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Smartphone app reveals new mysteries in Stonehenge landscape
Recent excavations around Stonehenge have shown that the famous monument didn't stand alone in the landscape; it was part of a network of monuments that developed over time.
One of the most enigmatic is Bluestonehenge, a mile away from Stonehenge and only excavated a few years ago. It was a stone circle much like Stonehenge, although now all that remains are the holes where the stones were placed around 3000 BC. Fragments of rock in the holes show the stones were originally bluestones, imported from Wales and also used for the inner circle of Stonehenge. In fact, some archaeologists believe they were removed from Bluestonehenge and incorporated into Stonehenge around 2500 BC.
Now a new analysis using a smartphone app (of all things!) indicates that Bluestonehenge might have originally been an oval. Past Horizons reports that archaeologist Henry Rothwell was working on a smartphone app about the Stonehenge landscape when he noticed something strange about the known holes of Bluestonehenge and those that hadn't yet been uncovered. When he made a reconstruction of the site using the existing holes, they didn't form a neat circle, but rather an oval.
In fact this oval is the same orientation and shape as Stonehenge and another site in the area--Woodhenge. Both Stonehenge and Woodhenge are aligned on the mid-summer and mid-winter solstices, and if Rothwell's reconstruction is correct, then Bluestonehenge is as well. This makes a whole network of monumental sites stretching across centuries of history, all aligned to work as prehistoric calendars.
[Photo courtesy Steve Walker]
Filed under: History, Learning, Europe, United Kingdom
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
me garcia enoch Oct 9th 2011 8:41AM
every christian knows the giants mentioned in the bible built stonrhrnge,..
brbrbca Oct 9th 2011 12:01PM
That's very interesting. Those giants according to some study were half fallen-angel and half human. Whether or not they were the ones who built the structures I don't know. Wish I knew.
paul Oct 9th 2011 2:02PM
is that because the bible is the only place in true historical documentation that mentions giants? i dont recall much anywhere west of lebanon being mentioned in scripture..thanks for the heads up. ill look into it.
brbrbca Oct 9th 2011 11:47AM
I think pas civilizations we far more advanced than we give them credit for. ETs, NO.
Bubba Oct 9th 2011 11:17AM
They certainly were more advanced than your writing skills!
mark kudlick Oct 9th 2011 8:40AM
(AP) The scientific community is eagerly anticipating a new study which is scheduled to be published in early April regarding recent findings
from the Westfalia Archeological Institute in Scotland. Professor Heathcliffe Harte, head of the institute, claims to have a new and profound
theory about the origins and intent of the Stonehenge structure. Over the past five years his institute has been conducting experiments on
the sub surface deposits on several of the stone monoliths at the site. "We've removed the lichen layers at the top of two of the monoliths and
examined scrapings from the original stone." reports Professor Harte. "What we have found has completely altered our previous conceptions of
what the structure's main purpose was for the early native Neolithic population."
After careful and verified analysis, material taken from the original stone surface, was found to consist of what has been described as the
residue of animal hide. "With gas/spectral analysis, we were able to show that the tiny particles found were, in fact, the remnants of deer hides."
Professor Harte continued. "The findings were conclusive. Deer hides had been stretched across the tops of the larger stones, leaving behind
small traces as they were dragged across the rough surface." Harte further states that examination of the particles showed that this stretching and
dragging occurred over the course of time, as carbon dating revealed that the particulates recovered varied in age from five thousand to four thousand years old. The Stonehenge monument was constructed over the course of three to five hundred years, beginning roughly in 2500 BC. In the early
17th century, John Aubrey, a scholar and scientist, discovered the remnants of fifty six shallow holes. These so called 'Aubrey holes' were believed
to be used for the placement of wooden poles to provide the framework for the structure. "At this early phase in the construction, Stonehenge only
had three or four large blocks of stone." explained Harte. "You might as well have called it Woodhenge." In around 2100 BC new construction
began by the placement of approximately eighty 'bluestones' (so called because of their original color). This phase, known as Stonehenge II,
provided a more permanent structure with an entrance facing the nearby river.
Stonehenge III is the stone circle that is still visible today. During this phase, which was started in about 2000 BC, the builders constructed a circle of upright sarsen stones, each pair of which was topped with a stone lintel (horizontal capstone). The lintels are curved to create a complete circle on top.
mark kudlick Oct 9th 2011 8:41AM
(AP) The scientific community is eagerly anticipating a new study which is scheduled to be published in early April regarding recent findings
from the Westfalia Archeological Institute in Scotland. Professor Heathcliffe Harte, head of the institute, claims to have a new and profound
theory about the origins and intent of the Stonehenge structure. Over the past five years his institute has been conducting experiments on
the sub surface deposits on several of the stone monoliths at the site. "We've removed the lichen layers at the top of two of the monoliths and
examined scrapings from the original stone." reports Professor Harte. "What we have found has completely altered our previous conceptions of
what the structure's main purpose was for the early native Neolithic population."
After careful and verified analysis, material taken from the original stone surface, was found to consist of what has been described as the
residue of animal hide. "With gas/spectral analysis, we were able to show that the tiny particles found were, in fact, the remnants of deer hides."
