The name of the monument probably derives from the Saxon stan-hengen, meaning “stone hanging” or “gallows.” Along with more than 350 nearby monuments and henges (ancient earthworks consisting of a circular bank and ditch), including the kindred temple complex at Avebury, Stonehenge was designated a UNESCO World

What is the origin of Stonehenge?

The mysterious Stonehenge monument is 5,000 years old and consists of two semi-circles of stones. A new study shows it was built in Wales first, then moved to England centuries later. The research suggests Stonehenge is a burial ground that its builders erected after they migrated.

How Stonehenge was created and what was its purpose?

Stonehenge was built as a burial site After 2,500 BC, the people who used Stonehenge stopped burying human remains in the stone circle itself and began burying them in ditches around the periphery, suggesting a shift in the cultural significance of Stonehenge.

What culture is Stonehenge from?

British One of the most famous landmarks in the United Kingdom, Stonehenge is regarded as a British cultural icon. It has been a legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument since 1882, when legislation to protect historic monuments was first successfully introduced in Britain.

Whats the purpose of Stonehenge?

There is strong archaeological evidence that Stonehenge was used as a burial site, at least for part of its long history, but most scholars believe it served other functions as well—either as a ceremonial site, a religious pilgrimage destination, a final resting place for royalty or a memorial erected to honor and