Stonehenge, Prehistoric stone circle in Wiltshire, England
Stonehenge is a prehistoric stone circle on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. It consists of an outer ring of large upright sarsen stones, some topped with horizontal lintels, and inside are smaller bluestones and free-standing trilithons, now partly in ruins.
Construction began around 3100 BC with a circular ditch and bank, and the large sarsen stones were erected between 2600 and 2400 BC. The monument was used for burials and ceremonies for over a thousand years before being abandoned.
The name Stonehenge comes from Old English words meaning 'hanging stones', referring to the lintels that seem to hang in the air. Today, visitors can see how the stones are arranged in a circle and imagine how people once gathered here for ceremonies and burials.
Visitors can walk around the stone circle on a designated path, and the site is open daily with last entry in the afternoon. It is best to book tickets in advance, especially in summer, and wear comfortable shoes as the ground can be uneven.
The bluestones were brought from the Preseli Hills in Wales, over 150 miles (240 kilometers) away, which was a remarkable feat in prehistoric times. Some of the stones have mortise and tenon joints, a woodworking technique rarely seen in stone monuments of that era.
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