The Associated Press, by Pan Pylas
London (AP) At this time of year, when the Northern Hemisphere’s shortest day and longest night occur, throngs of pagans, druids, hippies, and tourists go to Britain to celebrate the winter solstice at Stonehenge.
On Saturday, the first day of winter, thousands are anticipated at the megalithic circle on a southern English plain as the sun’s first rays peek through the enormous stones that comprise one of the most well-known prehistoric structures in the world.
Even if rain is predicted, the drumming, singing, and applauding will undoubtedly still be audible.
Beyond the ritual’s appeal, many visitors may still have the enduring question: What was Stonehenge’s true significance and intent?
There has been much discussion over the location, with some suggestions appearing more bizarre, if not alien, than others.
Those in attendance will have a fresh topic of conversation this year.
Researchers from University College London and Aberystwyth University claim in a publication in the journal Archaeology International that the location on Salisbury Plain, roughly 128 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of London, may have served a unifying function in antiquity.
The distinctive stone that lies flat in the middle of Stonehenge, known as the altar stone, was discovered to have originated in Scotland, hundreds of miles north of the monument’s location. This discovery serves as the foundation for their argument.
The fact that it came from such a great distance was unexpected. It was well known that the smaller stones at the location, known as “bluestones,” originated from the Preseli Hills in southwest Wales, which is around 240 kilometers (150 miles) distant.
Among the more than 900 stone circles in Britain, Stonehenge stands out due to its diverse geology.
Lead author Professor Mike Parker Pearson of UCL’s Institute of Archaeology stated that the stone circle may have served both a political and a religious role because all of its stones came from far-off places.
According to Parker Pearson, it might have functioned as a monument of unification for the British peoples, honoring their enduring ties to the universe and their ancestors.
Despite the seemingly endless traffic on the nearby A303 highway, a popular route for drivers heading to and from the southwest of England, Stonehengetoday maintains an important place in Britain’s culture and history and is still one of the nation’s top tourist destinations.
The distinctive stone circle was constructed in the late Neolithic era, around 2,500 B.C., and Stonehenge was gradually constructed on the level grounds of Salisbury Plain beginning 5,000 years ago.
A number of theories have been put up by English Heritage, a nonprofit organization that oversees hundreds of historic sites, including Stonehenge. These include the circle serving as a druid temple, a cult center for healing, an astronomical computer for forecasting eclipses and solar events, or a place where Danish kings were crowned.
Perhaps Stonehenge was a Mount Rushmore of its day in terms of symbolism and unity.
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