The Mystery of Stonehenge

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One of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments, Stonehenge is located about 90 miles west of London on England’s Salisbury Plain. Built roughly 5,000 years ago—around the same time as Egypt’s Great Pyramid—the site has captivated observers for centuries.   > One of the most popular theories about Stonehenge is that the monument is a solar calendar. (More, w/video) > Take a virtual tour inside Stonehenge. (More)   Its massive standing stones, some weighing up to 30 tons, were arranged with remarkable precision, indicating sophisticated planning and deep cultural significance among their builders. Archaeologists believe the stones were moved over generations using wooden rollers, sleds, and rafts, along with coordinated human labor, and then raised into place with levers and ramps.   > See how Stonehenge was built using ancient technologies. (More, w/video) > New scientific tools have transformed what we know about who built Stonehenge. (More)   The site’s purpose remains debated. Burials, ritual gatherings, and alignments with the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset suggest Stonehenge functioned as both a ceremonial center and an astronomical marker. Today, Stonehenge is visited by over 1 million people each year, from tourists and researchers to modern-day druids who gather to mark the solstices.   > The connection between druids and Stonehenge stems from a historical misconception. (More) > The solstice has been celebrated globally for millennia. (More)   Discover more:  > Hear the story of the police crackdown on a Stonehenge festival in 1985. (More, w/video) > Stonehenge may have functioned as an echo chamber designed to keep ceremonies secret from outsiders. (More) > A 4,000-year-old timber circle discovered on a remote UK beach is nicknamed Seahenge, despite technically not being a henge. (More)