Located about 90 miles west of London, Stonehenge is one of the world’s most famous and mysterious prehistoric monuments. Built around the same time as Egypt’s Great Pyramid, this complex of giant stones, some weighing up to 30 tons, has captivated archaeologists and historians for more than a thousand years .
Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
If you can’t quite picture how human beings managed to lug 30-ton stones over miles of prehistoric English countryside and stand them up, this short animation from English Heritage can help. The Stone Age engineering involved using giant wooden rollers and carving precisely interlocking tongue-and-groove joints to hold the heavy stones in place.
Prehistoric people approached Stonehenge via a route archaeologists call “The Avenue.” If they stood in the center of the circle and looked back down the Avenue on the summer solstice, they’d see the sunrise framed by the large sarsen stones. If you can’t visit Stonehenge in person, this interactive 3D virtual tour—complete with sidebars and video explainers—is the next best thing.
Located about 90 miles west of London, Stonehenge is one of the world’s most famous and mysterious prehistoric monuments. Built around the same time as Egypt’s Great Pyramid, this complex of giant stones, some weighing up to 30 tons, has captivated archaeologists and historians for over a thousand years. Want to learn more about this ancient marvel? Check out 1440's video explainer.
Every year, some 15,000 people make the pilgrimage to Stonehenge to watch the sunrise on the summer solstice. And hundreds of thousands more watch the event from home, live-streamed on YouTube. Among those that attend solstice celebrations in person are neo-druids in white hooded robes, performing spiritual ceremonies among the stones.
In the 1960s, scientists used a then-new technology—the computer—to analyze the placement of the Stonehenge stones in relation to the heavens. They decided that Stonehenge must have served as an ancient astronomical computer, accurately predicting lunar eclipses and other celestial events. Today’s scholars aren’t so sure. Here, BBC Sky at Night magazine covers the evolution of the astronomical theory of Stonehenge.
Stonehenge was built before the wheel was even invented, making its construction even more mysterious. In response, some wild theories have sprung up. One text from the 12th century depicts a giant from the Nephilim race helping the wizard Merlin erect the stones. A popular book from the 1960s suggested that Stonehenge (along with the Egyptian and Mayan pyramids) was actually built using alien technology.
Stonehenge may be the most famous monument of its kind, but it’s not the only one. In fact, building “henges” was kind of the “it” thing to do in prehistoric Europe. About 1,300 of them are still standing today. This introduction, written by a curator of the British Museum’s 2022 exhibition on Stonehenge, puts the monument in context.
Twice a year, during the longest day and night, the sun’s path aligns ever so gently with the ruins of Stonehenge. During the summer solstice, viewers can see the sun’s rise crest the central heel stone. The winter solstice sees the sun set across the site’s altar stone. Use this interactive to tour the historic site and check its current skyscape.
Researchers built the first scale model of the world's best-known prehistoric stone circle, Stonehenge, to study its acoustic properties. Built approximately 5,000 years ago, the landmark in southern England has puzzled historians for centuries, but...
The crowds that gather at Stonehenge for the solstice celebrations are a colorful bunch: Some wear the white robes of modern Druids, carry staffs and wear crowns made of antlers or wildflowers. Some blow through ox horn trumpets to mark midsummer; others just show up with a hula hoop. Getty photographers are on hand to capture all the sights.
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