Stonehendge drying off after a torrential storm

This was taken on a very stormy day shortly before Stonehenge was shut down for its extensive environmental re-landscaping to protect the stones. In... more

by Denise Dube

Title

Stonehendge drying off after a torrential storm

Artist

Denise Dube

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

This was taken on a very stormy day shortly before Stonehenge was shut down for its extensive environmental re-landscaping to protect the stones. In December of 2013 the new visitor center will be located 1.5 miles from the site and visitors will have to hike or pay for a tractor like shuttle to the site for a controlled timed visit. Visitors will not longer be able to view this mysterious site as close as we have in this photo, unless you book over a year in advance for a few of their special tours. The original Stonehenge was a large earthwork or Henge, comprising a ditch, bank, and the Aubrey holes, all probably built around 3100 BC. Most probably used for religious ceremonies. Shortly after this stage Stonehenge was abandoned, left untouched for over 1000 years. The second and most dramatic stage of Stonehenge started around 2150 BC. Some 82 bluestones from the Preseli mountains, in south-west Wales were transported to the site. It is thought these stones, some weighing 4 tonnes each were dragged on rollers and sledges to the headwaters on Milford Haven and then loaded onto rafts. They were carried by water along the south coast of Wales and up the rivers Avon and Frome, before being dragged overland again to near Warminster in Wiltshire. The final stage of the journey was mainly by water, down the river Wylye to Salisbury, then the Salisbury Avon to west Amesbury.
This astonishing journey covers nearly 240 miles.The third stage of Stonehenge, about 2000 BC, saw the arrival of the Sarsen stones, which were almost certainly brought from the Marlborough Downs near Avebury, in north Wiltshire, about 25 miles north of Stonehenge. The largest of the Sarsen stones transported to Stonehenge weigh 50 tonnes and transportation by water would have been impossible, the stones could only have been moved using sledges and ropes. Modern calculations show that it would have taken 500 men using leather ropes to pull one stone, with an extra 100 men needed to lay the huge rollers in front of the sledge.. It is a magical site and I cannot wait to return again for one of the special engagements and hopefully no torrential rains...

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October 4th, 2013