Christian Abella March 23, 2014 Period 2 Math 7 Geometry Project 2014

Stonehenge By Christian Abella

Christian Abella March 23, 2014 Period 2 Math 7 Geometry Project 2014 Ancient magnificent stones stacked in a pattern show how determined the Neolithic people were to create such a masterpiece such as Stonehenge. Stonehenge was built about 5,000 years ago and took 1,500 years to be built in 3 separate phases. Scientists and archeologists believe that it was used to be a place of worship and a place of community for the early Britons. It consisted of 30 stones throughout the monument. Now the monument has only 17 stone throughout the years. The Stonehenge is very significant into showing how the people of this age thought. One of the biggest arguments about Stonehenge is its purpose. Scientists and archeologist have studied that it was built for religious worship, a burial site and a place to gather to worship the dead. New study shows that the site was used for burial and cremation. It was used for burial and a place to honor the dead. Archeologists have uncovered hundreds of human bones buried underneath the site. As stated by Maev Kennedy, More than 50,000 cremated bone fragments, of 63 individuals buried at Stonehenge, have been excavated and studied for the first time by a team led by archaeologist Professor Mike Parker Pearson, who has been working at the site and on nearby monuments for decades, (The Guardian). This shows that one of the uses of Stonehenge was for burying the dead. It has also exclaimed that the people who were buried at this site were the higher class of the society that build Stonehenge. Interesting studies show that there are about equal numbers of men, women, and children buried here. This shows that only a number of people could have been buried at this site. This shows that one of the many theories of Stonehenge was a burial site for higher-class people to be cremated. A biggest driver for Stonehenge is where it is directed at and how it was set up. Archeologists have realized and analyzed that the direction that Stonehenge that is set up in is that on the Summer Solstice, the sun had risen on the main axis of the horseshoe of Stonehenge. This shows that when the Neolithic people built Stonehenge they might have made it to measure the sun and the moon. As declared

by Gerald Hawkins, There are indeed a large number of astronomical alignments, prediction and measuring devices, and representative features to be found among the megalithic stones and holes of Stonehenge, (tivas.org). This shows that the alignments of the 165 points of Stonehenge were used to measure the sun and the moon. Discovery has also shown that it could also measure when eclipses could happen during the years. Gerald Hawkins, who discovered the astronomical theory said that the people at this time would want to know when the eclipses for when the priests would preform rituals. This shows that Stonehenge was also used as a calendar that was used to calculate mid-summer, mid-winter and other key seasons to the people. This shows that Stonehenges direction was used to measure many things such as the sun, the moon and to predict seasons. The last part of Stonehenge is how it relates to geometry and its measurements and how the people back then could be so precise. Research suggests that many archeologists and mathematicians measurements have varied. The great prehistoric structure was built within a circular ditch, which was 300ft or 91m in diameter. The average circumference of the Sarsen Circle was about 316.8 feet and the average diameter of the Sarsen Circle is 108 feet or 33 meters. The Sarsen Circle is the outer ring of Stonehenge, which is made up of the Sarsen stones that are sandstones that are found in the United Kingdom. As stated, Sarsen stones are hard-grained sandstone with a silaceous cement, (arthistoryresources.net). This shows that the people who built Stonehenge had made the stones with specific measurements that would help with its original purpose. The Neolithic builders accurately created polygons, which included hexagons, pentagons, and decagons that determined the positions of the Sarsen Circle in Stonehenge. This is evident to that the people who built this used formulas to piece together the measurements. This shows how the Neolithic architects used geometry to build the prehistoric monument. In conclusion the Neolithic architects used many strategies and have created many arguments about what it was used for. Researchers and archeologists suggest that the Stonehenge was built as a giant prehistoric calendar. This calendar tells if it is mid-summer, mid-winter and other important seasons for the people then.

Because of the position of the sun and the position of the pillars, it is evident that the alignment had to be intentional. Other scientists declare that the purpose of Stonehenge was for a burial and religious site. This study says that the site was used for burial for more important figures in their society. The geometric strategies that they used helped them to create a horseshoe shape for the Stonehenge. This shows that the ancient Britons used many strategies to create the Stonehenge site almost 5,000 years ago.

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