The Origins of Stonehenge
The first stages of Stonehenge were likely constructed around 5,000 years ago, during the late Neolithic period, with major alterations and additions occurring over the course of several centuries. Archaeological evidence suggests that the site began as a simple earthwork, a circular ditch and bank, with a henge—a type of monument often associated with ceremonial and ritualistic purposes. This original structure was followed by the addition of wooden posts, which would have formed a timber circle, a precursor to the stone arrangement that would later emerge.
By around 2500 BCE, the famous megaliths, massive stone blocks weighing several tons, were brought to the site. These stones, known as the sarsens, are believed to have been transported from Marlborough Downs, about 20 miles away, while the smaller bluestones, weighing up to 4 tons each, were brought from the Preseli Hills in Wales, a staggering distance of 140 miles. The exact methods used to transport these stones remain one of the greatest mysteries of Stonehenge's construction. shutdown123