by Lynda Kohn

Created on: December 08, 2009

Here is one destination right here in the US that is as mysterious, fascinating as any archaeological site anywhere in the world. Not many people know of it. However it is rich in history, archaeological significance, science, especially astronomy. It is well worth seeking out in one's travels.

There is a section in the town of North Salem, New Hampshire that is known as America's or the US, or USA Stonehenge. It is called Mystery Hill too. However before I write on it. It is I think one should be familiar with the much more famous original Stonehenge. After all the New England site is known as the American Stonehenge because it is believed to resemble the original stone and rock structure of Great Britain Below I am writing on the much earlier Stonehenge. I will write on its origin, construction, design, possible purpose. This is a general basic introduction.

The much more well known Stonehenge is a series of huge rock structures that is believed by many archaeologist to be at minimum, over four millenniums before the birth of Christ. The structure is located in the Salisbury Plain in the South of England. There were several stages of construction. The earliest was by Neolithic people. Neolithic is the more technical term for New Stone Age. It is between 6500 to 4000 BC. This was the period where the building of monoliths became common.The Oxford American Dictionary describes monolith as a singular block of stone to form a monument or pillar. Adjective monolithic. Stonehenge is a monolith.

The second period of constructing the British Stonehenge was about 2100 b.c. With each succession of building the structure became to look like how it does presently. That is a circular arrangement of giant vertical stones with flat stones balanced over them. Plus an inner circle of the same or very similar patterns as the exterior ones.

How the pillars were set up and let alone, a stone slab was placed on top is still unknown. There are many questions of how Stonehenge was built. How long ago was it built. When was it first started to be constructed. Plus the reason, meaning for its existence. There's been many theories. But the question is are any of them absolutely proven. One theory is it is an enormous observatory. Or its a huge calendar with monolithic stones placed precisely in positions that permits the sun at the exact moment of the beginnings of the season to shine through. In fact there are photos in books and on the internet showing the exact moment of the sun

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