Curious about the mystery of Stonehenge? Scientists have finally cracked the code behind this ancient wonder, and it’s way more fascinating than you might think! In this video, we’ll dive into the latest discoveries about who built it, why, and how they pulled off such an incredible feat thousands of years ago. You’ll learn the surprising secrets hidden in the stones and how they connect to the people and landscapes of ancient times. Whether you’re a history buff or just love a good mystery, this is one video you don’t want to miss. So grab a comfy seat and get ready to uncover the truth about one of the world’s greatest puzzles—Stonehenge awaits! Animation is created by Bright Side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/
Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV
Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightside
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.official?lang=en
Telegram: https://t.me/bright_side_official
Stock materials (photos, footages and other):
https://www.depositphotos.com
https://www.shutterstock.com
https://www.eastnews.ru
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more videos and articles visit:
http://www.brightside.me
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/
Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV
Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightside
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.official?lang=en
Telegram: https://t.me/bright_side_official
Stock materials (photos, footages and other):
https://www.depositphotos.com
https://www.shutterstock.com
https://www.eastnews.ru
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more videos and articles visit:
http://www.brightside.me
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00Recently, scientists made an astonishing discovery that might solve Stonehenge's mystery.
00:06They found something hidden deep within the DNA of Stonehenge's sarsen rocks, the huge
00:12monolithic ones, and it might reveal why our Neolithic ancestors designed and built this
00:18thing in the first place.
00:20Over the years, scientists have been scratching their heads trying to figure out where the
00:25huge sarsen rocks came from.
00:27For years, they believed they came from a quarry just 15 miles away from the site, known
00:33as Marlborough Downs.
00:35At this site, they found similar minerals to the ones that make up the sarsen rocks.
00:40But it turned out there was more to this story than they thought.
00:44The understanding of how Stonehenge was built is always changing.
00:49Scientists need to really travel back in time to uncover its mysteries.
00:53Where did the rocks come from?
00:55How were they carried?
00:57Why was the site built?
00:59You see, the Stonehenge site, located at Salisbury Plain in England, is made up of two main types
01:06of stone.
01:07There are the super-heavy sarsens and the lighter and smaller bluestones.
01:12The sarsens each weigh about 25 tons – that's as much as three African elephants stacked
01:18together.
01:19The heaviest sarsen stone, called the heel stone, weighs 30 tons all by itself.
01:25Together, the sarsens make that iconic outer ring circle.
01:29Inside that circle, that's where you'll find the bluestones.
01:33The naming might seem a bit misleading since they're not really blue.
01:37They have a bluish tinge to them when they are freshly broken, hence the name.
01:42These smaller rocks probably came from the Preseli Hills in southwest Wales, which is
01:47about 150 miles away from Stonehenge.
01:51They're a bit lighter than the sarsens but still pretty heavy.
01:55The altar stone, which is classified as a bluestone, is the heaviest one, weighing around
02:006 tons.
02:01Its original location still isn't known for sure.
02:07To figure out where a rock came from, scientists first have to study their composition.
02:12This is like checking the rock's DNA.
02:15Then they cross-reference the structure of the rock with minerals in the soil to see
02:19if it's a match.
02:22Most of the sarsens we see around southern England are actually made of a type of sandstone
02:27known as silcrete.
02:28Think of silcrete as sand that's been hardened by underground water processes over millions
02:34of years.
02:35This process mostly happened during a period called the Paleogene, about 65 to 23 million
02:41years ago.
02:43These sarsen rocks didn't form in one big slab, but in patches, like nature leaving
02:48little rock gardens all over the place.
02:52Scientists reason the sarsens spread out randomly, forming in isolated pockets.
02:57Over time, many were buried under layers of clay and chalk, which helped preserve them.
03:03When ancient builders were on the lookout for materials, these sarsens must have looked
03:08perfect for something impressive like Stonehenge.
03:11Actually, sarsens have been used in everything, from Roman villas to medieval churches, and
03:17even in things like road curbs and old field walls.
03:21One could say these rocks were the it material for ancient builders, and continue to be popular
03:27even into more modern times.
03:30This fact made scientists start wondering that maybe not all sarsen stones that were
03:35used to build Stonehenge came from the same place.
