Stonehenge

Stonehenge is one of the most famous ancient places in the world. It is found in southern England. It is made up of huge stones arranged in a circle. Some of the stones stand up, and some lie across the top. Stonehenge was built over 4,000 years ago, but nobody knows exactly why.

Building Stonehenge

Stonehenge was built by people who lived long before cars or machines. They moved huge stones, some weighing as much as 25 elephants. The smaller stones came from mountains over 150 miles away. Workers may have used wooden logs and ropes to drag them. It must have taken many years and lots of people to finish.

An old drawing of the mysterious stone circle called Stonehenge.
An old drawing of the mysterious stone circle called Stonehenge. (Lucas de Heere / Wikimedia Commons)

A Mysterious Place

Nobody is totally sure why Stonehenge was built. Some people think it was a place to worship. Others think it was used to track the sun and the seasons. On the longest day of the year, the sun lines up perfectly with the stones. Stonehenge may have also been a burial ground.

Fun Facts

  • The biggest stones at Stonehenge weigh about 25 tons each.
  • Stonehenge is over 4,500 years old.
  • Many tourists visit Stonehenge on the summer solstice each year.

Did You Know?

Scientists have found old bones near Stonehenge, which shows that people were buried there long ago.