Through radiocarbon dating, archaeologists have pinpointed the construction of Stonehenge to 2300BC – 300 years later than previously thought.
Researchers and Stonehenge enthusiasts are hoping that this discovery leads to some real answers regarding the origins and purpose of this mysterious monument.
Stonehenge - A Giant Feast Arena?
Also notable is what these findings might say about the Amesbury Archer:
Intriguingly, the date range ties in closely with the date for the burial of the so-called “Amesbury Archer”, whose tomb was discovered three miles from Stonehenge.
Some archaeologists believe the Archer is the key to understanding why Stonehenge was built.
Analyses of his corpse and artefacts from his grave indicate he was a wealthy and powerful man, with knowledge of metal working, who had travelled to Salisbury from Alpine Europe, for reasons unknown.
Read the rest of the story at: BBC.
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hello I would like to comment on the age old mystery of what Stonehenge was used for and I must admit there are some
very interesting ideas out there and I have my own theory that nobody seems interested in hearing but I honestly believe that i am very close to the truth and in the very least it is the most logical of any others I have yet herd .and it really does fits the model well of what is known and taught by the professionals about the customs and beliefs of not just those in question but of most all ancient cultures even maybe some modern ones included. if anyone that may read this would just think about it open minded for a few before jumping back to Crystal lattice UFO Atlantis king Arther and all the other lore that people love to cling to,truth is beautiful in its self for sure and truth about Stonehenge will not be a disappointment if you fully understand what it represents well maybe not fully that will probably never happen but there is so many pieces that start to fit once you find the cornerstone that i would like to share with you. this is a very short version., ,it goes like this its obvious that they who built Stonehenge were a very time is of the essence type of cultures being that it is well known and not a secrets that its main architectural function was summer solstice sunrise and winter solstice sunset which then would pretty much mean that its purpose probably had something to do with that event and needless to say knowing what we know about other cultures around the world and specially those that also observed summer solstice that it most probably had some type of ceremony ,now since this was a timely event means that anyone if to participate had to be sure they were on time in fact it was critical that they were and they went through a great bit of effort to make sure that a ceremony went off at the proper time ,now that to me brings to mind other cultures around the worlds ceremonial practices that also fits this thinking for instance the American Indians who a great deal of researchers all believe came or at least some of the American Indians came from Mongolia ,wait getting ahead of myself the American Indians believe that there ceremonies are of great importance if they are to remain in rhythm with the universe and the cycles that they live there lives by and equally important to these ceremonies is that they must be preformed at the properer time,now if its true that some of these tribes did come from Mongolia and there sacred beliefs are ancient in there wisdom then probably these beliefs came with them from there place of origin. now how would those that left Mongolia ever know when the proper time to preform these sacred beliefs and ceremonies was once they left the capital of there beliefs ,remember now in there system of beliefs it was or is of utmost importance to stay in rhythm with the cycles that they lived worked and died by it would make perfect since to pick solstice as one way of knowing the proper time,in fact most ancient cultures were horizon watchers in some form or another except oh Mongolia has historically observed solstice when the sun is at its yearly highest over head position they even had a tool to gage this by that worked by measuring the shadow on the ground it later evolved into the sundial and later the pendulum.and quite frankly probably what the mysterious deer stones found through out Mongolia were for as well.now here is some additional information that has led me to this theory something very close to home that most would never suspect but i have so much evidence that supports it it would be harder to prove there is not a connection then to prove there is,,i found after doing some armature research on a sacred mountain in California that the Spanish had named mount diablo that the Indians and tribes that have lived in this region of California for at least 10,000 years also had names for this mountain and some of these translated are “AT THE DAY” “A SUPERNATURAL BEING THAT ILLUMINATES A LAND THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY DARK” and ” THE POINT WHERE LIGHT ORIGINATES” and they believe that the mountain is where time began and you know they are most probably right because it just so happens that the mountain is 120 degrees from Stonehenge and from the top of this mountain if you were to watch the sun sink below the horizon at sunset June 21st summer solstice that roughly 10 minutes later it rises at Stonehenge the morning of June 22 and for this to happen the sun is 120 degrees around the planet at an equal distance away from Stonehenge and mount diablo and would at that moment be at its highest point for the year in the sky over Mongolia who by the way it just so happens historically do observe solstice when it is at its highest overhead position,is it possible that its true the American Indians or at least some of the many tribes that inhabit north America may have originated in Mongolia the home of the worlds oldest know religion maybe when leaving the capital of there belief on there long migration that probably really took generations to complete could they possibly have split and gone both east and west ?Mongolia has a long history of expansion and in fact they even put a wall up to keep them out this was sometime later of course, its not that far out of an idea i mean its been documented at a later date like in the bible that mankind went in all directions and to add some weight to this possibility though i am not insinuating that they are related only that a similar belief may have been involved for an example the Muslims who every day at sunset turn towards the capital of there belief to preform there personal type of a ceremony prayer and i understand from things i have read that one reason for this is that they find comfort in knowing that they by so doing no matter where they may be are at the same moment in spirit with others with the same beliefs worshiping the almighty as those in the capital of there belief at mecca are also doing (peace be upon them), in spirit they are one, it would have been similar for those that at one time stood atop mount at the day in California as the evidence suggest that they most certainly did do as well as at Stonehenge which also the evidence is proof that they once and still do and also fits the beliefs and customs of the place that some tribes in America came from Mongolia all sharing the same moment in tune with one another to give praise to the almighty as well as to insure the continuation of the cycle that they lived there lives by they as well may have also felt comfort and unity knowing that at the same moment there were others worshiping the creator of all things (peace be upon them also) ,so i believe Stonehenge was to insure that there sacred beliefs and ceremonies were performed at the proper time and that it is one of the sacred locations that mans spiritual curiosity began its journy and one of the places where man came together in sharing the belief as a group that there was something more it is one of many places where modern day man and women spirituality began its evolution to where it is now,it starts by finding truths as Stonehenge did it showed man there is something to perfect to be by accident this knowledge was something that was a revolution in mans spiritual growth for where before they had believed that there actions were why things happened they found that it came from something much greater , all though there are many truths and religions it is a little like comparing the IBM to the mac with there different modes of operation in the end they calculate the same answers so does truth they all lead to the truth that there is but one god,god speaks to man in mans own language god speaks to man in mans own understanding,but it also should lead us to the realization that even though we are all different with different customs and beliefs like the many Galaxy’s , suns planets and moons and truths all of us together we too can be a part of something greater(peace be upon all of those who seek truth)blessed are those that find it.and have the wisdom to accept it by faith retain it,