Stonehenge is a complex of megalithic structures that is situated in England, about 130 kilometers from London in Wiltshire. It was supposedly built around 3000-2000 BC by ancient Bretons which makes it a prehistoric monument; thus, Stonehenge remains preserved as it is at its original place. Due to its main building material being different kinds of stone, Stonehenge endured time well in general; however, it has lost about a half of its original shape.
Stonehenge is a massive construction of standing stones in the shape of two rings: a huge outer one, made of sarsen and lintel stones, and a smaller inner one, created from bluestones. There a no carvings or pictures on the stones themselves; however, they are situated in specific patterns. It is not yet determined how ancient Bretons were able to build such a giant stone complex. The stones are fairly proportionate and create a complete picture: each vertical stone is about 4 meters high and 2 meters wide, while the horizontal lintel stones vary in size slightly. Their texture is rough and has many naturally created potholes due to the influence of time and weather.
The meaning of Stonehenge remains up to debate, as there is no written evidence left from the culture that built it. The leading theory on the topic of Stonehenge’s purpose is that it was created to serve as a ritual or burial mound, as a lot of human and animal remains were excavated from the site. Another strong guess is that the complex served as an observatory – the arrangement of the stones is aligned to the sunset of winter and the sunrise of summer solstices. The distinct features of Stonehenge, such as its size and symmetrical, circular shape, can serve as evidence for both theories. Moreover, the fact that the builders used giant stones as the main material for the monument emphasizes its fundamental meaning to their culture. The enormity of Stonehenge creates a feeling of reverence and religious-like awe towards it, so I think the authors were successful in communicating its importance. There is no certainty on as to what meaning Stonehenge could have to the economic, political, or social situations of the ancient Bretons. Still, it is clear that it possessed some sort of specific cultural value: its concentric shape and multiple humans remains point to it being perhaps a burial site of chiefs and druids or a religious object.