1	Stonehenge Meghan Blickman Ancient Civilizations Mr. Cain: Period Four
2	A Common Rumor… that really isn’t true It is rumored that Druids or Romans used Stonehenge as a temple. However, this rumor is quite unsound because neither group came into the area until long after Stonehenge was finished being constructed.
3	Where is Stonehenge? Stonehenge is in England, located on a great tract of the Salisbury plain in upland mid-Wiltshire. Building began between 2550 – 1600 B.C. There are many other similar stone structures around England.
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6	William Stukely He was the pioneer of field archaeology. Began investigating Stonehenge in the 18^th century He meticulously recorded the location of every stone; he traced all of the depressions and contours. He became an expert on prehistoric field systems. In 1919, London’s society of Antiquaries began to carry out excavations of Stonehenge.
7	People The people living near Stonehenge lived on high ground because of how much rain they got. Britain was covered in post-glacial wildwood, so the residents did a lot of hunting. Traces of the weapons they used for hunting have been found. They had an excellent river system that the people used to their advantage for transport. That is how they brought the stones to the location to construct Stonehenge. They also took advantage of the forest by making very useful rafts.
8	How did the People Live? Construction of Stonehenge began during the early Bronze age; therefore, they used many metal tools, many of which have been unearthed. Stone tools have also been found. The stone and bronze tools give insight to the people’s strong craftsmanship. They also used animal parts for tools; archaeologists have found deer picks. The many sacred landscapes are evidence that there were chiefs. Stonehenge was a gravesite; in addition to the bodies, they would often bury some ashes. However, not all of the people buried at Stonehenge have the telltale pot that held the ashes. This fact shows that there was a high level of social stratification.
9	ARCHAEOASTRONOMY THE INTERDISIPLINARY FIELD THAT RELATES ARCHAEOLOGY, ANTHROPOLOGY, AND MYTHOLOGY WITH ASTRONOMY.
10	Stonehenge and the Stars It is widely speculated that Stonehenge was used for astronomical purposes. On Midsummer Day, June 24, if you stand in the center of the circle, you can see the sun rise directly above the heel stone. The megaliths and lintels over all of the stones are precisely aligned in relation to the sun on the summer solstice. Many scholars think that Stonehenge was a giant celestial computer. It could have been used as an astronomical clock or calendar to predict when the seasons would come. Other scholars think that it may have been used to predict eclipses by studying the location of the sun and moon in relation to the stones. Unfortunately, as cool as this all is… it’s not widely accepted.
11	Study Abroad… at Stonehenge Every student must visit this amazing place It is the world’s most famous prehistoric landmark. It’s perfect for history buffs who are interested in learning a bit about the mythology of the Druids and Romans. Students who like botany will also enjoy Stonehenge; it has many rare plants such as sedge grass. Alpacas are a native species, not seen in America. This is one of the earlier forms of Astronomy and seeing how the people of 2550 BC tried to learn about celestial bodies is fascinating.
12	Art The people who built Stonehenge used advanced woodworking techniques to keep the lintels in place. Aspiring woodworkers and carvers will recognize the beauty in this art. Putting the heel stone in its location was an astronomical, as well as artistic decision; putting the heel stone in its location is one of the most significant accomplishments of the age.
13	The Architecture of Stonehenge The stones are twenty feet high, but weigh about fifty tons each. Stonehenge was an incredible feat of engineering and design. The people were highly skilled workers, so evident through the advanced post-and-lintel arrangement that keeps the rocks in place. There is an avenue that leads southeast to the Avon River. Farming communities built many elongated funerary barrows on the Salisbury Plain. All of the architecture may be based on religion, and originally symbolic of religious beliefs.
14	Religion Surrounding Stonehenge Stonehenge’s alignment with the sun leads most to think that the builders were sun worshipers. Rituals were performed here in accordance with the observation of the summer solstice. It is speculated that the avenue was used as a sort of processional. Pots of ashes have been found at Stonehenge; you were cremated if you were of a high position in society. The people who worshipped at Stonehenge made sacrifices and there is a slaughter block there. Ritual objects have been found at Stonehenge which include jaw bones of cattle and deer antlers.
15	It May be of Interest… Stonehenge was dated using the Carbon-14 dating method. Men and women had equal place in society, as evidenced by the two sexes sharing a grave site. There was a high degree of social stratification. Stonehenge is similar to a lot of structures in Britain, which suggests the progression of the population to other areas and the exchange of ideas.
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17	Bibliography Chippendale, Christopher. Stonehenge, Complete Third Edition. Thames Hudson, 2004. Young, John K. Sacred Sites of the Knights Templar: The Ancient Astronomy Secrets of the Freemasons Revealed. Fair Winds Press, 2003. “Stonehenge” Compton’s by Britannica. 2005 Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition. 7 Sept. 2005, http://www.school.eb.com/.