What was the purpose of Stonehenge?

Answer

Stonehenge is a stone monument located in the south of England. The name originates from two Old English words, “stan,” meaning “stone,” and “hencg,” meaning “hinge,” as the stone lintels “hinge” on the upright stones. Archaeologists describe a henge as earthworks comprising a circular banked enclosure with an internal ditch. Stonehenge is not technically a henge because its bank is within its ditch. The bank and ditch represent the earliest phase of Stonehenge and are believed to date back to around 3000 B.C.

At a certain point, the northeast entrance of Stonehenge was expanded to align precisely with the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset of that era. Subsequently, massive sarsen stones (a type of sandstone) were shaped with mortise and tenon joints before being raised in a 108-foot-diameter circle with a ring of thirty lintel stones placed on top. The lintels were attached to the “posts” using tongue-and-groove joints. Inside this circle stood five trilithons (ten uprights and five lintels) made of dressed sarsen stone, each stone weighing up to 50 tons. They were symmetrically arranged and interconnected using intricate jointing.

A large timber circle and avenue are situated two miles away from Stonehenge at Durrington Walls overlooking the River Avon. This timber circle was aligned towards the rising sun on the midwinter solstice, in contrast to the solar alignments at Stonehenge, while the avenue was oriented with the setting sun on the summer solstice. Evidence of significant fires on the banks of the River Avon between the two avenues suggests that both circles were connected and possibly used as a procession route.

The most recent discoveries (from 2012) suggest that Stonehenge served as a burial site. Professor Mike Parker Pearson of Sheffield University and his team of archaeologists have unearthed a large quantity of cremated human bones. Fragments of unburnt human bone have also been found.In the ditch-fill and all of this evidence suggests that Stonehenge served as an enclosed cremation cemetery. Professor Pearson proposes that the wooden circle at Durrington Walls was the heart of a “land of the living,” while the stone circle at Stonehenge symbolized a “land of the dead.” Traveling along the banks of the Avon to reach Stonehenge was a part of a ceremonial journey from life to death.

Various hypotheses exist regarding the purpose of Stonehenge: some suggest it was constructed as an astronomical observatory to facilitate the forecasting of eclipses, solstices, equinoxes, and other celestial occurrences that held significance for the ancient inhabitants of the region. There are speculations about its mystical religious importance, potential human sacrifices, and associations with Druids. (It is worth noting that the Druids did not appear in Britain until long after Stonehenge was built.) Professor Pearson proposes that the monument aimed to bring together the diverse peoples of the British Isles, suggesting that the immense labor required for Stonehenge’s construction necessitated extensive inter-regional collaboration.

Throughout the 20th century, Stonehenge captured the interest of followers of neo-pagan and New Age beliefs, particularly the neo-Druids. In August 1905, the Ancient Order of Druids held a large initiation ceremony at Stonehenge. Subsequently, from 1972 to 1984, the Stonehenge Free Festival was established, but it concluded in 1985, and the ritual use of Stonehenge is now greatly restricted. Presently, the site holds significance as a place of pagan religious importance and serves as a pilgrimage site for neo-Druids.

One fact remains indisputable: Stonehenge is the largest Neolithic settlement in Northern Europe, and the surrounding area was transformed into an intricate ceremonial pathway for the deceased. It is also widely acknowledged that Stonehenge functioned as a burial site.

Numerous henges and stone circles have been unearthed across the British Isles. Avebury in Wiltshire, located in southwest England, stands out as one of the most renowned prehistoric sites in Britain. In the northwest of the country,

England, located in Cumbria (near the Scottish border), is home to a Bronze Age stone circle known as “Long Meg and Her Daughters.” In Orkney, in the northern part of Scotland, you can find The Ring of Brodgar, a Neolithic henge and stone circle. Despite the religious importance these locations once held, they were eventually abandoned with the spread of Christianity.