The History of Stonehenge for Kids: Stonehenge for Children - FreeSchool
Summary
TLDRStonehenge, an ancient stone circle located in England, has intrigued visitors for thousands of years. Estimated to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old, it predates the pyramids of Giza. Archaeologists have pieced together its history through excavation, as there is no written record of its construction or original purpose. Stonehenge served as a burial site and may have been a calendar or an observatory for celestial bodies. It is widely believed to have been used for religious ceremonies. The monument's construction evolved from earthworks to wooden structures, and finally to the current arrangement of massive standing stones. The largest stones, known as sarsens, weigh up to 25 tons and were transported from a distance of 20 miles, while smaller bluestones, averaging 4 tons each, were brought from over 140 miles away in Wales. The precise positioning of the stones aligns with significant astronomical events, such as the midsummer sunrise and the winter solstice. Today, Stonehenge is a protected World Heritage Site, attracting a million visitors annually, who continue to marvel at its mysteries and the ancient phenomena it marks.
Takeaways
- 🗓️ Stonehenge is an ancient stone circle that is older than the pyramids of Giza, dating back between 4,000 and 5,000 years.
- 🏺 There is no written record of its construction or original purpose, with information pieced together by archaeologists.
- 📍 The monument was used as a place of burial and possibly as a calendar or for astronomical observations.
- ⛩ Most believe Stonehenge was used for religious ceremonies, although its exact purpose remains a mystery.
- 🛠️ The earliest structures at Stonehenge were earthworks and ditches, which were later replaced by wooden structures and then by standing stones.
- 🏞️ The stones, both large sarsens and smaller bluestones, were transported from various distances to the site over hundreds of years.
- 🏋️♂️ The largest stones, the sarsens, are up to 30 feet tall and weigh an average of 25 tons, while the bluestones, from Wales, weigh about 4 tons each.
- 🚢 The method of transporting the stones is still debated, with theories including rolling on tree trunks, dragging in baskets, or moving by boat.
- 🧭 The stones were placed with great precision, aligning with significant astronomical events like the midsummer sunrise and the winter solstice sunset.
- 🏛️ Today, Stonehenge is a World Heritage Site, visited by about a million people annually who come to witness the ancient phenomena.
- ❓ Despite its fame and study, many mysteries about Stonehenge's construction and purpose continue to intrigue and puzzle researchers and visitors alike.
Q & A
What is the name of the ancient stone circle in England that has mystified visitors for millennia?
-Stonehenge
Is Stonehenge older or younger than the pyramids of Giza?
-Stonehenge is older than the pyramids of Giza.
What is the estimated age range of Stonehenge?
-Stonehenge is probably between 4,000 and 5,000 years old.
What were some of the uses of Stonehenge?
-Stonehenge was used as a place of burial, possibly as a calendar, and for studying the movements of the stars and worshiping the Sun and Moon.
What is the most widely accepted belief regarding the primary use of Stonehenge?
-Most believe that Stonehenge was used for religious ceremonies.
What materials were used in the earliest versions of Stonehenge?
-The earliest versions of Stonehenge were made of earthworks and ditches, with tools made of antlers.
What are the two types of stones mentioned in the script and what are their approximate weights?
-The two types of stones are sarsens, which weigh an average of 25 tons, and bluestones, which weigh an average of 4 tons.
How far were the bluestones believed to have been transported to reach Stonehenge?
-The bluestones are believed to have been brought from Wales, more than 140 miles or 225 kilometers away.
What are some of the theories on how the stones were transported to Stonehenge?
-Theories include rolling the stones on tree trunks, dragging them in huge baskets pulled by oxen, or moving them by boat with the help of the nearby river Avon.
What is the significance of the alignment of certain stones at Stonehenge?
-Certain stones in the ancient circle line up with the midsummer sunrise and the winter solstice sunset, marking the longest and shortest days of the year.
How many people visit Stonehenge each year, and when do many of them visit?
-About a million people visit Stonehenge each year, with many visiting at midsummer and midwinter to view the ancient phenomena related to the sun.
What is the current status of Stonehenge in terms of preservation and recognition?
-Stonehenge is a carefully protected World Heritage Site.
