was a spot for ancient healing. Lending credence to that theory, many of Stonehenge's bluestones have been chipped away over the ages, perhaps by long-lost pilgrims seeking protective or healing talismans from the location. Of course, Stonehenge may have built for many, some or none of these reasons, and odds are no one will ever know for