South Wests mysterious structure

7 facts you didn’t know about Stonehenge

Stonehenge is one of the most mysterious structures in the world. These are some of the coolest facts that you might not have known about it!

Whoever thought a group of stones could be so fascinating? One of the most famous and enigmatic monuments in the world, Stonehenge has been captivating people for thousands of years. Built by prehistoric people for reasons that historians still can’t agree upon, the structure is made up of gigantic stones that form a broken circle. Located on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, Stonehenge is as full of mystery today as it ever was. But there are some facts that we do know for certain about the iconic stone circle. Keep reading to find out what they are!

It Wasn’t Built All At Once

With our modern technology, we’re used to buildings being constructed over a matter of months or years. It’s hard to grasp that in past eras, structures took a lot longer to build and fully develop. In the case of Stonehenge, we’re talking about 1000 years between the time prehistoric people started building it and the time the final touches were made.

Archeologists believe that Stonehenge was built in four stages, beginning in the late Neolithic period. The finishing stage took place in the early Bronze Age, around 6 1,500B.C.

The structure was once a Complete circle

Stonehenge, as it appears today, is one of the most recognizable sights in the world. But you might not recognize it if you lived thousands of years ago since it looked a little different. Archeologists discovered evidence that suggests the structure was once a complete circle.

In 2014, there was a drought in the area, the conditions of which revealed several patchy marks in the land around the structure where there were once other stones. There’s much we still don’t know about the landmark, but experts are pretty sure it was once a circle!

It was Bought at an auction

It’s difficult to believe that there was a time when an average citizen actually owned Stonehenge. Cecil Chubb purchased the landmark in the early 20thcentury. The businessman only intended to buy a few dining chairs at the auction. He definitely walked away with more than he bargained for!

Chubb bought Stonehenge for £6,600 but only owned it for three years before handing it over to the Ministry of Works. It was only under his possession for three years, but that’s still pretty remarkable.

Nobody knows for sure how it was assembled

Much of the facts surrounding Stonehenge remain a mystery. As it stands, nobody in the modern world knows for sure exactly how the stones came to take their current position. The lighter stones of the structure weigh the same as two cars, while the bigger ones are equivalent to four fully grown African elephants. Without advanced industrial technology, how did they assemble these stones together? Medieval folk believed that the wizard Merlin moved the stones to England from Ireland. Modern archeologists theorise, however, that the stones were dragged on sledges or water rafts.

There Was A Time Where Tourists Could Climb On The Stones

Not only was it once possible for everyday people to own Stonehenge (if they had enough money), but tourists were once able to get a lot more up close and personal with the monument than they’re allowed to today. People were actually allowed to climb on the stones all the way up to 1977 when it became prohibited.

The Romans Visited Stonehenge

Stonehenge is certainly a fascinating and iconic site in the modern world, and it was also a point of interest for ancient people. We know that Romans were present at the monument because excavations have brought up pottery, coins, stones, and metal items from Roman society. The medieval people knew about Stonehenge as well and had their own theories as to how it originated—most commonly revolving around the wizard Merlin

There Was A Battle Over It

Like other famous landmarks, Stonehenge has been the subject of tension, controversy, and even conflict. A battle was fought over the monument in 1985, which lasted for several hours. Known as the Battle of the Beanfield, it was essentially a clash between police and travelers who were trying to set up the Stonehenge Free Festival. They were stopped at a roadblock nearby on their way to the stones, and that’s where confrontation broke out.

The incident ended up being one of the biggest mass arrests in history. In the end, 537 travelers were arrested and eight police officers were hospitalised.