03:39They've identified sarsen sites all over the UK, in places such as Oxfordshire and
03:45Kent.
03:46After hundreds of years of studying the sarsens, geologists finally had the right type of technology
03:52to determine the origin of the stones.
03:55Now, I wish I could tell you that it was some undisclosed location very far away from the
04:00site.
04:01But, as it turned out, the sarsens were originally from Westwoods, the forest near Stonehenge.
04:10A new factor came into play when excavations uncovered empty stone holes, showing that
04:16At least 6 blue stone pillars were removed from a Presley Hills site called Wan May in
04:21prehistory.
04:22They had a stone circle over there, and it's believed that some of Stonehenge's rocks
04:28were recycled rocks from this more ancient circle.
04:32If this is true, it might be that Stonehenge is part of a much larger landscape of ancient
04:37sites.
04:38If this is the case, then Stonehenge is just the cherry on top of a much larger-scale project.
04:45Think of it as the sacred centerpiece of an entire landscape of monuments, mounds,
04:51stone circles, and things.
04:54This is why scientists wanted to find out where the rocks came from so badly.
04:58It could lead to why and how Stonehenge was built.
05:03Stonehenge didn't just pop up overnight.
05:05It was built in several stages over hundreds of years.
05:09It's likely that it wasn't a single unified vision, but more like a big community project
05:15that evolved over time.
05:17With each generation, the builders brought in their own ideas, creating a stone structure
05:23that would last for ages.
05:26The first age was around 3,100 BCE.
05:30That's when people dug out a circular ditch and likely set up some blue stones, as sort
05:35of a starter ring.
05:37Later they added the sarsens and even topped some of them with horizontal stones to form
05:42those famous arches you see today, also known as the trilithons.
05:48These ancient builders had some challenges on their hands.
05:51How would they move the rocks?
05:53There's an old theory, known as the ice road, that suggests that the rocks were moved
05:58by natural icy pathways that formed during the winter.
06:02This way, they could slide the rocks down all the way to Stonehenge.
06:07But hey, if we're talking about a distance of over 100 miles, that's not too realistic.
06:12Anyways, this theory was debunked because it was warmer back then than it is today.
06:18There's also the river theory, which suggests that the rocks were floated along the river
06:23from the quarry to the site.
06:25But if we're talking about sarsen rocks, they're too heavy to float.
06:30So there goes that theory.
06:32What we're saying is, no one knows how the rocks were moved.
06:38Another interesting science tidbit came from all the research done in Stonehenge.
06:43A recent laser survey of the stones revealed the different stone working methods used and
06:49has shown that some of the parts of the monument were more carefully finished than others.
06:55In particular, the northeast side and the inner faces of the central trilithons were
07:00finely dressed.
07:01FYI, a trilithon is one of Stonehenge's most famous shapes.
07:06It's when two huge monoliths receive a third one on top of them, connecting the two together.
07:13This fancy word is simply Greek for having three stones.
07:18But anyways, the bigger question, and the reason Stonehenge is so famous, is why it
07:24was built in the first place.
07:27Theories are all over the place, and some sound like they're straight out of a sci-fi
07:31show.
07:32So here's a rundown of the most popular ideas.
07:35There's, of course, the solar calendar theory.
07:39This one supposes that the stones are aligned with the movements of the Sun, especially
07:44during the summer and winter solstices.
07:47During the summer solstice, the Sun rises to the left of the heel stone, that's the
07:52lone stone outside the main circle, lighting up the entire monument.
07:57Some say it's the ancient version of a calendar, marking the year's longest and shortest
08:02days.
08:04Some archaeologists think Stonehenge might've been an ancient healing center.
08:09Pieces of blue stone have been found chipped away, possibly by people who believe they
08:14had healing powers.
08:16The theory goes that people traveled from all over to come to Stonehenge in hopes of
08:20a cure for whatever was ailing them.
08:24There's also some speculation that Stonehenge was the place to be.
08:29Think of it as an ancient gathering spot.
08:32Some evidence suggests that communities from distant areas traveled to Stonehenge for gatherings,
08:38feasts, and ceremonies.
08:40Studies of bones found near the site show they came from all over Britain, making it
08:46a sort of prehistoric meet-up location.
08:50That's it for today!
08:51So, hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your
08:55friends!
08:56Or, if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!