STONEHENGE

Stonehenge is the world’s most famous

stone circle that has stood in England
for thousands of years. The stones are
much taller than a person.
Archaeologists have studied and dug
around the stones to explore the
mysteries of this ancient wonder. Stonehenge is located on
Salisbury Plain in southern England, about a two-hour drive from
London. The land is flat with few trees, but has rivers and streams
that run through it. The early British people settled there and
farmed the land, herding sheep. They began building Stonehenge
around 5,000 years ago. They believed circles had special powers, so
they started building henges at important sites. Henges were
circular banks of raised earth that included a ditch. Archaeologists
have located about 350 henges and buildings on Salisbury Plain, but
Stonehenge is the most famous.

CONSTRUCTION
Stonehenge was built hundreds of years ago. Workers first had to
dig the circular wall, or henge. It has a ditch with high banks on the
inside and low banks on the outside. Next, they dug 56 pits inside
the henge and likely put bluestones in them. These stone slabs
came from Wales, but no one knows how they got to England.
After the henge was built, work stopped for around 300 years. This
is known because carbon dating was used to find out how old
something is. Archaeologists can tell parts of Stonehenge have
different ages. People then started to change it by bringing in big
sandstone blocks called sarsen and smoothed them with hammers.
These stones were 13 to 23 feet high and weighed up to 40 tons, or
80,000 pounds each! That is as much as eight female elephants.
Workers placed two sarsen blocks next to each other and then put
a third on top to make a trilithon. They placed five of these in a
horseshoe shape and placed the bluestones around it. Then they
added an outer circle of trilithons. Some of the stones have fallen
and others are missing, from weather or were possibly stolen. It is
unknown how workers moved the heavy stones into trilithons.
©Teaching to the Middle
CLUES
For the next 500 years, workers made changes then stopped around
1600 BC, almost 3,500 years ago. People had worked on Stonehenge
for 1,500 years. Over time it was deserted, but no one knows why. In
2007, another ruin was uncovered near Stonehenge, called Durrington
Walls. It was an ancient village that sits inside a henge. Archaeologists
think hundreds of workers lived there. While the wooden walls of the
homes have rotted away, the floors remain. This village is important
because it may gives clues about the people who built Stonehenge.
PURPOSE
Stonehenge workers did not read or write, so they did not leave
behind written records. John Aubrey began the first study of
Stonehenge in the 1600s. He mapped the ruin, discovering five strange
holes, that were named the Aubrey Holes. Scientists later
discovered 51 more Aubrey Holes. Archaeologists dug into the holes
and found burned human bones. This showed Stonehenge was once
used as a cemetery where people honored their ancestors. They
likely met during the summer solstice and winter solstice, when the
seasons change. Stonehenge has had many uses through the years.
Some archaeologists believe Stonehenge may have been a giant stone
calendar. Certain stones line up with the sun during
the summer and winter solstices. The stones may
have been used to predict solar eclipses, when the
moon blocks our view of the sun. Others believe
Stonehenge was an ancient hospital because some
thought the bluestones had magical healing powers.
People will probably never know for sure why
Stonehenge was built, but archaeologists will continue
to dig for clues.
TOURISTS
More than a million people visit Stonehenge each year from all over
the world. Most tours do not allow the visitors to touch the giant
stones. Ropes keep people back so the stones will not get damaged.
There are special access tours that allow people inside the stone
circle, but these require tickets months in advance. Thousands of
people visit Stonehenge during the Summer Solstice at noon on
June 20 or 21, when the sun is directly overhead. It is the longest day
of the year so people visit to celebrate. The ropes are down and
anyone can touch the stones. To many, Stonehenge is magical.
©Teaching to the Middle
Name_________________________________________

STONEHENGE
MATCHING: Match each term with its description.
1. ____ 1600 A. Circular banks of raised earth that included a ditch
2. ____ 5,000 B. Part of England where Stonehenge is located
3. ____ England C. Big sandstone blocks
4. ____ Wales D. Work on Stonehenge stopped around this year
5. ____ Salisbury Plain E. Bluestones came from this country
6. ____ sarsen F. Stonehenge is located in this nation
7. ____ trilithon G. Walls that are thought to be an ancient village
8. ____ henges H. Stonehenge was first built about this many years ago
9. ____ Durrington I. Person who first began studying Stonehenge
10. ____ Aubrey J. Two sarsen blocks with a third on top

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.

