Canada and the World
Current Events with a Canadian Perspective
Last update
22 December 2010
Stonehenge Mystery
Continues to Puzzle
Scientists have found evidence of a second
stone circle close to the original raising
the possibility the landmark is connected to funerals
Johnny Pixel Productions
Stonehenge is an impressive circle of massive stone blocks on Salisbury Plain in southwest England. The location is bleak and almost treeless, but as National Geographic writer James Owens points out Stonehenge “ranks among the world’s most iconic archaeological sites and one of its greatest enigmas.”
The 80 stones used in the construction, weighing up to four tonnes each, were quarried in Wales, 380 kilometres away. They were then dragged to the site and erected by a people whose technology involved using deer antlers for picks and the shoulder blades of cattle for shovels.
What is thought to have been the construction process is described by sacred-
Some Bizarre Theories about Stonehenge’s Purpose
The huge blocks of stone used to build the monument were erected about 5,000 years ago by people who left no record of how they built the stone circle or why.
The folklore theory is that Stonehenge was built by Merlin, the wizard of Arthurian legend.
There are those who believe the stone circle was left behind by space travellers, and others who say it was put up by invading Danes or Romans.
There is also the notion that Stonehenge is homage to some fertility god because, with quite a bit of imagination, the circle can be seen to resemble female genitalia.
Scientific Theory for Stone Circle more Reliable
More plausible explanations for the monument’s existence come from archeologists who have studied it for years.
Britannia History writes that some have suggested “it was a temple made for the worship
of ancient earth deities. It has been called an astronomical observatory for marking
significant events on the prehistoric calendar. Others claim that it was a sacred
site for the burial of high-
This last speculation is gathering credence with a recent discovery.
“Bluestonehenge” Found Close to Original Site
Writing for Associated Press (October 2009), Gregory Katz reports that scientists have found another, smaller, stone circle 2.8 kilometres from Stonehenge.
According to Katz this new find “may confirm the theory that the mysterious monument in southwest England was part of a massive funeral complex built around a river.”
Called “Bluestonehenge,” after the colour of the 25 Welsh stones of which it was once made up, stood beside the Avon River. The actual stones were removed thousands of years ago, but the archeological dig found the hole in which they stood in a circle about 10 metres in diameter.
Standing Stones Marked Processional Route
The team that made the Bluestonehenge discovery is part of the Stonehenge Riverside Project, a consortium of university teams.
In a news release (October 2009) finding of this previously unknown stone circle
is confirmation of the Project’s theory “that the River Avon linked a ‘domain of
the living’ -
Professor Mike Parker Pearson at the University of Sheffield is Director of the Project. He said, “It could be that Bluestonehenge was where the dead began their final journey to Stonehenge.”
He thinks the bluestone circle is where the dead were cremated. Their ashes were then carried to Stonehenge for burial.
Sources
“Scientists Try to Crack Stonehenge’s Prehistoric Puzzles.” James Owens, National Geographic.
“Find: Stonehenge Could Be Part of Funeral Complex.” Gregory Katz, Associated Press, October 6, 2009.
Stonehenge Riverside Project. News release, October 5, 2009.
“Druids and Pagans Celebrate Winter Solstice at Stonehenge.” Victoria Lee, The Telegraph, December 22, 2010.
© Canada and the World, December 2010
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SLAUGHTERHOUSE?
Some of stones are aligned in such a way as to suggest that Stonehenge was used as a solar calendar. Prehistoric farmers may have used the information from the Sun striking certain stones to time the planting or harvesting of crops.
According to The Telegraph in the U.K. (December 2010) “Recent excavations of animal bones at the site suggest that huge midwinter feasts were held at Stonehenge, with cattle moved there to be slaughtered for the solstice celebrations.
DRUIDS
The druids followed an ancient Celtic pagan religion all documented evidence of which vanished with the Roman invasion of Britain during the first and second centuries CE.
The religion was revived in the 17th century although almost everything about its modern practice is based on guesswork. In 1740, Dr. William Stukeley claimed that Stonehenge was an ancient Druid temple and published his assertion in his book entitled, Stonehenge, a Temple Restored to the British Druids.
A myth was born that is still believed by many today. On every summer and winter solstice Druids gather at Stonehenge for ceremonies.
Although there is still mystery surrounding who built Stonehenge, archaeologists agree it was not the Druids.
While Stonehenge is the biggest and most famous, there are at least 900 other ancient stone circles in various states of disrepair scattered throughout Britain.