Glorified Rocks

The Seven Wonders of the World are known all over. One of the most popular of them is Stonehenge: a grouping of specially arranged rectangular rocks. Their image has stood the test of time. Most people could tell you its name if they saw a picture of it. The rocks were arranged in what now looks like three rings with a lone rock way off to the side.

            Originally there were four rings and two lone rocks off to opposite sides, but the structure was worn down by natural elements and tourists who wanted a cheap souvenir. The whole stone structure was roped off in the late 70s; because some people couldn’t help themselves and they chipped off small pieces of the monument. To preserve the landmark a two foot tall rope fence was used to create a 60 foot perimeter around the monument; the lone stone is fenced off as well.

            One of the reasons Stonehenge is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World is because no one really knows how it got there or who made it. There are theories, but it is impossible to tell for sure. A popular, yet unlikely, theory is that aliens came and created the strange stone structure. This theory completely depends on whether or not you believe in the existence of extraterrestrial life forms. A much more plausible theory is that it was built in three stages by three different cultures as a way of keeping time. It is widely believed to be a solstice calendar, because the sun aligns with some of the arches on specific dates.

            Along with the mystery of who built Stonehenge, is the mystery of how they built it. Some people believe they used brute strength. Another theory is that they had a rope and pulley system; which would be surprising because that is technology far beyond their era. There are two types of stones in Stonehenge. The lighter ones weigh up to 4 tons, the heavier ones can weigh from 20 to 30 tons; even with a rope and pulley system that is an impressive feat.

            Stonehenge is located in Wiltshire, England, which is in the middle of nowhere. Our group took a two hour bus ride to get there. Once we arrived you couldn’t see the actual landmark, but you could see a huge line to get in. Everyone was looking forward to seeing Stonehenge, because it is so famous. So we patiently waited in the cold, windy weather.

            When I first walked onto the site I was disappointed. I was waiting for an awe struck feeling, but it just felt like I was looking at a pile of rocks. I feel like everyone was a little disappointed with this stop. Since it is one of the wonders of the world, everyone was expecting a lot. It just didn’t deliver on its high expectations. The group made its way around the marked path. Since there was nothing to read, it wasn’t really a conventional learning experience. The only thing we could do was take photographs, so everyone was taking a ton of pictures. My favorite rock was the “foot rock”, sometimes referenced to as the “lone rock”, because it was “exiled” from the other rocks.

            I felt like there was a lack of information at the site and it was really touristy. That being said, even though this site wasn’t my favorite, I am still glad we went because now I can say that I saw one of the Seven Wonders of the World.