Historical Context
Perhaps the most famous prehistoric monument in the world, Stonehenge is also its most architecturally sophisticated. and served as an important ceremonial site and burial place from Neolithic times to the Bronze Age.
The earliest henge constructions date from 3000 BC. These took the form of circular ditches with timber structures.
From about 2500 BC the first stones were erected. Two types of stone were used, large saren stones and smaller bluestones, which were rearranged a number of times over 200-300 years and brought from considerable distance. The last major works which took place 1800-1500 BC were the digging of two rings of concentric pits.
Together with the nearby Avebury site it has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986.
Photo Info
Location taken: Wiltshire, England
Related Events
- 1915-09-21 Cecil Chubb buys English prehistoric monument Stonehenge for £6,600
- 1918-10-26 Cecil Chubb gives prehistoric monument Stonehenge to the British nation
- 1952-05-18 Professor Willard Libby says England's prehistoric monument of Stonehenge dates back to 1848 BC
