Stonehenge :: essays research papers

In the hill country of northern England, many sites of Stonehenge exist. Approximately 150 to 200 enormous stones lie stacked on top of each other forming somewhat of an altar. Tall stones stand upright surrounding the center stone which is bluestone. This is unlike the sandstone columns which surround it. This may not seem unusual at first; however, there are three main factors that make Stonehenge extremely odd. Each of these stones weigh close to 4 tons. There are also no other stones in a radius of 15 miles. With today’s sophisticated equipment the moving of these large stones would not be difficult, but one must remember, Stonehenge was built approximately 4800 B.C. Radiocarbon dating shows that these stone structures are older than the great pyramids of Egypt, and the large cities of Rome. Of course Stonehenge is not as advanced as the great pyramids but it was built in an area which wasn’t as advanced as the Egyptians or Romans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The outside stones are made completely of sandstone, this is at least 18 miles from the site where the sandstone was quarried from. Each stone stands upright and are expertly balanced. Stones of the same composition and size, rest on top forming a circular structure. In the middle of these stones, giant pieces of bluestone lay on the ground in â€Å"horse shoe† like shapes. These stones are also called spotted dolorite, and are not found within a 225 mile radius. In the very center, a piece of Welsh sandstone lay as a monument.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the most interesting facts about Stonehenge is that it is perfectly lined up with the winter (December 21) and summer (June 21) solstices. This is when the beginning of summer and winter when the Earth’s axis changes. As the sun rises over the horizon on those two days, its rays go through a small hole in one of the rocks. The alignment is perfect. The other significant characteristic of these prehistoric masterpieces, is that absolutely no mortar or cement exists throughout the entire structure. These huge stones lay balanced on top of each other with no glue or substance to hold them together. The only thing that stops these gargantuan stones from falling is a simple system of joints. Originally these structures were thought to be circles. In fact, many people still think they are circular; however, they are not. Some have flattened sides, some are hexagonal and some are elliptical. This is not easy to see with the naked eye which is why so