Stonehenge (Final)

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    By Lisa, Stephanie and Leanne

    A mathematical structure believed to be built over 5,000 years ago, Stonehenge remains to

    be the most well known megaliths (structures made of stone) in the world and one ofBritains most iconic sites.

    Structural Mathematics of

    Stonehenge

    Contrary to common belief, Stonehenge was not built by using astronomy; it was actuallydesigned and built using advanced geometry. It is believed that the geometrical knowledge

    used to build Stonehenge was learnt centuries earlier through the construction of much

    simpler monuments. It was a monument ahead of its time.

    Oxford University landscape archaeologist Anthony Johnson, believes that the 87 metre

    diameter circular ditch surrounding the Stonehenge was laid out by first using a rope to

    create a circle, then laid out the four corners of a square on its circumference, before laying

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    out a second similar square, consequently creating an inner octagon. Corners of this

    octagon were then used as anchors for a rope which was used to "draw" arcs which

    intersected with the circumference so as to progressively create the sides of a vast polygon.

    This discovery means that Stone Age Britons had a sophisticated knowledge of geometry

    rivalling that of Pythagoras 2,000 years before the Greek "father of numbers" was even

    born.

    The

    Golden

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    Number

    It has been suggested that Stonehenge once had a roof, which had since decayed and been

    removed. If this were true, there is a lot of mathematics relating to this roof associated

    around the number three, the golden number which had been incorporated throughout its

    design:

    The actual roof of the structure rested on the stones of the Sarsen Circle. Therewere thirty beams in total and were connected by threerings of horizontal beams. Every

    third vertical beam measured 17m and was longer than the rest. These ten beams reached

    the apex of the roof while the others were 14.8m and only reached up to the third (and

    smallest) ring.

    A furtherthirty beams formed a buttress, resting against the exterior of the Sarsen Circle

    to the ground. These beams supported the weight of the roof by transmitting it into the

    ground. And by pushing the Sarsen Stones in the opposite direction of the beams in the roof,

    they counteracted the outward thrust on the stones and kept them from toppling over.

    At ground level, these formed the shape of a ten-pointed star.

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    Myths, Theories and Interesting BeliefsTill this day, the original use of Stonehenge remains unknown. Several theories and myths

    have been brought up about its origin, but no real conclusion has ever been reached. So

    what was this mathematical megalith built for? Many have debated over this question for

    years, backing up their theories with evidence and proof. Yet even so, Stonehenge still

    remains a historical mystery, built with geometrical knowledge that extended years beyond

    its time.

    CALENDAR/O B S E R V A T O R Y

    The most popular theory about Stonehenge is that it was both a calendar to mark the

    seasons and an ancient observatory (to predict eclipses and to follow the movements of the

    sun and the moon).The alignments of different stones mark various solar or lunar

    events. The best known alignment is for the summer solstice where the sun aligns with the

    top of the Heel Stone, making it seem like the sun was being held up by it.

    However, more recent evidence suggests that people did not visit in the summer, but during

    the winter solstice when the setting sun aligned between the largest of the central arches.

    This made more logical sense as during that time period, people would celebrate the sun

    returning and the days becoming warming rather than the days becoming colder.

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    B U R I A L G R O U N D

    Another theory is that Stonehenge was a

    ceremonial burial ground, since numerous

    cremated human remains have been found in

    the Aubrey Holes surrounding the stones.

    Or perhaps they had died during an

    unsuccessful healing ritual and so were buried

    there

    H E A L I N G P L A C E

    Many thought that Stonehenge was a place of healing, where people would come to visit it

    in the hopes that their wounds and illnesses would be cured. Many of the human remains

    excavated from the Audrey Holes have shown signs of illness or injury. Chemical tests onteeth have shown that some came from as far as Ireland and Northern England.

    T E M P L E

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    Another heavily debated theory is that Stonehenge was a temple. To what the people

    worshipped, is still controversial. Some argue that it was a Roman temple, dedicated to the

    sky-god Caelus (the Latin name for Uranus). Others argue that Druids used it to worship

    the sun-god.

    Drawings of Stonehenge from a few centuries ago show a stone altar that is now missingfrom the monument. If the altar was in fact there, it would confirm that Stonehenge was

    originally a temple. Dennis Price, a Welsh archaeologist, claims to have found this missing

    piece. He believes the stone was stolen from the site during the Victorian era, and that it

    now resides in two pieces on either side of a road in a village just a few kilometres from

    Stonehenge.

    B I B L I O G R A P H Y

    Keys, 2008, Stonehenge builders had geometry skills to rival Pythagoras, The Independent,

    accessed 18 February 2012, from

    Bruce Bedlam, 2008, The Geometry, in Bruces Theories, accessed 18 February 2012, from

    Mathematical Archaeoastronimcal Theories, in Mathematical relations, accessed 28

    February 2012, from

    Jan Wicherink, 2006, Stonehenge Summer Solstice Galactic Alignment? in Souls of

    Distortion, accessed 1 March 2012, from

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/stonehenge-builders-had-geometry-skills-to-rival-pythagoras-834313.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/stonehenge-builders-had-geometry-skills-to-rival-pythagoras-834313.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/stonehenge-builders-had-geometry-skills-to-rival-pythagoras-834313.htmlhttp://www.stonehenge.tv/geometry.htmlhttp://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/gem-projects/hm/0102-1-stonehenge/mathematical_relations.htmhttp://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/gem-projects/hm/0102-1-stonehenge/mathematical_relations.htmhttp://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/gem-projects/hm/0102-1-stonehenge/mathematical_relations.htmhttp://www.soulsofdistortion.nl/Summer%20Solstice%20Galactic%20Alignment.htmlhttp://www.soulsofdistortion.nl/Summer%20Solstice%20Galactic%20Alignment.htmlhttp://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/gem-projects/hm/0102-1-stonehenge/mathematical_relations.htmhttp://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/gem-projects/hm/0102-1-stonehenge/mathematical_relations.htmhttp://www.stonehenge.tv/geometry.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/stonehenge-builders-had-geometry-skills-to-rival-pythagoras-834313.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/stonehenge-builders-had-geometry-skills-to-rival-pythagoras-834313.html