A few years ago, I had a chance to visit Stonehenge. I had heard about Stonehenge, in history class and other occasions. One of very famous prehistoric monument. Yes, it is.

They say, the first stage of early henge monument was built about 5,000 years ago, and the unique stone circle was erected in the late Neolithic period about 2,500 BC. (cf. History of Stonehenge) In an article says, that aroound 4,500 years ago, some 80 large bocks of silcrete or ‘sarsen’ were erected at Stonehenge during its second stage of construction. (cf. The sarsen stones of Stonehenge) The largest weighs of the sarsens more than 40 tons and rises 24 feet, were likely sourced from quarries 25 miles north of Salisbury Plain and transported with the help of sledges and ropes. The smaller bluestones, have been traced all the way to the Preseli Hills in Wales, some 200 miles away from Stonehenge. (cf. History.com Stonehenge)

Leyends related to the Stonehenge and more details of archaeological issues can be found in History.com.

Whatever the function of Stonehenge at flourished time, now attracts more than 800,000 tourists a year.

When I think of prehistorical archaeological sites, if I didn’t have any knowledge of the sites, how or what I could feel or learn at visiting the sites ? Probably, I would see the stones, as abandoned ones in a field. Just a stones. However, just existing there for centuries and thousands years, together with people, from time to time, the monuments have becoming important part of human life history, sometimes, giving inspiration to an event of the time, or being used as political tools to maneuver the people.

The best timing or moment to visit these sites, in my personal opinion, is when no one there but you and few only. Walking in group after another group to the circle, I felt I was in zoo, to see panda bear, following the long line to see only back of the bear. That is quite normal in every tourist place, but I sometimes get confused, what I’m seeing here, the site or the tour groups ? or hearing noisy conversation instead of listening some eco of ancient memory.

I would like to visit again, but in a quite silent moment, maybe in night visit without artificial effect nor illumination. Although this is a contradiction. If the place was used as a ceremony place where hundres, thousands of pilgrim gathered there, if some event had carried on in the night, there would be no silent but very noisy.