Stonehenge: An Ancient Astronomical Marvel


Have you ever wondered how our ancestors used to keep track of time? When they didn’t have the technology that we have right now, guess what? They had something more interesting than our analog watches to keep track of time, and guess what? They didn’t use any motors or machinery to keep track of things. Just stones, natural sunlight, and a basic understanding of the skies were all they had, yet they kept track of time nearly accurately. 

One such structure is Stonehenge; to know more about how the age-old astronomical marvel kept track of time (and still does), let’s break down some things.

A Monument Through Time: How Stonehenge Was Built
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The Ancient Monument Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a marvel of engineering built by our ancestors without using metals, concrete, or any other modern construction materials. Stonehenge is an example of the Neolithic architecture known as the ‘henge’. Techniques such as tongue-and-groove joinery and mortice holes were used to keep the stones in their place.  The Stonehenge we see today is an engineering marvel and was formed in three phases, each developed with a time relevance of 500 years. The structure was started to be built 2500 years ago and was finally completed 4000 years ago.

  1.  A ground was dug(ditch) in the geometry of a circle using deer antlers and filled with chalk to form an inner and outer bank. This bank consisted of 56 large holes known as the Aubrey Holes.
  2. 82 bluestones weighing around 3500 kg were placed in the inner ditch. These bluestones were brought by using rollers made of wood. These were like standing pillars in a semi-circular form
  3. 30 Sarsen Stones each weighing 25000 kg were placed on top of standing pillars to make the finalised structure that we see today.

Completing these three phases marked the building of the marvel of architecture known as Stonehenge.

Stonehenge: A Solar Observatory

The location of the monument was initially used for burials. This quickly evolved as it was constructed, which turned it into a solar observatory. The alignment of Stonehenge with the sunrise and sunset directions made it highly effective for use as a solar observatory. The 56-year eclipse cycle can be directly interpreted by 56 Aubrey stones. There isn’t much evidence that proves this but by observing its alignment and its relation to the eclipse cycle. We can conclude that the ancient monument was used as a solar observatory.

Tracking the Moon: Lunar Mysteries of Stonehenge 
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The extremities of the moon within the four pillars.
credits: English Heritage

The connection of Stonehenge is very complex as it involves the set & rise of the moon and also the alignment of the moon in the night sky. A lunar event (Stonehenge major lunar standstill) occurs every 18.6 years when the extremities of the moon, i.e. the moon reach its further south & north positions known as a lunar standstill. This lunar standstill aligns with the four pillars of Stonehenge. This event relates to the lunar mysteries of the age-old monument. Guess what? The year 2024 had this alignment and thus made the theory regarding Stonehenge as a lunar tracker true.

Ancient Astronomy in Stone and Shadow of Stonehenge

Stonehenge, not only being an astronomical calendar but can also be signified as an astronomical computer since it can very well calculate the time of the eclipse, the sunrise point of the sun in midsummer, and many other things. The shadows cast by the pillars also help in understanding various phenomena such as 

  • The shadow of the heel stones aligns with the axis of the monument; this relates to it being at the northernmost point. This play of shadow helped in know which day would be the longest in the upcoming year.
  • The shadow play can also be used to track the summer solstice and its interplay with the stones.
Decoding the Purpose of Stonehenge

Stonehenge may seem like a site built for the prehistoric gods but the recent excavation proves that it was a site built to house the spirit of the people of that time. Even the excavation findings only relate to some of the facts about the monument, this makes the monument captivating and interests the excavators, archeologists, and scientists around the world to know more about the secrets of the astronomical structure. While there are various theories regarding the astronomical site. Stories say it was built with the help of aliens, mythological god’s powers, giants, etc… Some conspiracies are there about it but no solid evidence is found that can fully decode the purpose of the monument.

The Role of Stonehenge in Neolithic Society

The Neolithic society built Stonehenge for various purposes ranging from showcasing an elegant and astounding structure that relates to summer solstice sunrise, eclipses, and much more. While these are all the astronomical aspects of it; earlier, it was used for the burial of the Neolithic people and was believed to be a resting site for the spirits of Neolithic people. The monument in Neolithic Society helped the Neolithic people understand cosmic events, seasonal changes, and other astronomical phenomena with the shadows of the pillars cast on stone and ground.

Stonehenge: A Sacred Calendar or Practical Tool?
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The Map of Stonehenge today
Credits: Wikipedia

Stonehenge has fascinated historians, archaeologists, and visitors for over two thousand years. Was it a sacred site for rituals or a sophisticated timekeeping device? Its alignment with the solstices hints at spiritual significance, possibly marking key dates in the calendar year and supporting rituals tied to seasonal changes. To know the working of Stonehenge as a solar calendar you can visit how the solar calendar works. Therefore the structure is considered a practical tool that helped Neolithic people understand the solar & lunar phenomena.

The age-old astronomical clock gives us timeless lessons regarding the cyclic nature of time, changing weather, and the relationship of the sky with the Earth. The structure has now eroded over time but it still can be used to map the lunar standstills thus proving its significance for understanding the nature of things.

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