History.

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, 2 miles (3 km) west of Amesbury and 8 miles (13 km) north of Salisbury. Stonehenge's ring of standing stones are set within earthworks in the middle of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds. Stonehenge is perhaps the world's most famous prehistoric monument. It was built in several stages: the first monument was an early henge monument, built about 5,000 years ago, and the unique stone circle was formed in the late Neolithic period about 2500 BC. Various people have attributed the building of this great megalith to the Danes, Romans, Saxons, Greeks, Atlanteans, Egyptians, Phoenicians Celts, King Aurelius Ambrosious, Merlin, and even Aliens. One of the most popular beliefs was that Stonehenge was built by the Druids.

Facts.

It is possibly the most famous prehistoric monument in the world. But how much do you know about Stonehenge? Here are 10 important facts...

• Stonehenge began about 5,000 as a simple earthwork that was built in several stages. Stonehenge was built as an enclousre where prehistroic people burried their cremated dead. The great stone circle was formed in the centre of the monument in the late Neolithic peroid, around 2500 BC.
• The two types of stones that are used at the great Stonehenge are: the larger sarsens, and the smaller bluestones. The grand total of stones is 83.
• There were originally only two entrences to the enclosure. The original two entry ways into the enclosure were: Entry one: North east, Entry two: southern side. Today there are many more gaps mainly due to the result of later tracks the once crossed the monuments.
• A circle of 56 pits, known as the Aubrey Holes. The holes were names after John Aubrey, who identified them in 1666. The holes sit inside the enclosures. Its main purpose remains unknown, but some belive that the pits once held either stones or posts.
• The stone settings at Stonehenge were built durring the time known as the "great change in prehistory".
• Some of the many items found during various excavations at stonehenge were: Roman pottery, stone, metal items and coins. what is really strange is the lacking of medievil artifacts.
• In the 1880s, after carrying out some of the first scientifically recorded excavations at the site, Charles Darwin concluded that earthworms were largely to blame for the Stonehenge stones sinking through the soil