The Origins of Stonehenge
Stonehenge has been there since the Bronze Age. Archeological research has found that the monument was erected between the year three thousand and two thousand before Christ. As far as it is known, it was raised in phases.
It is believed that the monument was first built as a burial ground. However, it is not clear since the evidence indicates that the human remains are not dated in the same period than the stones.
Location
The Stonehenge monument is located in Wiltshire, which is a county in the southwest side of England. Besides Stonehenge, the same county has the Avebury stone circle. Another ancient monument which is less famous but equally impressive.
A symbol of the ancient British culture
Stonehenge is probably the most important prehistoric monument still standing in England. It was named in 1882 a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and the government protected it since then.
In 1986 it was also cataloged by the UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites, becoming officially important for all mankind.
The Stonehenge monument is the property of the English Crown. As all other English Heritage Monuments, it is managed by the English Heritage Trust, which is a charity organization that maintains, organizes and promotes tours to the most important English monuments.
The Mysteries of Stonehenge
Stonehenge and its mysterious constructions have been subject to speculation for archaeologists and other professionals interested in history. There is no written evidence of how it was built. The remains found in the surrounding area have no clear indication about the techniques that were used to move such big rocks.
Some authors have suggested mystical powers are responsible for the perfect position of the stones. The craziest theories suggest a divine intervention, while others even talk about creatures from the outer space. Such claims also lack evidence, and they are just theories to explain the unexplainable perfectly aligned stone monument built when it seemed that human technology was not available.
Access to the Site
The Stonehenge monuments are protected from people, and regular visitors can only look at them from a distance. There is a path that surrounds the area, and you can see the stones from afar.
The restriction was taken to protect the monument from erosion. Over 30 years ago people could freely wander around the stones, but it caused damage to the stone circle. The site was closed after a free festival in 1985 when a violent confrontation took place there. It is known as the Battle of the Beanfield.
It was not until recent times that the stones were opened again during the solstices and equinoxes.