Stonehenge Part 2

Stonehenge Part 2


A 35 ton heel stone is thought to have been placed during this second period. This provides evidence that the people of the age used astronomy because if one stands in the center of the circle during the summer soltice, the sun can be seen to rise directly above this heel stone.

Scientists believe that Stonehenge, which was used continuously for thousands of years, allowed the people of the day to foretell eclipses of the sun and moon by where the positions of the celestial bodies were in relation to the stones.

Stonehenge has been called an astronomical observatory for marking significant events on the prehistoric calendar. Others claim that it was a sacred site for the burial of high-ranking citizens from the societies of long ago.


The Blue Stones

About 2,000 BC, the first stone circle (which is now the inner circle), comprised of small bluestones, was set up, but abandoned before completion. The stones used in that first circle are believed to be from the Prescelly Mountains, located roughly 240 miles away, at the southwestern tip of Wales. The bluestones weigh up to 4 tons each and about 80 stones were used, in all. Given the distance they had to travel, this presented quite a transportation problem. Modern theories speculate that the stones were dragged by roller and sledge from the inland mountains to the headwaters of Milford Haven. There they were loaded onto rafts, barges or boats and sailed along the south coast of Wales, then up the Rivers Avon and Frome to a point near present-day Frome in Somerset. From this point, so the theory goes, the stones were hauled overland, again, to a place near Warminster in Wiltshire, approximately 6 miles away. From there, it's back into the pool for a slow float down the River Wylye to Salisbury, then up the Salisbury Avon to West Amesbury, leaving only a short 2 mile drag from West Amesbury to the Stonehenge site.


Construction of the Outer Ring

The giant sarsen stones (which form the outer circle), weigh as much as 50 tons each. To transport them from the Marlborough Downs, roughly 20 miles to the north, is a problem of even greater magnitude than that of moving the bluestones. Most of the way, the going is relatively easy, but at the steepest part of the route, at Redhorn Hill, modern work studies estimate that at least 600 men would have been needed just to get each stone past this obstacle.

Once on site, a sarsen stone was prepared to accommodate stone lintels along its top surface. It was then dragged until the end was over the opening of the hole. Great levers were inserted under the stone and it was raised until gravity made it slide into the hole. At this point, the stone stood on about a 30� angle from the ground. Ropes were attached to the top and teams of men pulled from the other side to raise it into the full upright position. It was secured by filling the hole at its base with small, round packing stones. At this point, the lintels were lowered into place and secured vertically by mortice and tenon joints and horizontally by tongue and groove joints. Stonehenge was probably finally completed around 1500 BC.


Who Built Stonehenge?

The question of who built Stonehenge is largely unanswered, even today. The monument's construction has been attributed to many ancient peoples throughout the years, but the most captivating and enduring attribution has been to the Druids. This erroneous connection was first made around 3 centuries ago by the antiquary, John Aubrey. Julius Caesar and other Roman writers told of a Celtic priesthood who flourished around the time of their first conquest (55 BC). By this time, though, the stones had been standing for 2,000 years, and were, perhaps, already in a ruined condition. Besides, the Druids worshipped in forest temples and had no need for stone structures.

The best guess seems to be that the Stonehenge site was begun by the people of the late Neolithic period (around 3000 BC) and carried forward by people from a new economy which was arising at this time. These "new" people, called Beaker Folk because of their use of pottery drinking vessels, began to use metal implements and to live in a more communal fashion than their ancestors. Some think that they may have been immigrants from the continent, but that contention is not supported by archaeological evidence. It is likely that they were indigenous people doing the same old things in new ways.



NEWS ARTICLES



Experts unearth 'King' of ancient temple

May 16, 2002 - Daily Record

Archaeologists have dug up a 4000-year-old skeleton they believe could be the King of Stonehenge.

The grave, packed with nearly 100 precious objects, including gold, is the richest-ever Bronze Age find in Britain.

The skeleton was found just two miles from world-famous Stonehenge in Wiltshire and was buried around 2300 BC.

Experts say he probably would have witnessed the giant boulders that form the mysterious stone circle being hauled into position.

He was 5 foot 9 inches tall and buried in a style that indicated his extreme wealth and social importance.

Next to the preserved skeleton were some of the earliest metal objects ever discovered in Britain. They include two gold earrings and three copper knife blades. Most people would have never seen metal. Pots, a shale belt buckle, 15 arrow heads and a cloak's bone pin were also found.

Dr Andrew Fitzpatrick, of Wessex Archaeology, said his team was looking for a Roman burial site when Stonehenge Man appeared. "With Bronze Age burials, we believe if there are 10 items then it is a rich grave - with this we uncovered almost 100. There are only two other burials in England that even begin to compare with this one. He could have been the King of Stonehenge because of his obvious status."

