Who Made Stonehenge?

Considering the length of time it took to build Stonehenge this is no easy question to answer. It is thought that Stonehenge was crafted by 3 different types of people.

The first group were referred to as the Windmill Hill people. They were named after their earthworks on Windmill Hill near Stonehenge.  They originated in Eastern England, they had a strong understanding of symmetry and circles. They were one of the first hunting and gathering groups that were able to maintain an agricultural economy.

The second group were the Beaker people. They are thought to have came from Spain colonizing northwest Europe. Their named derived from their burial customs, they always buried with breakers or pottery drinking cups.  It is also assumed they were more of a war like people. They buried their dead with all kinds of weapons. They were also one of the first known people to bury their deceased in single graves instead of mass graves.

The third are the Wessex people. They would have arrived around 1500 B.C. at the top of the bronze age. The Wessex were a very advanced people for their time. They showed great skill in creating and organizing road systems. Since they were so good at making routes, it is believed that they were well organized traders and controlled trade routes in southern England. They are credited with the bronze dagger carving found on one of the large stones at Stonehenge.

Stonehenge Facts For Kids Video

Interesting Video About Stonehenge For Kids

If you would rather just watch a video, I have that too. I made this one, for people who would rather watch a video than just read down the page. Keep in mind there are a few more facts below that aren’t on the video. Check it out!!

Interesting Facts About Stonehenge For Kids

♦ Stonehenge seems to be the center of many Bronze Age and Neolithic monuments. You can find hundreds of burial mounds in the area that surrounds Stonehenge.

♦ Stonehenge itself is managed by English heritage and is owned by the crown. The land surrounding Stonehenge is owned by the National Trust.

♦ In 2008 evidence was uncovered that Stonehenge may have been a burial site well before Stonehenge itself was constructed.

♦ There is more than meets the eye with Stonehenge. The designers and builders had to be extremely sophisticated in geometry and mathematics. It is aligned with midwinter sunset and the midsummer sunset. It was also aligned with the most northerly setting and the most southerly rising of the moon.

♦ One of the stone types used to construct Stonehenge is called a Sarsen Stone. Theses stones weighed 25 tons and were about 18 feet tall.

♦ They also used what are called blue stones. These stones are volcanic and pretty unique. The unique qualities of these stones prove that they were imported from a site that was about 240 miles away. This is the closes place to Stonehenge you can find these types of stones.

♦ It is estimated that it too around 30 million hours of labor over a span of 1500 years to construct Stonehenge.

♦ Stonehenge is the most well known of the over 900 different stone rings in the British Isles.

♦ Some would argue that Stonehenge was built as an astronomical observatory, others would argue that it was built as a place to have ritual actives.

♦ There are some people that believe that Aliens are the only good explanation for how Stonehenge was built. They are sometimes in the same discussion as crop circles.

♦ It’s a little difficult to come to a definite conclusion about Stonehenge. It is believed that over half of the stones are missing and many have fallen over. Below is what it may have looked like when complete.

♦ Many believe that the tall stones are grave markers.

♦ Some people also believe that Stonehenge was constructed to act as a giant clock.

♦ You used to be able to get into Stonehenge and touch it, but it’s roped off now.

♦ Here is a photo that depicts the way some believe that Stonehenge was built. Not a quick or very efficient process. But they worked with what they had!

♦ George Villiers, who was the 1st Duke of Buckingham decided to dig a large hole in the center of Stonehenge looking for fabled buried treasure. He did this in 1620.

♦ Stonehenge is very popular, it get’s more than 800,000 visitors a year.

♦ Stonehenge has gone through several restorations. Some of it’s boulders have been set in concrete to preserve them and prevent collapse.