Stonehenge Research Paper

The mysteries of Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plains of England have perplexed human-kind since the beginning of recorded history. Some of the stones weighing as much as 40 tons were said to be transferred from Wales, which was a distance of about 137 miles. With the use of radiocarbon analysis at the site of Stonehenge it has been determined that the monument was built between 3000 and 1500 BC. The original purpose of Stonehenge has been lost in the pages of time, and therefore has been a major topic of discussion for archaeologists. Since the mid 12th century archaeologist, geologists, historians, and even some authors have put forth their own opinion of when and why Stonehenge was built. Throughout this essay I shall analyse and interpret

Geologists believe that the bluestones at Stonehenge came from Preseli Hills of Wales which is 137 miles from the stones current location. It is due to this fact that many people believe this would have been a herculean task for people living 5000 years ago and that they just did not have the correct equipment and skills to transport such a large amount of stone (2).Author Erich von Däniken is considered to be the father of the Alien Theory and has suggested that Stonehenge is a model of our Solar System. Other scholars have suggested Stonehenge was used as a type of alien landing pad, or as an astronomical observatory for extraterrestrial activities in the skies. In a recent study it was determined that Neolithic engineers could have used ball bearings in the construction of Stonehenge (3). To test this theory, researchers used wooden balls inserted in notches dug out on timber planks and attempted to pull similarly heavy stones. After the experiment professor Bruce Bradley calculated that with the help of 10 oxen Neolithic peoples could have transported the stones 10 miles per

Lockyer related Stonehenge to other astronomical temples created by the Egyptians. Lockyer determined that at the time on the Plains it would have been especially necessary to predict certain times of the year for agricultural operations. In the book Solving Stonehenge by Anthony Johnson, we are told that Stonehenge was created using advanced geometry. This fact could mean that past peoples were much more intelligent than once thought, and could have very well constructed such a monument for astronomical observation. A later American astronomer Gerald Hawkins further studies Lockyer`s theory and in doing so discovered 165 points on the monument that were related to solstices, equinoxes and the solar and lunar eclipse (12). I find that if one combines this theory with the theory of a burial ground, we can closely relate Stonehenge to the pyramids of Egypt, which were created following astronomical patterns but also meant to be used as a vessel to the