Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England
by Frederic Vincent, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Stonehenge_back_wide.jpg, used under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 License
Stonehenge is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world. It is located it Wiltshire, England. Its name Stonehenge comes from two words, "stone" and "henge", which means "hinge", refering to the lintels that hinge on the standing stones. Although the date of its construction is placed at around 3200BC, archaeologists are in agreement that Stonehenge was built in phases before and after that date, over a period that can span as much as 3000 years.
By the turn of the 20th century, the stones were in much disrepair, caused not so much by the elements, but by human wear and tear, as more and more visitors were unrestrained from clambering over them. As a result, many had fallen over or were leaning precariously. Three phases of conservation were put in place to restore the stones, at the very least, to put them back into the position as found on antiquarian documents.
In addition to being a tourist attraction, Stonehenge has also become a pilgrimage site of sorts, attracting neo-druids and those who observe pagan or neo-pagan beliefs. Since the 1870s, Stonehenge has been the site for Druidic practises and rituals, despite the fact that the monument outdates the Iron Age Druidic religion. The continuous intrusion of new age travellers - those espousing new age and/or hippie beliefs - on Stonehenge culminated in the Battle of Beanfield, an incident much remembered for its police brutality against civilians. Since then, ritual use of Stonehenge has been more tightly regulated.
Where in the world is Stonehenge?
How to go to Stonehenge?
By Car: If you're going there from London, take the M3/A303 Motorway. At Salisbury take A345. Look out for the signage. Stonehenge is visible from A303. Park your car at the car park. Entrance fee to Stonehenge is £5.90. You are not allowed to the stones themselves. Attendants will guide you around the monument along roped pathways. Audio commentary guides are available; following it from end-to-end will take approximately an hour.
By Train/Bus: You can reach it by train to Salisbury, then continue by taking Service 3 bus from the Wiltshire & Dorset bus company to Stonehenge about 13km (8 miles) away.
Stonehenge at sunset, on a cloudy day by Oni Lukos, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Stonehenge_cloudy_sunset.jpg, used under GNU Free Documentation License
Stonehenge, as seen from inside the stone circle
by Kristian H Resset, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Stonehenge_Inside_Facing_NE_April_2005.jpg, available in the public domain
Birds nesting on the stones of Stonehenge Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Stonehenge_birds_nesting_in_megalith_cavity_April_2005.jpg, available in the public domain
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