The skeleton, thought to be of an archer, was found a foot under the surface, on the site of a proposed school.

Article from Discovery - More on the King of Stonehenge


Stonehenge execution revealed

David Miles inspects the severed skull

June 9, 2000 - BBC

An ancient skeleton excavated from Stonehenge has revealed a grisly execution at the famous site.

The skeleton was unearthed in 1923 but was thought to have been destroyed in 1941 by the Nazi bombing blitz on London. At that time, it was being held at the Royal College of Surgeons, which suffered three direct hits.

Stonehenge means "stone gallows"

However, the chance discovery of a letter by an archaeologist researching a book led to the skeleton's re-discovery in the Natural History Museum.

Modern analysis techniques show that the skeleton belonged to a man aged about 35 who had his head cut off by a sword.

The man may have died 2,000 years ago, and it had been thought that his death was the result of natural causes.

Clean cut

However, Jacqueline McKinley, of Wessex Archaeology, discovered a small nick on the lower jaw and a cut mark on the fourth neck vertebra.

This clean cut from behind, and his single grave, suggest an execution with a sharp sword, rather than a death in battle.

English Heritage, who manage Stonehenge, said: "Why he was executed is not known. But it is possible that he was singled out for special punishment, as Stonehenge clearly represents a dramatic and important site for the event."

It was thought that Stonehenge, built in three phases between 3050BC and 1600BC, was abandoned by 1500BC. But this evidence suggests the site retained importance centuries later.

Rare find

David Miles, Chief Archaeologist at English Nature, said: "Stonehenge is a site of global significance and anything that adds to our knowledge and understanding is of great importance."

Only one other complete skeleton from Stonehenge exists. It was excavated in 1978 from the ditch around the circle. The man had died in a hail of flint-tipped arrows.

Two other skeletons have been found. One was probably a Roman, and was reburied at Stonehenge in 1922. The other was excavated in 1926 from the centre of the circle and was possibly contemporary with the site, but has now been lost.


The Faces of Stonehenge

October 3, 1997 - BBC

Has the face of the creator of Stonehenge been staring at us unrecognised for more than 4,000 years?

A British archaeologist claims to have seen a face carved into the side of one of the mighty stones at Stonehenge.

The face can be seen on the side of a standing stone

It is the first face ever seen on the Neolithic monument and one of the oldest works of art ever found in Britain.

It was recognised by Terrence Meaden, an archaeologist with a fascination for the ancient standing stones of the British Isles.

"I just happened to be there at the right time of day because only when the light is right can you see it properly. During the summer months it is only obvious for about a hour each day around 1400."

It is amazing that it has never been recognised before.

Dr Meaden believes that it was missed because previous researchers concentrated on the fronts of the standing stones and not their sides.

A face carved on an Avebury standing stone

The particular viewing conditions to see it at its best will have also played a part in it not being seen.

"But once you see it it's obvious," he says.

It seems to carry a serious expression, almost a frown, as it looks across the Salisbury plain.

Stonehenge was built about 2450 BC but why does Dr Meaden believe the carving was made at the time and was not done much later.

"Why would anyone do that?" he asks, "The type of stone, Sarsen, is the hardest stone know to man. It would have taken hundreds of hours working on a platform to do it. Why bother?"

Meaden's photographs are being evaluated by other archaeologists.

He also claims that other faces can clearly be seen on the Avebury stones not far from Stonehenge.

But who is the face of Stonehenge?

"We will never know," says Meaden, "He could be the patron of the monument or even its architect. Perhaps the designer of Stonehenge has been looking at us for four thousand years and we didn't see him."

That year Crop Circle Researcher - Colin Andrews - also discovered an unusual inscription in one of the stones.

"Colin Andrews reports glyph discovered within Stonehenge:

World-renowned crop-circle investigator Colin Andrews reports glyph discovered within Stonehenge. The very best Stonehenge investigators in the world, including the English Heritage Society,were not aware of any glyph's previous existence at this sacred site. Every square inch of Stonehenge has been recorded in the past which makes this find even more amazing. Professor Gerald Hawkins, author of `Stonehenge Decoded' & `Beyond Sonehenge', is now studying the implications of the pattern which Colin says may be the foundation of the crop circles phenomena.

The glyph, partly covered by lichen and obviously not a fresh carving, was discovered shortly before dusk while Colin was in the company of a Beyond Boundaries group. Upon sighting the unusual symbol Colin requested the assistance of a Glasgow newspaper photographer who was covering a story about the expedition. The side lighting on the photograph revealed more of the intriguing shape which is now is receiving international interest.

Joyce is a personal friend who visited in my home in March 2000. Her group - Beyond Boundaries visit the crop circles every summer. As Joyce runs tours to England - you might want to join her.





PART 3 - METAPHYSICS - UFO'S - MEDITATION

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