Stones In Stonehenge: Iconic Architectural Wonders
The heel stone is one of the biggest Stonehenge stones and is also known as Stone 96 or ‘The Friar’s Heel.’ It is a natural stone with no work being done to it and it weighs over 36 tonnes. This sarsen stone is massive and unshaped, standing in isolation encircled by a minor circular ditch. Heel Stone is known for marking the place on the horizon where summer solstice sunrise happens every year on the longest day of the year. One can view it from the centre of the circle, and thousands of people gather to watch this event.
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Stonehenge only six lintels remain of the outer sarsen circle. Every lintel is locked with the supporting upright sarsens using a mortise and tenon joint. It is locked to the neighbouring stones using groove joints and a tongue. The care and Restoration work on them makes the outer and inner faces of these lintels work together to give the illusion of an incessant ring of stone.
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Station stones originally were four outlying Stonehenge stones, yet only two remain now. These stones in Stonehenge created a rectangle around the central monument as the shortest side of the stone rectangle aligns with the main solstitial axis. On the other hand, the long sides of the stone align with the southernmost moonrise and moonset on the northernmost side. Modern stone or steel markers here display the positions of the missing two stones 94 and 92, one on each side-south and north.
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At some point in time, a pin was driven into Stone 52's northwest face, which you can see clearly in many photos. The southern edge of the stone has the exciting graffiti ‘I WREN'. Experts say that Sir Christopher Wren was the mastermind behind this graffiti, who was also the architect of Sir Christopher Wren. Also, the same graffiti is present on one other stone, stone 23, on its west face. Though, no one knows if it was Sir Christopher or someone else.
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One of the largest sarsen Stonehenge stones, the slaughter stone, got its name due to the creativity of the Victorians. The stone was originally standing upright at the entrance to Stonehenge, but it was flanked by multiple stones, now missing, making the surviving stone lie horizontally. The stone now has shallow crevices on the surface, collecting rainwater, which reacts with the iron in the stone, changing its color to a rusty red. The belief was that the red color came from having sacrifices here, which also gave the stone its name.
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The sarsens or stone 160 is in three remains and is a broken lintel of trilithon which is in the northwestern direction. It is known that the outermost setting of the entire stones in Stonehenge when completed would be a circle of 30 upright sarsens. They were capped by horizontal carefully shaped lintel stones. The sarsen stones you see today appear grey, but when they were fresh, they probably looked whiter and brighter.
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Stone 56 is the tallest stone amongst all the Stonehenge stones, making it challenging for visitors to take a full picture of the NE face. It is also the only remnant of the tallest trilithon, the head of the inner horseshoe. The purpose of creating this stone with a vertical side was to have a slot via to view the winter solstice setting sun. However, before it could happen, the companion of the trilithon fell. Stone 56 has mortice holes on the fallen lintel and tenon on top.
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Stone 68 is known to have a long-worked groove on its northern face. Due to this, historians believe it was paired with other stones in Stonehenge to create a double-width structure. It is among the 80 bluestones brought from Preseli Hills, Wales. The shaping of the stone also suggests it along with other Stonehenge stones was relocated here after being part of some other stone arrangement.
Stone 53 is one of the uprights of the trilithon, and it was in 1953 that Professor Atkinson discovered the outline of axe blades carved into its surface and a dagger. The shapes of these tools and weapons suggest they date back to the Bronze Age, likely between 1750 and 1500 BC. It implies that this is one of the stones in Stonehenge that was probably a later addition to the entire structure.
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One can find the altar stone at 80 degrees to the chief solstitial axis underneath the bent upright of stone 55b, or the Great Trilithon, and its lintel, AKA stone 156. The altar stone is sunk here into the grass, and it was broken when the great Trilithon, upright fell and is in two pieces. The 80-degree orientation of this stone shows its long dimension pointing in the direction of the summer solstice sunset and winter solstice sunrise.
