Stonehenge - megalithic structures located on Salisbury Plain in England. This is probably the most famous megalithic monument in the world of its kind. Similar structures, which are more vertical oblong stones (menhirs), arranged in a circle or spiral, can be found throughout Europe, the Caucasus and elsewhere in the world. In the same UK and Ireland such cromlechs are not uncommon. And it is likely theory is that in Britain these cromlechs were a single system.

Stonehenge is surrounded by a moat and an earthen rampart area diameter of about one hundred meters .  In the center is the altar stone - multi-ton monolith of sandstone .  It is surrounded by five pairs of stones from the top jumpers (trilitov) set in a horseshoe shape and open to the northeast .  At the base of the horseshoe - highest stones, to the ends of their height decreases horseshoe .  Horseshoe surrounded by a ring of so-called blue stones .  They are bluish to become blue chips and, if wet .  Next Sarsenova trilitov form a ring with a diameter of 33 meters .  Total of 30 stones, the arc of the 13 stones preserved along with the top stones .  They were established on the principle of "mortise and tenon" .  These stones are surrounded by two concentric rows of 30 holes (the so-called Y and Z holes) .  Close to the ramparts and the moat is a circle of 56 holes, known as the "Aubrey" - by the name of the researcher who discovered them .  To the south is the small entrance, and is considered a major north-east entrance, which opens onto the alley bounded by parallel ditches and ramparts and leads to the River Avon .  On the avenue is the so-called "Heel Stone" . 

There is no consensus about the dating of Stonehenge does not exist, but many scientists are inclined to believe that the first stage of construction - the moat and ramparts - should be referred to ~ 3000 BC, although the earliest traces of human activity on the site date back to 8000 BC. e. Around 2600 BC set blue stones. It is noteworthy that this stone mine opened recently in 1923. This area Presley in the south-west Wales, 200 km from Stonehenge. Perhaps from there and brought the altar stone. How are they transported - another puzzle for archaeologists and historians that list a variety of technologies: the wooden rollers and slides, and the method of "walking stones', and transport blocks of water. Over the next 200 years it was set Sarsenova trilitov, extended north-east entrance and paved walkway.

Appointment as Stonehenge remains a mystery. Put forward different versions, the most common - it's a sanctuary and a place of burial. It is also very likely hypothesis that Stonehenge was used as an observatory - he quite accurately oriented to the sun and the moon in several areas that can not be a coincidence. Along with these, there are the most fantastic version, for example, that Stonehenge - a landing pad for alien spacecraft, or that it is a nuclear power plant ruins civilization of Atlantis.