Stonehenge; "Boulders can be Baffling", by Declan McCormack

         Stonehenge is one of the seven “Wonders of the World”, earning this title for its decrepit and queer nature, eminent for predating the Pyramids of Giza and the Roman Colosseum. Becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986, Stonehenge has since gathered vaguely 800,000 tourists each year. Constructed of Sarsens and Megaliths, too much of a burden for transport, Stonehenge has bewildered historians and archaeologists for its entire state of notoriety. 

     Stonehenge was originally believed to be constructed by the Druidic Celts as a place of worship, first theorized in the 17th century by John Aubrey. This theory was proven false as Stonehenge had been constructed 1,000 years prior. Through excavation of human remains, Stonehenge was proven to be an ancient burial site. Akin to all theories, there are oppositions to this suggestion. Some historians believe that Stonehenge was also used as a pilgrimage and ceremonial site.

    Stonehenge’s lure is its complexion remains arcane, many inquiries are near insurmountable. The technology required to disclose factors including the likes of, “How were the Sarsens moved?’ is far from extant. The investigation of Stonehenge only fuels the fire of curiosity and interest.

    Located in Wiltshire, England, Stonehenge is approximately two hours west of London. . Besides possessing an alluring history, Stonehenge is home to numerous events. The Winter and Summer Solstice are celebrated at Stonehenge. The celebrations are run by Druids, who chant, “Arises O’ Sun” during dawn. This celebration ties to a theory by John Hawkins, Author of, “Stonehenge Decoded”, who suggested that Stonehenge was a Neolithic computer. Stonehenge possessed the ability to predict the year and time of year a Solar eclipse would occur, as stated here, “In my first published discussion of Stonehenge, I showed that the stones and archways point to the sun and moon as these bodies rise and set during the year and that the symmetry of the structure permits it to be used as a computing device for predicting the year in which eclipses of the sun and moon will take place at a particular season, such as midsummer. The 56 chalk‐filled Aubrey holes can be used to predict the year of an eclipse, and the 30 Sarsen archways permit one to count off the actual day of an eclipse. The hour of an eclipse can be determined by watching sunset and moonrise in the appropriate archways; thus, Stonehenge can be used as a sort of vernier. The astronomical alignments are beyond doubt, but the computer aspects are speculative.”

    Stonehenge is the perfect getaway for an aspiring Archaeologist, Historian, the common student, or anybody. Stonehenge can be described as a fractal, seeming humdrum at first glance but possesses so much more upon thorough inspection.