11. What were Aubrey Holes?

A. Holes made from the large rocks at Stonehenge.
B. Holes found at Stonehenge with burned human bones inside.
C. Holes left where houses once were at Durrington Walls.
D. Holes used during the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge.

12. Which of the following was NOT a possible purpose for Stonehenge, according
to archaeologists?
A. Burial ground B. Meeting place
C. Predict solar eclipses D. Perform sacrifices to the gods

13. With which statement would the author mostly agree?

A. Stonehenge is a mysterious place that attracts visitors each year.
B. It is clear why people built Stonehenge.
C. Stonehenge was likely constructed by aliens.
D. Archaeologists will probably learn why Stonehenge was built within the next
year.

14. Why do some archaeologists think Stonehenge may have been used as a
calendar?
A. It has twelve rocks for the twelve months.
B. They found stones with written information explaining the layout.
C. Certain stones line up with the sun during the summer and winter solstices.
D. There are several holes that contain human bones.
©Teaching to the Middle
STONEHENGE
Stonehenge is the world’s most famous
stone circle that has stood in England
for thousands of years. The stones are
much taller than a person.
Archaeologists have studied and dug
around the stones to explore the
mysteries of this ancient wonder. Stonehenge is located on
Salisbury Plain in southern England, about a two-hour drive from
London. The land is flat with few trees, but has rivers and streams
that run through it. The early British people settled there and
farmed the land, herding sheep. They began building Stonehenge
around 5,000 years ago. They believed circles had special powers, so
they started building henges at important sites. Henges were
circular banks of raised earth that included a ditch. Archaeologists
have located about 350 henges and buildings on Salisbury Plain, but
Stonehenge is the most famous.

CONSTRUCTION
Stonehenge was built hundreds of years ago. Workers first had to
dig the circular wall, or henge. It has a ditch with high banks on the
inside and low banks on the outside. Next, they dug 56 pits inside
the henge and likely put bluestones in them. These stone slabs
came from Wales, but no one knows how they got to England.
After the henge was built, work stopped for around 300 years. This
is known because carbon dating was used to find out how old
something is. Archaeologists can tell parts of Stonehenge have
different ages. People then started to change it by bringing in big
sandstone blocks called sarsen and smoothed them with hammers.
These stones were 13 to 23 feet high and weighed up to 40 tons, or
80,000 pounds each! That is as much as eight female elephants.
Workers placed two sarsen blocks next to each other and then put
a third on top to make a trilithon. They placed five of these in a
horseshoe shape and placed the bluestones around it. Then they
added an outer circle of trilithons. Some of the stones have fallen
and others are missing, from weather or were possibly stolen. It is
unknown how workers moved the heavy stones into trilithons.
©Teaching to the Middle
CLUES
For the next 500 years, workers made changes then stopped around
1600 BC, almost 3,500 years ago. People had worked on Stonehenge
for 1,500 years. Over time it was deserted, but no one knows why. In
2007, another ruin was uncovered near Stonehenge, called Durrington
Walls. It was an ancient village that sits inside a henge. Archaeologists
think hundreds of workers lived there. While the wooden walls of the
homes have rotted away, the floors remain. This village is important
because it may gives clues about the people who built Stonehenge.
PURPOSE
Stonehenge workers did not read or write, so they did not leave
behind written records. John Aubrey began the first study of
Stonehenge in the 1600s. He mapped the ruin, discovering five strange
holes, that were named the Aubrey Holes. Scientists later
discovered 51 more Aubrey Holes. Archaeologists dug into the holes
and found burned human bones. This showed Stonehenge was once
used as a cemetery where people honored their ancestors. They
likely met during the summer solstice and winter solstice, when the
seasons change. Stonehenge has had many uses through the years.
Some archaeologists believe Stonehenge may have been a giant stone
calendar. Certain stones line up with the sun during
the summer and winter solstices. The stones may
have been used to predict solar eclipses, when the
moon blocks our view of the sun. Others believe
Stonehenge was an ancient hospital because some
thought the bluestones had magical healing powers.
People will probably never know for sure why
Stonehenge was built, but archaeologists will continue
to dig for clues.
TOURISTS
More than a million people visit Stonehenge each year from all over
the world. Most tours do not allow the visitors to touch the giant
stones. Ropes keep people back so the stones will not get damaged.
There are special access tours that allow people inside the stone
circle, but these require tickets months in advance. Thousands of
people visit Stonehenge during the Summer Solstice at noon on
June 20 or 21, when the sun is directly overhead. It is the longest day
of the year so people visit to celebrate. The ropes are down and
anyone can touch the stones. To many, Stonehenge is magical.
©Teaching to the Middle
Name_________________________________________

