Overview

The name Stonehenge originates from the Old English and means "hanging stones". The second part of the name, Henge, is now used as an archaeological term for a class of Neolithic monuments which consist of a circular enclosure with an increased inner cavity. Stonehenge itself is under the current henge terminologist a so-called atypical, as its landfill is located within the trench. It belongs to the British government since 1918. Managed and developed for tourism is from the English Heritage Stonehenge, the surroundings of the National Trust. The site and the surrounding area since 1986, including as part of the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site.

The complex was built in several phases, extending over a period of about 2000 years ago. Demonstrated the site but was used prior to the establishment and even long after the Neolithic heyday. Three large post-holes are located near today's parking lot, they date from the Mesolithic period, around 8000 BC in the vicinity of the shrine were found in the soil of cremation ashes from a period between 3030 to 2340 BC, the fact indicate that the place was before the placing of stones, a burial ground. The recent religious uses are as for the 7 Century AD detected, here a grave is one decapitated Anglo-Saxons to mention.

The various phases of activity dating of Stonehenge and understanding is difficult. Early excavations, which no longer correspond to today's standards and only a few 14C data complicate matters. The sequence is now generally accepted in the following text explains the numbers refer to the plan this right, which shows the site in 2004. For the sake of clarity, the roof-stones are not shown there. Holes that contain no more stones or never contained stones are shown as open circles. Still visible stones are color-coded.