Stonehenge

Stonehenge, ca. 3,100 – 1,600 B.C.E., Salisbury Plain, Southern England

Lintel

Trilithon

PostPost Post

LintelLintel

Bluestone

Bluestone

• Stonehenge is a group of giant stones (megaliths) in southern England.

• The name “Stonehenge” comes from henge, the Anglo-Saxon word for “hanging,” (referring to the horizontal stones).

• A trilithon (or trilith) is a structure consisting of two large vertical stones (posts) supporting a third stone set horizontally across the top (lintel).

• Stonehenge was built in 3 phases, from about 3100 -1600 BCE. This was more than 5,000 years ago—during the Neolithic Stone Age.

FUN QUIZ•True or false? Stonehenge is found in Northern England.

•What does the word ‘henge’ refer to?

•Stonehenge was built during the ___________Stone Age.

The Stones• The monument consists of enormous trilithon

stones, positioned in concentric circles. • The outer circle is almost 30 metres in diameter. • The vertical stones of the outer circle are sandstone

columns connected by lintels - about 3 metres long. • There is an even bigger inner semicircle. • The largest of these stones weighs as much as a

fully loaded cement truck: 40 tons. • Today, sandstone similar to the kind at Stonehenge

is found about 19 miles north, but no closer!• Within the inner circle of pillars and lintels are

smaller stones, called ‘bluestones’. • These four-ton ‘bluestones’ are from mountains

nearly 250 miles away!

FUN QUIZ •The outer circle of stones is almost _____ metres in diameter.•The stones of the outer circle are sandstone columns connected by __________about 3 metres long.•Within the inner circle of pillars and lintels are smaller stones, called ‘___________’.

‘Stonehenge Decoded’ National Geographic & Mike Parker

Pearsonhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhCskvXOpGI&feature=related

9.13 mins

Question: can you name one of the theories (ideas) about Stonehenge?Arts integration activity: In groups, create a series of movements that describe one of the theories about Stonehenge’s purpose. No words allowed!

The Heel Stone

A special stone called the Heel Stone stands at some distance from the main structure.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

Imagine standing at the centre

of Stonehenge and looking

toward the Heel Stone. If it

were the morning of the

summer or winter solstice, you

would see the sun rise directly

over the Heel Stone.

Sources and extra info:http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/stonehenge-

salisbury-plain-england.html

http://standingwithstones.net/blog/ BBC newsclip on inflatable Stonehenge

http://www.kidsdiscover.com/blog/spotlight/stonehenge-for-kids/