Stonehenge’s secrets have finally been revealed by a group of researchers who believe that they have uncovered evidence that suggests just how important the midwinter sunset was to its creators.
Laser technology was used to scan these humungous rocks, and this process by the English Heritage showed significant differences in how various stones were shaped and worked.
The Outer sarsen circle possesses stones that had their crust removed, which allowed them to glisten in the sunlight, thus accentuating the view of the circle when approaching Stonehenge from the north-east during the solstices.
Furthermore, stones in the southwestern segment of the site didn’t have their crusts removed though, all of which proves to these researchers that the intent of the people who built the monument was to align it with the two solstices along a north-east by south-west axis . My head hurts.
Clive Ruggles, a Leicester University archaeologist stated, “This extraordinary new evidence not only confirms the importance of the solstitial alignment at Stonehenge, but also shows unequivocally that the formal approach was always intended to be from the north east, up the Avenue towards the direction of midwinter sunset.”
Commissioned in 2011, the Stonehenge laser survey has been roundly praised, and the results have revealed a hoard of information regarding the architecture of Stonehenge and its function.
So what do we now know about Stonehenge? Basically that it was likely a religious site built thousands of years ago and was built using stones from over 240 miles away.