STONEHENGE
MATCHING: Match each term with its description.
1. ____ 1600 A. Circular banks of raised earth that included a ditch
2. ____ 5,000 B. Part of England where Stonehenge is located
3. ____ England C. Big sandstone blocks
4. ____ Wales D. Work on Stonehenge stopped around this year
5. ____ Salisbury Plain E. Bluestones came from this country
6. ____ sarsen F. Stonehenge is located in this nation
7. ____ trilithon G. Walls that are thought to be an ancient village
8. ____ henges H. Stonehenge was first built about this many years ago
9. ____ Durrington I. Person who first began studying Stonehenge
10. ____ Aubrey J. Two sarsen blocks with a third on top

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.

11. What were Aubrey Holes?

A. Holes made from the large rocks at Stonehenge.
B. Holes found at Stonehenge with burned human bones inside.
C. Holes left where houses once were at Durrington Walls.
D. Holes used during the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge.

12. Which of the following was NOT a possible purpose for Stonehenge, according
to archaeologists?
A. Burial ground B. Meeting place
C. Predict solar eclipses D. Perform sacrifices to the gods

13. With which statement would the author mostly agree?

A. Stonehenge is a mysterious place that attracts visitors each year.
B. It is clear why people built Stonehenge.
C. Stonehenge was likely constructed by aliens.
D. Archaeologists will probably learn why Stonehenge was built within the next
year.

14. Why do some archaeologists think Stonehenge may have been used as a
calendar?
A. It has twelve rocks for the twelve months.
B. They found stones with written information explaining the layout.
C. Certain stones line up with the sun during the summer and winter solstices.
D. There are several holes that contain human bones.
©Teaching to the Middle
Name____KEY_____________________________________

STONEHENGE
MATCHING: Match each term with its description.
1. __D__ 1600 A. Circular banks of raised earth that included a ditch
2. __H__ 5,000 B. Part of England where Stonehenge is located
3. __F__ England C. Big sandstone blocks
4. _E___ Wales D. Work on Stonehenge stopped around this year
5. __B_ Salisbury Plain E. Bluestones came from this country
6. __C__ sarsen F. Stonehenge is located in this nation
7. __J__ trilithon G. Walls that are thought to be an ancient village
8. __A__ henges H. Stonehenge was first built about this many years ago
9. __G__ Durrington I. Person who first began studying Stonehenge
10. __I__ Aubrey J. Two sarsen blocks with a third on top

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the best answer.

11. What were Aubrey Holes?

A. Holes made from the large rocks at Stonehenge.
B. Holes found at Stonehenge with burned human bones inside.
C. Holes left where houses once were at Durrington Walls.
D. Holes used during the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge.

12. Which of the following was NOT a possible purpose for Stonehenge, according
to archaeologists?
A. Burial ground B. Meeting place
C. Predict solar eclipses D. Perform sacrifices to the gods

13. With which statement would the author mostly agree?

A. Stonehenge is a mysterious place that attracts visitors each year.
B. It is clear why people built Stonehenge.
C. Stonehenge was likely constructed by aliens.
D. Archaeologists will probably learn why Stonehenge was built within the next
year.

14. Why do some archaeologists think Stonehenge may have been used as a
calendar?
A. It has twelve rocks for the twelve months.
B. They found stones with written information explaining the layout.
C. Certain stones line up with the sun during the summer and winter solstices.
D. There are several holes that contain human bones.
©Teaching to the Middle
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