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What is Stonehenge? Stonehenge is an earth work or an arrangement of stones made by people who lived 5000 years ago before the advent of Christ. These are not ordinary stones but are called bluestones and Sarsen stones and must be of great value since the ancient people invested a lot of time and effort in bringing them to make the Stonehenge. They did not collect the stones from the surrounding area but brought them down from Prescelly Mountains which were not very near and were 240 miles away. Also the stones were very heavy, the bluestones being 4 tonnes each and Sarsen stones being 50 tonnes each. There was a river between the ways which posed another conveyance problem for them but with a lot of effort and hard work of many people, finally the stones were transported and arranged in an order that was of some value to the people. The Sarsen stones were pulled down with ropes as they were too heavy to be transported in rollers and boats like the bluestones. The main problem arose at the top of the mountain at the steepest part where it was particularly very difficult to get them down.

Who made the Stonehenge? There are different theories as to who actually made the Stonehenge. The legend says that Merlin made it as he had a giant who helped him in making the Stonehenge given the hard work it would have required for normal people to make it. Some people also say that it was magically made or the devil made it. But that is only because they think it is almost impossible for people to transport such heavy stones and erect them. Now that we have got cranes and machines to do our work, we are so used to it that we think it is almost impossible to do anything without them. However, the ancient people really made this great monument and without any machines. The more realistic theories attribute the Stonehenge to the Druids or to the people of the Neolithic period. The theories say that the people made them for a religious reason may be for worshiping or to hold their religious ceremonies there. It is also said that they were used as astronomical observatory.

Why does it inspire people so much? Thousands of people are desperate to visit the Stonehenge and see it for real. This is because of such an impressive work that it was but is now almost ruined in its entirety. The stones which remain are also damaged because of so many visitors who used to touch them, although it is not allowed now. Even then, people visit the place as it fires curiosity and imagination of the past in them. For some people, Stonehenge is sacred and they go for religious ceremonies there. As the stones that remain are 500 years old, this fact alone drives the people to never miss any opportunity to witness the remains of the ancient past about which we have only heard.

Tags: bluestones, historical, tourist attraction, wiltshire tourism

Posted in tourist attractions