stinhenge

A detailed Summary of stinhenge

Some of the most extraordinary monuments in the world today are megaliths. Megaliths are ancient standing stones that have sacred meanings of knowledge, rituals, and ceremonies that were built by early civilization. One of the most exceptional megaliths in Europe today is Stonehenge. Stonehenge is in a part of the Western Downs called the Salisbury Plains in Wiltshire England. Encircled by a discontinuous ditch, Stonehenge's vast array of smooth, gray colored, 30-foot high stones are spread over 320 feet in diameter. It took over 1200 years to build Stonehenge, a life span of 50 generations. This magnificent monument was built in three main stages during this time frame.

In the early stages of Stonehenge –Phase I, the first circular ditch or moat was dug around 2750 BC with the use of crude instruments such as bones and stones. This ditch was built with an earth bank inside it. A ring of holes, known as the Aubrey Holes, were excavated inside the bank (Discovery). The holes were shallow and carefully spaced, and almost immediately filled in after being dug. Archaeological studies have shown the Aubrey Holes never contained stones or wooden posts; however there were a few instances where bones had been inserted after the ho

the upright stones still bear the hammer marks of the builders. The great stones or lintels which, were raised up to link the tops of the upright stones, are not merely straight edged slabs of rock. Each was carefully cut on the curve so that when they were assembled they formed the outline of a circle. The lintels were cut to a tapering shape so they would appear to be straight when seen from below. The upright stones rose to the height of thirteen feet or more, so the stability of the ring was dependent upon the delicate balance of each stone. The upright stones were placed into deep pits with sloping sides in order to get them to stand and be even across the top. Each of the upright sarsens weigh about 45 tons. The upright stones were socketed and placed into the pits with the aid of ropes and wooden rollers. The seven- ton lintels had to be pegged and then lifted with levers, wedges, and blocks until high enough to slide into place (Atkinson). The peg-and-socket joints, wh!

s to why the builders broke off their plans after all the extraordinary efforts required in transporting them from Wales. Scientists believe that it may have been because they had conceived the idea of erecting the final and even more impressive temple, known as Stonehenge III.

Channel. The bluestone was used to fashion axes and other weapons, and was traded throughout Britain, including the Stonehenge region, and scientists believe that a sacred value was attached to the material (Atkinson). Later in this second phase, the bluestones were replaced by a circle of huge sarsen (natural sandstone) boulders capped with lintels and enclosing five trilithons arranged in the shape of a horseshoe (Hawkins). The five trilithons that were structured consisted of two upright stones capped with one horizontal stone. These stones were spaced evenly and placed in the form of a horseshoe within the sarsen circle. The name "trilithon" is derived from the Greek word "three stones" (Alford). Each of the trilithons weighs average of 26 tons and about 13 feet high. Of the five trilithons only three remain standing. The other two trilithons lay crumbled where they once stood (Alford). The western part of the ring in Phase II was never completed. There is no indication a!

After many years the second stage of Stonehenge began, Stonehenge Phase II, this second phase is what gave Stonehenge its magnificent beauty. Around 2200 BC the Avenue wa

Some common words found in the essay are:
Cunliffe Ropes, Phase III, Bristol Channel, Heel Stone, Phase II, England Encircled, Aubrey Holes, Hampshire Avon, Gerald Hawkins, Stonehenge Phase, stonehenge phase, upright stones, phase iii, heel stone, phase ii, aubrey holes, sarsen stones, midsummer day, five trilithons, stage stonehenge, stonehenge phase ii, stonehenge phase iii, led northeast entrance, apart led northeast, banks 47 feet,

Approximate Word count = 1628
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History