Must See's in Britain - Stonehenge in Salisbury
Formation of England’s Greatest Mystery and Attraction
Jul 22, 2008
Built in three phases around 3100 BC, the enormous stones placed in a circular formation in an abandoned field have intrigued visitors for generations. Some believe the place to be a former location of human sacrifice, others believe it was a holy place of Sun worship.
Possibly the most important monument built in Britain in prehistoric times, the formation at Stonehenge was built in three stages, according to archeologists. The stones seen today are the completed third stage.
Stonehenge Formation Stage One
The first phase of construction consisted of a large ditch, a bank and the Aubry holes - round pits in the chalk around one metre deep by one meter deep. These holes form a complete circle roughly 87 meters in diameter. Human bones have been discovered at this site, however anthropologists believe the holes were dug as part of a religious ceremony and not for the purpose of graves. For unexplained reasons, Stonehenge was abandoned for over 1000 years after the first phase.
Stonehenge Formation Stage Two
Around 2150 BC, construction on the second and most impressive stage began. No less than 82 bluestones from the Preseli Mountains, in south-west Wales were transported to this site, some weighing as much as 4 tones. One theory states that these stones were dragged on makeshift sledges to Milford Haven and then floated along the coast of Wales up the rivers Avon and Frome on rafts before transported on land to Wiltshire. From there they were again transported by water to Amesbury.
This incredible 386 kilometer journey would require tremendous effort by today’s standards with modern machinery, but this happened nearly 5000 years ago. Once the stones arrived, they were erected to form an incomplete double circle.
Stonehenge Formation Stage Three
Sarsen Stones transported to the area from about 40 kilometers away from the site were added during this stage. The largest of these stones weighs in at an incredible 50 tones. Many speculate that it would have taken over 500 men using a complicated system of ropes and pulleys to put these stones in place. The Sarsen stones remain in place even today.
Many of the bluestones used to complete Stonehenge around 1500 BC have either broken up or have been removed. It is estimated that at least 60 bluestones originally adorned Stonehenge. Some lay on the ground in stumps still visible today.
Photographing Stonehenge
The rock formations cast very different moods depending on when visited. The best times to photograph the formations are early morning when the sun is rising and in the early sunset. Light bathes these rocks in softer tones creating images as impressive as the site itself.
How to Get to Stonehenge
From London take the train at Waterloo Station to Salisbury. Trains depart daily, check local listings. The entire trip takes one and a half hours one way. When you arrive in Salisbury arrange for a guided tour bus or take a taxi to the site 15km away. Since this is a protected monument, visitors can no longer get close to the formations, hiring a local guide who can answer questions and fill in local folklore makes for an enjoyable excursion.
Opening times: spring (March 16 – May 31) and autumn (September 1 – October 15) 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., summer (June 1 to August 31) 9a.m. – 7p.m., winter (October 16 – March 15) 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Boxing Day and New Year's Day 10a.m. – 4p.m.
Stonehenge Admission Costs
Adults $12.50, Children $6.50, seniors $9.50, Family package (2 adults plus up to 3 children) $31.50. All prices quoted in U.S. dollars and are subject to change.
Few mysteries exist in our modern world. England’s Stonehenge in Salisbury remains one of those unsolved mysteries that continue to boggle the minds of archeologist and tourists alike. Make this a must see when visiting the UK.
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