The Mystery of Stonehenge

Thousands of years ago, an ancient civilization raised a circle of huge, roughly

rectangular stones in a field in what is now Wiltshire, England. Stonehenge, as it
would come to be called, has been a mystery ever since. Building began on the
site around 3100 B.C. and continued in phases up until about 1600 B.C. No
written records exist to explain how or why it was built.

How was Stonehenge built?

The biggest of Stonehenges stones, known as sarsens, are up to 30 feet (9

meters) tall and weigh 25 tons (22.6 metric tons) on average. Scientists believe
that they must have been brought from Marlborough Downs, a distance of 20
miles (32 kilometers) to the north. Transporting the stones that distance cant
have been easy.

Smaller stones, referred to as bluestones (they have a bluish tinge when wet or
freshly broken), weigh up to 4 tons and come from several different sites in
western Wales, having been transported as far as 140 miles (225 km). Its
unknown how people in antiquity moved them that far. Scientists speculate that
during the last ice age glaciers might have carried these bluestones closer to the
Stonehenge area. An earlier theory was that the builders could have used rafts to
transport the stones over the water. However, more recent research suggests
that this method cant have been used because of the weight of the stones.

1. Where do scientists think the Sarsen stones came from?

Marlborough Downs
2. What does the writer say about transporting the Sarsen stones?
Transporting the stones that distance cant have been easy
3. Where did the blue stones come from? western Wales
4. How do scientists think the blue stones were transported to the
site? builders could have used rafts to transport

What was Stonehenge?

There are a number of theories as to what the site was used for. Archaeologists
agree that the site must have had a spiritual significance. It may have originally
been a cemetery, according to a new study. After examining bones exhumed
near the stones, scientists believe that the burials must have taken place at the
same time as Stonehenge was built, suggesting that the stones could have been
gravestones for religious or political elite.
 1. What are scientists certain about the significance of Stonehenge?
had a spiritual significance
2. Scientists are sure that Stonehenge was a cemetery T/F

Stonehenge may have been constructed with the sun in mind. One avenue
connecting the monument with the nearby River Avon aligns with the sun on the
winter solstice; archaeological evidence reveals that pigs were slaughtered at
Stonehenge in December and January, suggesting that ancient pagan sun
celebrations might have taken place there.

Steven Waller, a researcher in archaeoacoustics has revealed that before part of

the ring collapsed it must have had excellent acoustics and speculates that it
might have been an ancient concert hall or cathedral.

1. Why do scientists think the builders chose the location for the
stones? the place have a connection with the monument with the nearby
River Avon aligns with the sun on the winter solstice
2. What other events possibly happened at Stonehenge? ancient
pagan sun celebrations might have taken place.
3. What does Steven Waller say about Stonehenge? have been an
ancient concert hall or cathedral.

Wild theories about Stonehenge have persisted since the Middle Ages. Some say
Merlin the wizard may have cast a spell to make the rocks as light as a feather to
help with the construction. UFO enthusiasts believe that ancient aliens could
have built Stonehenge as a spacecraft landing pad.

4. What unscientific methods for Stonehenges construction have

been suggested? UFO enthusiasts believe that ancient aliens could have
built Stonehenge as a spacecraft landing pad.

Form Past modal verbs of speculation

Look at the sentences on the board and complete the table

Subject + Modal + Have/Has + Past participle

I Could done
You Might stolen
He/she/it May Have eaten
Etc. Must fallen
Cant ... etc.

Practice Memory Test

Answer the questions with your partner using past modals.
 1. What did the text say about transporting the larger Sarsen
stones? Transport easily
2. What did the text say about glaciers? They carried the stone
3. What are scientists sure about the significance of Stonehenge?
The stone transported by rafts
4. What did the researcher in archaeoacoustics say about
Stonehenge? There might have been an ancient concert hall or
cathedral
5. What were some of the more wild theories about its use? Merlin
the wizard may have cast a spell to make the rocks as light as a feather
to help with the construction

Easter Island Heads

1. Scientists are almost certain that the stones had a religious significance.
Scientists believe that the stones_______________have_________________ a
religious significance.
2. Scientists think that its impossible that the stones came from a different
island.
Scientists think that the stones _______________have
came__________________ from a different island.
3. Its possible that the stones were carved to resemble a famous leader of
the tribe.
The stones _______________have carved______________________ to resemble a
famous leader of the tribe.
4. Some people believe that theres a possibility that the stones came from
another planet. Some people believe that the stones ____ have came
____from another planet.