|
|
|
|
StonehengeOS Ref: SU 122 422 Type: Henge and Stone Circle Comment: A National Disgrace? Access: Good Disabled: Good
Stonehenge lies in a vast area of huge ritual significance, with many other sites in the same county such as Avebury and Silbury Hill which are not too far away by car.
What exists today are the remnants of the last build in a sequence of developments starting from a simple (but large) henge made around 3000BC and ending in the finished (as far as the remains are concerned) structure about 1600BC. Whether the temple was finished as far as the builders were concerned we will never know. Many henges and stone circles were made during this time, each monument having a circular structure and aligned with the rising Sun at the midsummer solstice or Midwinter sunrise or sunset.
It must have consumed vast amounts of labour and time both to build and move the stones over tens of Miles from Marlborough and hundreds of miles from Preselli by land and water and then to shape and raise them. Contrary to 19C and early 20C perceptions, a sophisticated society would have been required to mustered such a large workforce and the design and construction skills necessary to produce Stonehenge and its surrounding monuments.
Morning Sun & Mist
Stonehenge's orientation in relation to the rising and setting sun can only reasonably be based on the circle and its banks being part of a huge astronomical calendar. Whether that involved sacrifices is unknown, but likely. What is more incredible are the basic tools with which the monument was built. They shaped the stones, formed the mortises and tenons that linked uprights to lintels and, using antlers and bones, they dug the pits to hold the stones and made the banks and ditches that enclosed them. It must have been exceptionally hard work but resulted in a showpiece which still stands, even though some of the henge is reconstructed.
Not so long ago some carvings of bronze-age daggers were found on some of the stones, as shown here. The circle contains what I believe to be the remains of another dagger although the rock surface (to me) seems to indicate many more were present. Amongst other 'graffiti' is a carving by Sir Christopher Wren! (He should have known better ...)
Below are some general images of Stonehenge.
A National Disgrace?In its current configuration and in my opinion, Stonehenge is a national disgrace, not because of its condition (that's OK), or its visitor facilities or the traffic passing close-by, but due to the continued inaccessibility to the stones except by booking the whole monument. None of the proposals for the stones, placing them back in their sacred landscape, deal with this and the status looks like continuing.
I understand the pressure on the site (or any other place) by too many visitors, but feel that, in the 21st century, a better compromise must be available. Apparently the average visitor stays for only half an hour, often coming from London "doing" England. Not too surprising considering that that is the way Stonehenge is set-up. If you cannot get to the stones, then half an hour is enough - no need to prolong the disappointment. Better to stop this type of visiting, restrict numbers entering and make it a cultural, meaningful and spiritual event to visit this place. The proposed new centre and layout will have the effect, I think, of reducing visitors by lengthening the stopover time and this can only be a step in the right direction. However, no mention of re-opening the stones with the (presumed) fewer visitors. (I believe that numbers will decrease significantly as many tourists need the time to see the other things they are here to see). Whilst I was there with a group of archaeologists on a pre-book we saw the black-dressed guards. You felt they would be ready to pounce on anyone stepping out of place and would enjoy doing it! It felt a little prison like, If I am honest. Stonehenge belongs to the people of this country, not to any particular group (including archaeologists!). I believe that the stones should be open again so that visitors may be inspired and awed, rather than it being a quick visit whilst speeding round southern England in a tourist coach. The current proposals will make a visit longer but not offer the real impact that Stonehenge was built to deliver.
Click here for the English Heritage Site, which tells you more about this important and wonderful monument Visited October 2006, some images somewhat older. |
Arguably Britain's most well known ancient
monument and one of the wonders of the world, Stonehenge was built over many
thousands of years with Bluestone, Sarson and Welsh Sandstone. 5,000 years old
from its earliest parts, Stonehenge was a ceremonial structure with lunar,
solar and maybe other astronomical aspects; Stonehenge would have been an
important ritual and calendar place, important
for farming and maybe other aspects of bronze age life. The monument itself is
situated within a 
Although
there will always be debate over the detail of Stonehenge's function, it was
clearly a temple, most likely to the Sun. It was - is - the focal point in
a 
Stonehenge
is a huge money-maker for English Heritage and I am certain that they could use modern
techniques to allow people in without undue risk of damage to the stones, which
should be a living monument. The gravel which used to be there was a problem,
acting as sandblast to the stones but new artificial flooring is now available.
Surely better to be amongst the stones on an artificial ground than not to get
to them at all?){kind=link}