Stonehenge | Page 2

of St.
Paul's. (See page 12.)
(g) A ring of less perfectly hewn "Foreign Stones" (i.e. stones not to be
found in Wiltshire at the present day).
These numbered between thirty and forty. Only seven are standing
to-day, nine are overthrown. (See page 20.)
(h) Five great Trilithons, arranged in a horseshoe, with the opening to
the north-east. These Trilithons rise gradually in height towards the
south-west. The largest group of stones fell A.D. 1620. Those next to
the great Trilithon on the north-west, fell on January 3rd, 1797.
To-day only two of the Inner Trilithons are standing. One upright of the
great Trilithon (raised and made secure in 1901) is erect. (See page 17.)
(i) A horseshoe of less perfectly hewn Foreign Stones. Originally there
were fifteen or more of these monoliths averaging eight feet high. (See
page 20.)

(j) A simple recumbent slab of micaceous sandstone called the "Altar
Stone." (See page 14.)
III. WHERE THE STONES CAME FROM
(a) The Sarsen Stones are the remains of a cap of Tertiary Sandstone
which once covered the plain. (See page 17.)
(b) The Foreign Stones are still a matter of debate. They have assuredly
been brought from a distance. This is unusual; megalithic structures are
usually built of materials found close at hand. (See page 20.)
[Illustration: Stonehenge. Looking towards the South East.]
IV. HOW THE MONUMENT WAS ERECTED
The large monoliths of Sarsen Stone were first of all roughly shaped as
they lay in situ on the Plain and then transported to the chosen site.
The Foreign Stones were also dressed on the spot before erection.
The entire work was performed with stone tools of the roughest
description, weighing from half a pound to over sixty pounds. (See p.
40.)
The only trace of metal discovered in 1901, was a small stain of bronze
on one stone, caused by contact with the stone of some very small
bronze object, possibly an ornament. (See page 53.)
The large Trilithons were erected from the centre of the site.
The Foreign Stones were placed in position afterwards. (See pages
45-49.)
V. STONEHENGE AND THE SUMMER SOLSTICE
It is a notable fact that the sun rises immediately over the summit of the
"Hele Stone," in a line with the axis of Stonehenge on the Summer
Solstice.

Sir Norman Lockyer and Mr. Penrose, working on astronomical
grounds, fix the date of the circle at 1680 B.C., with a possible error of
200 years on either side.
Much has been said as regards Sun Worship at Stonehenge. The exact
use to which the circle was put is at present a matter of conjecture. (See
page 57.)
VI. STONE CIRCLES GENERALLY, AND STONEHENGE
1. Stonehenge is probably the latest, and is certainly the most elaborate,
stone circle in England.
2. It is the only one in which the stones are squared, dressed, and
provided with lintels or imposts.
3. It is the only circle which contains a "horseshoe" arrangement of
stones.
4. Most of the stone circles in the South of England face towards the
north-east. Stonehenge is one of these.
5. Monuments of the Stonehenge type, but ruder, are found in the
following neighbouring counties in South Britain: Cornwall,
Devonshire, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire.
6. Though Wiltshire only contains four such monuments, two of them,
Avebury and Stonehenge, are the most remarkable in the kingdom.
Avebury, the older of the two, has been almost destroyed, but when
perfect was one of the largest.
Stonehenge, the later, is the most finished example of a megalithic
circle in England.
VII. DRUIDS
There seems to be no valid reason for supposing that Stonehenge was
erected by the Druids. (See page 67.)

VIII. THE BARROWS NEAR STONEHENGE
The Barrows round Stonehenge were the burial places of a
bronze-using race, of almost the same date as the Circle; they were
erected mostly after the building of Stonehenge, and are more
numerous in this spot than in any other part of England. (See page 73.)

SALISBURY PLAIN
"We passed over the goodly plain, or rather sea of carpet, which I think
for evenness, extent, verdure, and innumerable flocks, to be one of the
most delightful prospects in nature."--"Evelyn's Diary," 1654.
There is not a county in England which does not pride itself upon some
outstanding characteristic which places it in a category by itself. And if
there be a thing particularly characteristic of Wiltshire, it is "the Plain"
of which John Evelyn above quoted has written so kindly.
The word Plain is somewhat misleading, for the surface of the
Salisbury Downland is anything but even, as poor Samuel Pepys found
to his cost when he traversed it in 1668, and on his journey encountered
some "great hills, even to fright us." The actual truth lies midway
between the "evenness" of Evelyn and the