Who built a stone monument. Stonehenge stone - the most mysterious monument in England

On the picture: architectural monument Stonehenge in England. Photo with dailymail.co.uk.

History Stonehenge

Scientists believe that one of the most mysterious attractions of England - the famous Stonehenge - was laid over 5000 years ago. Since then, the mysterious croms continues to attract people from all over the world.

It is assumed that the construction of Stonehenge took over three hundred years. Over the centuries, it was repeatedly rebuilt and changed. The true purpose of the construction is still not known, however, there are reinforced archaeological finds The assumptions that once used it as a giant observatory or a ritual structure associated with the context of the dead in early paganism.

In Fig.: Mysterious pagan ceremony in the ancient Stonehenge in England. Source: bbc.co.uk

The first circular construction on the site of a modern stone cromlech was erected around 3100 BC and consisted of embankments with a diameter of about 110 meters and the RVA, in which the bones of deer and bulls were laid. Moreover, archaeologists believe that these bones were much older than the tools with which they dug.

Inside, 56 holes were broken, named after one of the first researchers of Stonehenge Lungs of Obry. According to modern scientists, they were used in astronomical purposes, possibly with the help of stones or trunks of the trees installed in the holes, the ancient residents of England predicted eclipses or watched the movements of the celestial bodies. And in 2013, a group of researchers discovered the cremated remains of at least 63 people - men, women and even several children buried in the wells of Obry. In total, about 50,000 bones were found in Stonehenge. Later burials were opened on the territory of the monument, as well as evidence of the monument to a large number of people.

It is assumed that the first stone buildings on the site of Stonehenge appeared approximately in 2600 to our era. By least include 80 standing stones, some of which were brought from a distance of 240-250 kilometers. Other stones were taken from Career, located 80 kilometers from Stonehenge. Moreover, the largest stones reached a two-meter height and weighed about 2 tons. Later were added even larger stones, some of which remained to the present day. Cromleha's heavier stones weigh over 50 tons, and the height of the largest stone is a breathtaking 7 meters.

Researchers still guess how it was delivered and installed these boulders. It is not surprising that people believed that the giants participated in construction or explained the emergence of Stonehenge Magia. Undoubtedly one thing - his building demanded the tremendous efforts of a large number of people and lasted several centuries. But this is what exactly the ancient inhabitants of modern England on the construction of such a grand construction remains only to guess.

Illustration from the manuscript of the middle of the 14th century. The participation of Merlin's wizard and giants in the construction of Stonehenge. Source: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk.

In terms of scale and historical age, Stonehenge is quite capable of competing with egyptian pyramids. And definitely surpasses them with their mysteriousness.

Stonehenge in our time

Unfortunately, there was only a small part of the once majestic buildings to this day. But, nevertheless, its scale is amazed to this day. Now we can see only an impressive altar stone, a few vertical stones with jumpers, heel stone, Ravy residues and part of the preserved holes. Standing next to the giants height in three human growth, it is impossible to believe that people were erected, especially, long before the appearance of construction equipment.

Plan of modern Stonehenge. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

A small disappointment for tourists can be the fact that Stonehenge is always full of visitors, and it is impossible to approach the stones too close, not to mention to touch them with your hands. That is, the expected "unity with space", which many are waiting for the visit to Stonehenge, most likely will not come out.

But, even taking into account the permanent crowd of tourists, Stonehenge produces an indelible impression and not in vain remains one of the most visited attractions of the United Kingdom. Yes, and in addition to looking at stones in the territory museum complex There is something to do. For example, you can try to move the stone, similar to the size and weight of the lips in the monument, see the Neolithic huts and imagine how people lived during the construction of Stonehechia, to buy unusual souvenirs and admire the flowering around the dispersion.

How to get to Stonehenge

In the photo: the queue from tourists to Stonehenge. Photo with Telegraph.org.uk.

