Reading: Stonehenge
Stonehenge is one of over 900 stone ring monuments in the British Isles.
This monument is located in Wiltshire, England, and is very well known
throughout the world. Archaeologists believe that Stonehenge was built around 2000 to 3000 BC., which would mean that it was made before the Egyptian pyramids.
Stonehenge was constructed using two kinds of rocks. A sedimentary rock called sarsen which weighed 25 tons and stood 18 feet tall were used, as well as bluestones (an igneous rock). The bluestones that were used weighed up to four tons and had to be moved from 240 miles away. Stonehenge may have looked somewhat differently when it was first built, as more than half of the stones are thought to be missing or have fallen over.
There are many theories about the purpose of Stonehenge. Some believe it was built for ritual activities, like human sacrifice. Others say it was a religious place of worship. While some believe that Stonehenge was a giant clock or an astronomical observatory. It does seem that Stonehenge was designed by people who had a deep understanding of math and geometry. It not only aligns with the midwinter sunset and the midsummer sunset, but it aligns with the northernmost setting of the sun and the southernmost rising of the moon. Many believe however, that the tall stones were actually grave markers and that it was used for burial and cremation. Archaeologists actually uncovered evidence in 2008 that suggests that the Stonehenge area might have been a burial site even before Stonehenge itself was built.
Which helped you understand the structure of Stonehenge more, the text or the picture? Explain. List one thing new you learned from this passage. This is a 2 answer question. Combine them into a paragraph.