Professor Harte continued. "The findings were conclusive. Deer hides had been stretched across the tops of the larger stones, leaving behind
small traces as they were dragged across the rough surface." Harte further states that examination of the particles showed that this stretching and
dragging occurred over the course of time, as carbon dating revealed that the particulates recovered varied in age from five thousand to four thousand years old. The Stonehenge monument was constructed over the course of three to five hundred years, beginning roughly in 2500 BC. In the early
17th century, John Aubrey, a scholar and scientist, discovered the remnants of fifty six shallow holes. These so called 'Aubrey holes' were believed
to be used for the placement of wooden poles to provide the framework for the structure. "At this early phase in the construction, Stonehenge only
had three or four large blocks of stone." explained Harte. "You might as well have called it Woodhenge." In around 2100 BC new construction
began by the placement of approximately eighty 'bluestones' (so called because of their original color). This phase, known as Stonehenge II,
provided a more permanent structure with an entrance facing the nearby river.
Stonehenge III is the stone circle that is still visible today. During this phase, which was started in about 2000 BC, the builders constructed a circle of upright sarsen stones, each pair of which was topped with a stone lintel (horizontal capstone). The lintels are curved to create a complete circle on top.
Above is shown the completed structure with shaded stones indicating those which were examined by Professor Harte. "In all of these stones we found
evidence of animal hide residue." Harte revealed. "Our conclusion was that the stones were not meant to be exposed in admiration, but only a mere frame
work for the deer hides. Sewn together and stretched across the framework, the hides would provide early Neolithic man with a semi permanent lodging for
the winter months." Much has been postulated about the placement of the entrance stones and their correspondence with the midsummer sunrise. "Utter
nonsense." explains Harte. "The entrance was placed for least exposure to winter winds and lines up with the river Avon, some 9000 feet away." In the
last phase of construction, an 'avenue' was built to the river, presumably to ferry and transport additional stones to the site. "They hunted the land and
fished the river." he said. "This was nothing more than a hunting lodge for early Neolithic Brits." Professor Harte's theories will be published for review
in early April of this year.
Cosmic Wind Oct 9th 2011 9:38AM
There are hundreds of circles amd monoliths dating back to 12,500B.C.
It is Obvious also that some of the technology used back then cannot be
reproduced today! What do I know about them and who and how they were built,
nothing with facts to back them up. What else do I know, that there is NO WAY
we walked out of caves and built these things. I know for a fact that these sites need to be studied and they are not! History books need to be rewritten and all of these structures need to be studied by all humanity as one team searching for the truth. What concerns me is that some force wants us to be in the dark about the history of our species! Wake up people, do you have eyes that see and ears that hear?
Mike Oct 9th 2011 11:05AM
So Very True!!
paul Oct 9th 2011 2:00PM
12,500 bc???we may have a darwinist on our hands..i did not come from apes or some slime pit ..the earth is actually only a little over 6500 years old!!! just take a look at the workings of hemoglobin..no way an evolutionary mishap!!!!!!!!
Mary Oct 11th 2011 8:48PM
You would be surprised how much HEAT one of these stones would give off. I imagine the blue stones would create even more. I believe they used this kinda like the Indians used smoke to create RAIN. Just like when you wash your car and it rains, the steam from the sun on the aluminum, is a tipping point. Just like I believe some spas can darken the clouds. Just watch the clouds darken where the spa is, amazing.
Mary Oct 9th 2011 10:04AM
You would be surprised how much HEAT one of these stones would give off. I imagine the blue stones would create even more. I believe they used this kinda like the Indians used smoke to create RAIN. Just like when you wash your car and it rains, the steam from the sun on the aluminum, is a tipping point. Just like I believe some spas can darken the clouds. Just watch the clouds darken where the spa is, amazing.
Johanna Doe Oct 9th 2011 10:34AM
You would be surprised how much HEAT one of these stones would give off. I imagine the blue stones would create even more. I believe they used this kinda like the Indians used smoke to create RAIN. Just like when you wash your car and it rains, the steam from the sun on the aluminum, is a tipping point. Just like I believe some spas can darken the clouds. Just watch the clouds darken where the spa is, amazing.
Jeannie Oct 9th 2011 10:45AM
The app store(s) have several apps regarding the Stonehenge. Would be nice and helpful if there was a link to the app mentioned regarding the Stonehenge.
Sean McLachlan Oct 10th 2011 3:27AM
The app is still under development and has not been released.
sam Oct 9th 2011 12:12PM
everytime they speak on this subject they never talk about the thousands of bones they have unearth around all these stone structures. human sacrifice
brbrbca Oct 9th 2011 12:02PM
Bubba, LOL, I don't know why it showed up like that- "I think past civilizations were far more advanced than we give them credit for. ETs, NO.- thanks for the heads up.
paul Oct 9th 2011 2:48PM
slaves were in abundance and expendable 2500 years ago. who you think built the pyramids?
Cosmic Wind Oct 9th 2011 4:55PM
I do not think we came from apes and I do believe that the human species was not just an accident. What I do know is there are things out there that we can not explain. Did God create everything 6500 yrs ago? perhaps! The problem I have is that we have things to study and the scholars just dismiss it. I believe the truth could be found if humanity worked together and not seperate! I want all the information so I can make up my own mind and by no means do we have it!
physics says with carbon dating that a village south of Mt Ararat ( where the ark landed) is at least 12,500 years old. Can physics be wrong, sure. Just a truth seeker who does not follow blindly!
J Wms Dec 7th 2011 12:22AM
Is there a link to the app?