England's icon - Stonehenge

Stonehenge is certainly one of the most important tourist sites in England, Wiltshire. This prehistoric monument and its mysterious history started to intrigue scholars, travelers and adventurers, as much as ordinary people, in Victorian time. Victorians were very keen to preserve British past and tradition, and in that time Stonehenge became a real tourist destination.

There are about 20 different theories who, how and why built Stonhenge. Starting with the claims that it was built by Romans, Danes, Phoenicians, Saxons, or even Minoans, it was unclear what was the purpose of the building and what construction techniques were used.

Let me name just a few of those theories:

• Stonehenge was a ‘Temple of the Druids’ (theory by John Aubrey)
• Stonehenge commemorated the Saxons’ ‘Night of the Long Knives’ (Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote about it in his Historia Regum Britannia)
• Stonehenge was a British imitation of Roman architecture (Thomas Tanner in his ‘Britannia‘, in 1695)
• Stonehenge was a hospital (Geoff Wainwright and Timothy Darvill argued in 2006 that the Stonehenge was a healing centre)
• Stonehenge design was ‘inspired by sounds’
• Stonehenge is a Buddhist temple  (James Ferguson in 1890)
• Stonehenge is related to the sun and the moon (18th century theory by Dr John Smith)
• The stones were transported wrapped in wicker rollers (suggestion by Garry Lavin, BBC presenter)

At Stonhenge, not all the individual events and structures can be dated, but radiocarbon dates were obtained for the antler picks used to dig the ditch and for a number of animal bones found at the bottom of the ditch. This tells us, with 95 % probability, that the construction begun between 3000 and 2920 BC. Some archaeological findings dating far more in the past (Mesolithic postholes dated about 8000 BC) and that is the sign that the site of Stonhenge were the place of human activities long before the actual construction.

Stonehenge today is an impressive ruin. The circular ditch and bank, the earliest elements of the monument, were formed of the chalk. So called 'Aubrey Holes', large pits (originally held timber or stone pillars) that form a huge ring, are also early elements.

But what you see and what definitely catch your eyes are huge erected stones. Made mostly from two different types of stone that form circles, The Sarsen Stones (outer circle) and Bluestones (inner circle).  Dr John Smith wrote that the outer circle represents the solar year, the inner circle represent lunar months and the sun rises above what he called the Heel Stone at midsummer. This was derived from the earlier thoughts that monument served in Druids rituals. Some of the stones today are missing (removed or destroyed), but the image of the grandiosity is still strong. There is no firm evidence either of the construction techniques that were used to build the monument, how the huge stones were transported from Wales and erected on their positions.

For last 30 years English Heritage working on the environmental improvements of the Stonhenge site. The site has now brand new visitor centre (opened on 18th Decembre 2013), a ultra-modern building in glass, wood and metal materials, that blends neatly into the landscape. It is divided into two separate buildings, connected by a canopy roof above central walkway.

The glass building is a large café and souvenir shop. Timber building is housing museum-quality permanent and special exhibitions. Just outside the visitor centre is reconstructed Neolithic village, built using authentic materials. Visitors are able to walk inside the houses and see how people may have lived 4500 years ago. Frequent shuttles operates from the visitor centre to the Stonehenge monument itself, though it is a quite nice walk too.

I must admit I was pretty scared of not been able to enjoy my visit as soon as we arrived on huge, packed car park. However, busy as in beehive, loads of people not spoiled my day. Strangely enough, the monument is so grand that you hardly notice people around.

Entrance to Stonehenge is now managed through timed tickets and advance booking is required. Booking is the only way to guarantee entry on the day and at the time of your choice.

Adult ticket cost is £13.90, children (5 - 15 yrs) £8.30, concession (students and over 60) £12.50 and family ticket (two adults, 3 children) £36.10. It is not possible to go near the stones, unless you have booked out-of-hours Stone Circle visit, which costs £21.00 and requires certain procedure to book.*

* prices in 2014