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| Archival
photographs and antiquarian prints of Stonehenge. |
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Stonehenge - Antiquarian Views |
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Sir
Henry James, "Plans and Photographs of Stonehenge and Turusachan in the Island of Lewis, taken in 1867" is the original source for these photographs and plans of Stonehenge.
Col. Sir Henry James, Director-General of the Ordnance Survey, was a strong believer that photography had to be utilized as a major tool for mapping and survey work and he employed the Royal Engineers for that purpose. Colonel James appears in several of the Stonehenge photographs published by the Ordnance Survey. These photographs are taken from a complete copy of the Ordinance Survey 1867 publication, a book that is very rare and difficult to buy or access. |
Stonehenge - History Overview
Stonehenge is the world's most famous, large megalithic stone circle and is usually designated as a site used for religious worship in Neolithic Britain. However, the first use of this locality for documented ritual activity goes back to the Mesolithic and the erection of several large totem poles perhaps as early as 8,000 BC (Stonehenge O). Lunar observations preceded the construction of a causeway c.3200 BC, followed by an earth circle and Heel Stones c.3100 BC (Stonehenge 1a) and the Aubrey Holes (Stonehenge 1b).
The Stonehenge site was then abandoned for about 1,000 years when large bluestones quarried in Wales were brought to the site and made into the Double Bluestone Circe with Avenue. 2150 BC (Stonehenge II). Soon thereafter sarsen stones were brought in from Avebury to build the great Sarsen Circle and Trilithon Horseshoe, 2100 BC (Stonehenge IIIa). Bluestones were brought back and added as the Bluestone Circle and Bluestone Horseshoe to the sarsen monument, 1800 BC (Stonehenge IIId). The sacred avenue was extended to the River Avon, 1100 BC (Stonehenge IV), the last phase of megalithic construction at this site. Note that the great stone circle and all construction at the Stonehenge site was completed several hundred years before we can postulate Celtic druids in the vicinity.
We can only mention in passing that Stonehenge was embedded within a large ritual complex,
where several of the ten megalithic constructions were also monumental in scale. Integration
between these structures may not have been well planned in advance,
but assuredly was articulated as each was built.
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