Stone 60 is the only surviving upright of another stone trilithon. One of the many stones in Stonehenge, Stone 60 has a massive hole at the base. The hole is so massive that many people can take shelter inside it during harsh weather conditions. In 1959, when restoration was taking place at Stonehenge, the stone’s little void was filled with some concrete. Also, the stone was straightened to ensure better positioning of it.
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FAQs
What stones were used in Stonehenge?
Stonehenge comprises two primary types of stones: sarsen stones and bluestones. The robust sarsen stones, silcrete rock, hail from Marlborough Downs, situated roughly 19 miles north of Stonehenge. These hefty stones, averaging 25 tons, form the iconic outer circle and trilithons. Contrasting in size, the bluestones, weighing between 2 and 5 tons, have roots in the Preseli Hills, Pembrokeshire, manifesting Stonehenge's inner ring.
Where do Stonehenge stones come from?
Stonehenge's captivating structure primarily involves sarsen stones and bluestones. You'd find the sarsen stones, a type of silcrete rock, predominantly at West Woods in Marlborough Downs, about 19 miles north of Stonehenge. These significant stones, sometimes weighing up to 30 tons, construct Stonehenge's grand outer structure. On the other hand, the smaller yet intriguing bluestones come from the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire.
What is the origin of Stonehenge stones?
Stonehenge's iconic sarsen stones trace their roots to West Woods, on the fringes of Wiltshire's Marlborough Downs, just 25 kilometres north of the monument. These colossal structures, integral to Stonehenge's appeal, originate a mere 20 miles away. Your attention might then be drawn to the smaller bluestones, each with a unique story. Hailing from the Welsh hills in southwestern Wales, they accentuate the monument's deep-rooted connection to distant landscapes and its enduring enigma.
What type of stones are there in Stonehenge?
Stonehenge stones are of two types- the smaller ones are known as ‘bluestones' while the larger stones are Sarsen Stones. The latter are silcrete rock types, and, most likely, their origin is West Woods, south-west of Marlborough. The average weight of sarsen stones is 25 tons, but the biggest stone here, the heel stone, weighs around 30 tons. The smaller stones originated from Preseli Hills and weigh between 2 and 5 tons each. They are not exactly blue in colour, but when you break or wet them, they appear blue.
Are the stones at Stonehenge original?
Yes, the stones at Stonehenge are primarily original, having stood for various eras on the Salisbury Plain. You'll witness the imposing sarsen standing stones, reaching 13 feet high and weighing approximately 25 tons, connected by horizontal lintels. Nestled inside are smaller bluestones and free-standing trilithons. While sarsens are locally sourced from around 15 miles north, intriguing research suggests that bluestones might hail from Wales, emphasising the monument's rich history and mystery.
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Why is Stonehenge so famous?
Stonehenge is famous for many reasons, the most important being the mystery surrounding this beautiful henge. No one yet knows the real reason why this was built years ago. Some believe it to be a burial ground for royals, a ceremonial place, while others believe it to be a religious pilgrimage area. Another reason it is famous is that astronomers believe the cluster of stones worked as an astronomical calendar.
What is the best time to visit Stonehenge?
The best time to visit Stonehenge is early morning, as soon as it opens or before it closes too. The reason for this is that during this time, the crowd is less, allowing you to walk leisurely and take many photos.Additionally, June to September, the summer months with bright sun and pleasant weather, is the best time to visit Stonehenge.
How many days are enough to explore Stonehenge?
To view the stones in Stonehenge, only 2 to 3 hours of a day are enough, as it gives you plenty of time to walk around the stones, take pictures, and even visit the visitor centre museum. If you wish to visit the nearby attractions such as Windsor Castle and Woodhenge, then you need at least two days.
How to reach Stonehenge?
By train: Take a train to Salisbury, one of the best ways to reach Stonehenge. After reaching Salisbury, take either a cab or taxi to your destination.
By bus: You can take a bus from Salisbury train station and it will take around 35-minutes for you to reach Salisbury.
By cab: Taking a cab from Salisbury station or metro helps reach the destination in 15-minutes. You can also hail a cab from London to reach here.