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Stonehenge Revealed?

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ne of history’s greatest mysteries may soon be solved. Stonehenge is a cluster of gigantic stones that stand in two large circles in the county of Wiltshire, England. For centuries, humans have wondered about its origin and purpose. When was Stonehenge built? Who built it? Why? How? Were aliens involved? The leaders of a recent archaeological dig hope that their efforts will soon lead to answers.

For ages, people have theorized about how these massive stones could have been moved and erected. Scientists and historians know the stones came from somewhere else ages ago. They just aren’t sure where, or when.

On March 31, a team of archaeologists led by Professor Geoff Wainwright and Professor Tim Darvill brought their tools to Stonehenge and began to dig. Their team excavated dirt and looked to find Stonehenge’s history in the ground.

In the first few days of the dig, the team found some rare artifacts from the Victorian Age (1837–1901). Fragments of pottery and clay tobacco pipes from that time period were interesting, but they did not go back nearly as far as the team had hoped. Digging deeper, they found a Roman coin and something even more significant: tools that were used during the Neolithic Age. This discovery backs up what scientists had previously thought—that Stonehenge existed at least 4,000 years ago. But what did they use Stonehenge for?

Critical Thinking:
What other types of artifacts might lead researchers to believe Stonehenge was a place of healing?

There are many popular theories about Stonehenge. One states that it was originally built as a place of worship. Another theory is that it was used as an astronomical calendar.

Professors Wainwright and Darvill are convinced that their theory is more likely than any of the others. Bones that have been found near Stonehenge in the past have led them to believe that the site was a place of healing.

Did ancient people cure the sick at Stonehenge? Professor Darvill believes so. “This was a place [where] people ... [came] to get healed,” says Darvill. “There’s [a lot] of skeletal trauma in the bones that were dug up around Stonehenge.”

Dig up more details about the recent Stonehenge excavation here.



  • Stonehenge — For more information and theories go here.


    • Can you put Stonehenge back together again?
    Try our picture scramble.


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