Outlines
🗿 The Enigma of Stonehenge
Stonehenge, an ancient stone circle in England, remains one of the world's most mysterious monuments. It predates the pyramids of Giza and is estimated to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old. Its original purpose is unknown, with theories ranging from a burial site to a celestial observatory and religious ceremonies. The monument's construction involved earthworks, wooden structures, and eventually, massive standing stones. The largest stones, known as sarsens, were transported up to 20 miles, while smaller bluestones were brought from over 140 miles away in Wales. The transportation methods remain a mystery, with suggestions including rolling on tree trunks, dragging in baskets, or moving by boat. Stonehenge's alignment with the midsummer sunrise and winter solstice sunset indicates its astronomical significance. Today, it is a World Heritage Site visited by a million people annually, who continue to marvel at its ancient phenomena and the mysteries it holds.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Stonehenge
💡Archaeologists
💡Religious Ceremonies
💡Sarsens
💡Bluestones
💡Transportation Methods
💡Alignment with Celestial Events
💡World Heritage Site
💡Midsummer and Midwinter Phenomena
💡Earthworks and Ditches
💡Wooden Structure
💡Megalithic Construction
Highlights
Stonehenge is a massive stone monument in England that has mystified visitors for millennia.
It is an ancient stone circle, older than the pyramids of Giza.
Archaeologists have pieced together its history due to the lack of written records.
Stonehenge is estimated to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old.
Its construction spanned across hundreds or even thousands of years.
Stonehenge was used as a place of burial and possibly as a calendar.
It may have been a site for studying celestial movements and worshiping the Sun and Moon.
Religious ceremonies are widely believed to have been conducted at Stonehenge.
The earliest versions of Stonehenge consisted of earthworks and ditches.
The site evolved from wooden structures to circles of massive standing stones.
The largest stones, sarsens, are up to 30 feet tall and weigh an average of 25 tons.
Sarsens were transported approximately 20 miles to Stonehenge.
Smaller stones, bluestones, were brought from Wales, over 140 miles away.
The method of transporting the heavy stones without modern technology remains a mystery.
Theories suggest the stones were moved using tree trunks, oxen-pulled baskets, or boats along the river Avon.
Stones were placed with precision, aligning with the midsummer sunrise and the winter solstice sunset.
Stonehenge is a World Heritage Site visited by about a million people annually.
Many visitors still attend midsummer and midwinter to witness the astronomical phenomena.
The mysteries of Stonehenge continue to captivate and inspire curiosity.
Transcripts
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Deep in the heart of England, by the side of a road, stands a massive stone monument
that has mystified visitors for millennia.
It is called Stonehenge, and it is an ancient stone circle, older than the pyramids of Giza.
What little is known about its history has been pieced together by archaeologists, because
it is so old that there is no written record of its construction, or of its original purpose.
Stonehenge is probably between 4,000 and 5,000 years old, and its construction was spread
across hundreds or even thousands of years.
It was used, among other things, as a place of burial.
Some think it may also have been used as a calendar, or as a place to study the movements
of the stars and worship the Sun and Moon.
Although we may never know exactly why Stonehenge was built, most believe it was used for religious
ceremonies.
The earliest versions of Stonehenge were made of earthworks and ditches dug with tools made
of antlers.
This was eventually replaced by some kind of wooden structure, which was replaced in
turn by circles of massive standing stones.
The stones at Stonehenge were brought there over a period of several hundred years.
The largest stones, called sarsens, measure up to 30 feet or 9 meters tall and weigh an
average of 25 tons.
These stones were probably transported 20 miles or 32 kilometers to Stonehenge.
Some of the smaller stones, called bluestones, are believed to have been brought from Wales,
more than 140 miles or 225 kilometers away.
Although they are smaller than the massive sarsens, the bluestones still weigh an average
of 4 tons each, and archaeologists are baffled as to how they were transported so far without
modern technology - or even the wheel!
Some people think the stones were rolled on tree trunks, or dragged in huge baskets pulled
by oxen.
Others believe they were moved by boat, with the help of the nearby river Avon.
However the stones were moved, they were placed with incredible precision.
Certain stones in the ancient circle line up with the midsummer sunrise and the winter
solstice sunset, marking the longest and shortest days of the year.
Today Stonehenge is a carefully protected World Heritage Site visited by about a million
people each year, and many people still visit Stonehenge at midsummer and midwinter to view
the ancient phenomena that marks the rising and the setting of the sun, and wonder at
the mysteries Stonehenge still hides.
I hope you enjoyed learning about Stonehenge today.
Goodbye till next time!
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