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The authors among us who like to write about past
ages, whether it be fact or pure fiction, are universally research nerds. We
must love the research entailed in writing time-travels and historicals, or we
would never be able to proceed with our work. I’m in the process of re-working
one of my older books and this brought to mind the subject of this post, as my
characters pass Stonehenge on their journey to the west of England (Circa
450 AD).
Years ago, too many to think about, but let’s say a
long time ago, on the way to the west of England with family, we passed
Stonehenge where it stood in all its stark glory on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.
I am ashamed to admit that I took scant notice of it back then as my interest
in history was merely budding and it’s likely I had other things to occupy my
young mind. From memory, the stones were not surrounded by any restrictions and
I vaguely recall we left the car at the side of the nearby road, walked around,
and near them easily. Many of the original stones have fallen or been removed
by what can only be called vandals. Thank goodness contact by tourists and
visitors to the stones has been prohibited since 1978.
http://britannia.com/history/h7.html
http://britannia.com/history/h7.html
Sadly, no one in my family thought to take a
photograph so I have no solid proof that I stood beneath these monumental
stones and wondered how on earth they got there. This is one question that has
puzzled historians for many years. There are numerous theories and a few myths
surrounding Stonehenge. Despite its dilapidation and mistreatment by
generations of thoughtless people it is still a sight no one visiting Britain
should miss.
Stonehenge is situated in this vast plain,
surrounded by hundreds of round barrows, or burial mounds. Will the mystery of
who actually built it, and for what reason, ever be solved completely? Some say
it is a sacred place, some say it is steeped in magic, some say it was honoured
by the ancient folk who went to so much trouble to build it.
Its construction has been attributed to many
different groups, but the most enduring conjecture seems to be the Druids were
responsible. But then Druids did their worshipping in forests so why would they
go to the trouble to trundle such large stones from miles away when they had no
real use for them? Julius Caesar and other Roman storytellers wrote of a Celtic
priesthood who might have been connected, but by that time the stones were
already about 2000 years old. Then there is the guess that the site was started
in the late Neolithic period around 3000BC and carried over to the so-called
Beaker Folk who, according to archaeological finds, began to use metal
implements.
The mystery of how the giant sarsen stone that
weighed as much as 50 tons each got from the Marlborough Downs about 20 miles
north of the Plain to their final destination, not to mention the moving of the
bluestones, remains today. Modern studies have calculated that at least 600 men
would have been required to just get each stone across obstacles on the route.
Around 2100BC as the Bronze Age made its presence
felt in North/West Europe Stonehenge was dismantled and rebuilt on a more
impressive scale, with two rings. It is thought the purpose was to record the
cycles of the sun and moon (with accuracy) at summer and winter solstices. The
sheer scale of Stonehenge suggests it was meant for some ceremonial practice.
On site, the sarsen stone had to be prepared to take
the lintels along the top surface. The mind boggles at the enormity of this
task taking place with none of the modern machinery at hand today. Levers were likely used to raise each stone until gravity
ensured it slid into a prepared hole. Then, manpower was used to pull the stone
upright. It is estimated Stonehenge was finally completed around 1500 BC.
We must not forget the legends surrounding
Stonehenge. Being a romantic, I half believe this one as it involves King
Arthur’s Merlin. The 12th century writer Geoffrey of Monmouth in his “History
of the Kings of Britain” claimed that Merlin brought the stones from Ireland.
Okay the story gets a bit far-fetched when he claims
the stones of the original Giant’s Ring were brought to Ireland from Africa
(How? you ask) well by giants of course. The stones were located on Mount
Killaraus where they had been used as a site for rituals and healing. King
Uther and Merlin arrived in Ireland, arranged for the dismantling of the stones
to be transported to Britain (by giants and magic) where they were erected in a
great circle. This circle was in memory of 300 British noblemen who were
massacred by the Saxon leader, Hengest, around the 5th century.
Speculation and experimentation will go on forever
and no doubt there will be new evidence springing up in the future. We should
not forget the aliens from another planet theory. As space exploration goes
forward in search of a new planet for the human race to occupy, new answers may
arise. I’m sad that I will not be here to learn the actual truth. But, who
knows, I might be reincarnated by then. I only hope I come back as a scientist
or space explorer.
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