Introduction
Stonehenge ranks among the English prehistoric monuments situated in Wiltshire County, to the North of Salisbury. It consists of earthworks, which form a perimeter around large vertically positioned stones, making it one of the most illustrious old-fashioned locations globally. The exact time they came about is unknown; although, several proposals have been fronted by scholars. It is noteworthy that the ownership of this monument is reserved for the crown. This places it under the supervision of the English heritage. The contiguous land is possessed and managed by the National Trust. Despite enormous efforts, being plowed into studies on the same, little has been discovered concerning the actual age, placing it among the mysteries of the world.
Discussion
Studies reveal that the original sculpt featured a rounded ravine having a band of 56 holes in the region of its boundary. This was done by the semi-nomadic tribes that inhabited the plains of Salisbury. Several stones used in this construction were sourced from the Welsh coast and ferried upstream on rafts. It is believed that this was still a work in progress, given that the arrangement of the stones was altered to create space for new ones. Summarily, experts assume that they were constructed in the course of the Neolithic era, which dates back to the application of bronze technology.
The foremost phase is believed to be a work of the native Neolithic populace, who dug out circular trenches using crude materials. The resulting rubble was utilized in the construction of steep bank circles. Lastly, parallel stones were put up at the doorway to the site, where one is still in place to date. Several other stones erected at the time are still in existence, showing proof of their industry and architectural astuteness. Evidence shows that it was used for half a decade before it was discarded. The second phase saw the creation of a semicircle composed of granites often referred to as blue stones. The spectacle brought about by this feature emanates from the fact that these giant rocks were brought in from foreign lands, which are far away from the construction site. It should be noted that all stakeholders and other interested persons have not yet worked their way around this mystery. A subsequent gateway exists, and it is arranged in a line with the position of first light in midsummer. It also had channels and banks like the previous circle, with two stones denoting the entry point. The third and final phase of construction is still perceptible to date. Estimates place the time of construction at 2000 BC, a feat that involved the placement of vertical stones in pairs topped with curved horizontal capstones. This created a circle at the top. Seventeen stones are still in place out of the initial 30 that were put up. Within the ring, a horseshoe formation, which opened towards another slaughter stone, was in alignment with sunrise at the summer solstice. It was established using 10 upright stones (Sacred Destinations, 2010).
The presence of cremated bodies gives express evidence that this site was used for burials, with suggestions that the activities may have gone on for half a century after the maiden burial. These facts are hard to verify since most of the information on the same has been interfered with in one way or another. For example, the effects of per glacial components affect the natural chalk used by researchers. In addition, low-quality records on excavations and other operations, coupled with the absence of truthful scientifically established dates pose another challenge to these efforts.
It should be noted that some headway has been made by using modern methods to determine the approximate age of the rings. This has not been the case concerning explaining their function. Scientists believe that the stones may have served the supernatural and religious interests of the ancient communities simultaneously. They also perceive it to incorporate ancient mathematical principles that were invented by natives, before the Mesopotamian and Egyptian revolutions. British academicians have discovered proof of noteworthy astronomical configurations among the stones.
Conclusion
A closer look at the preceding facts reveals that Stonehenge was a structure with manifold functions. As a shrine of enduring quality, it was put up at a site of extraterrestrial connotation and earthly energetic influence, with which the regional inhabitants were familiar. Consequently, it became a point of observation by enthusiasts of astronomy, rendering it handy in the forecast of periods where worldly forces are prejudiced and charged by outer space bodies, which include stars, moon, and sun. It doubled up as a temple set up for and by the populace, which hosted celebrations of renewal for the charged periods after their determination by astronomical observations. Most importantly, the fact that building materials were shipped in from a different location that was over 200 miles away may represent prior use in a religious setting. This is emphasized by the fact that these stones were aligned to espouse the outline of consecrated enclosures as a haven for the collection, storage, and expression of earthly energies in the course of carnivals.
Reference
Sacred Destinations. (2010). Stonehenge. Sacred Destinations. Web.