If you want to see the mysterious creation of ancient masters with your own eyes, then the easiest way to go to Stonehenge by car. It is located just 130 km from London in Wiltshire County near the town of Amesbury at Amesbury, Solisbury SP4 7De, United Kingdom.

From Waterloo station to Salisbury, located 9.5 miles from the place of interest to us, each hour walks the train. Traveling by train will take about one and a half hours, plus you will have to use the bus or taxi, or take a walk about 15 kilometers on foot along the picturesque area. Widespread pointers will not let you get lost.

You can reach Stonehenge and by bus from Heathrow airport or from Victoria Coach Station. In this case, the trip will take about two hours. The bus will take thirsty to join the secrets of antiquity to Amesbury, where you have to transfer to another bus, take a taxi or walk about 2 miles on foot.

You can also choose any of the huge number of options. bus tours And visit only Stonehenge or several attractions immediately. The first option will cost £ 40-50 per person, the trip from London Tudou-back will take about 5 hours.

Stonehenge is open to a visit daily, with the exception of the Christmas weekend, from 9:30 to 19 hours. Tickets will cost £ 16.30 for adults, £ 9.80 for children from 5 to 15 years, £ 14.70 for pensioners and students. Family ticket for 2 adults and 3 children will cost £ 42.40 when booking online. Tickets at the entrance will cost about 1-2 pounds more expensive. If you need an audio guide, his rent will cost 3 pounds.

So is it worth going so far? Undoubtedly, it is if you want to feel anything that is not comparable to the energy mysterious place, To see her eyes stones that stood on the same place long before the Nativity of Christ, as well as before the arrival of the Romans, the construction of Adrian Vala, the Board of the Legendary King Arthur and many other historical events.

Well, if the stones are just for you - it's just stones, and you do not see any esoteric background in this building, then in England, undoubtedly, there are many others, no less interesting places, get to which it is much easier.

Stonehenge attend 1 million tourists annually, but he remains a mystery. Scientists refer its construction to the times of Neolithic, but the first mention of this "miracle of the world" for some reason is found only in the XI century of our era.

Who built?

Version No. 1. Celts
For a long time, scientists believed that Stonehenge was built by Celts. However, today this version is refuted. Dating does not converge. The first Celtic archaeological culture (Galstatt) appeared in the 9th century BC. Whereas the dates of Stonehengeja are officially adopted today reduce the fact that the last stage of its construction falls on the XI century to our era.

Version No. 2. Ancient Britt
If not the Celts, then who? Professor Michael Pearson (Schifield University), Head of the Decade Stonehenge Riverside Project and the author of the Stonehenge: Study of the greatest mystery of the Stone Age, "claims that the megalitic complex has built ancient britts, representatives of the tribes who lived on British islands At the end of the Bronze Age, during the Time of Neolithic. Today it is the most "working" version.

Version # 3. Merlin
In the Middle Ages, the legend was popular, set out in the "Britt History" of Gelfrid Monmutsky. It lies in the fact that the megalitic complex was transferred from Ireland with Merlin's wizard. The legendary magician thus executed the will of Away Ambrozy (Uncle King Arthur) about the perpetuation of 460 British leaders, treacherously killed by Saksami during negotiations. Since then, Britta has called this complex "Dance of Giakanov".

Version # 4. Mysteries

There is also a version that Stonehenge is a hoax, "worked" in the XX century. In 2013, the Internet has become a popular article proving that the famous monolith of the Bronze Age was built between 1954 and 1958.

As an evidence, the author of the material leads a lot of "sensational" photographic materials, where some people are set to land with cranes. The theoretical "base" is also given: allegedly the UK's Ministry of Defense scooped land in the Stonehenge area and held military teachings there until the Second World War.

During the war, the territory of nearby villages were evicted and allegedly and today are under the rule of military structures. The author writes: "On the territory protected by the British military department, this" Center was also configured and purposefully ancient civilization"," Heritage of the Great Ancestors "," Monument of Mankind ", which became the most important religious center for no less targeted" spirituality "."

The version is "hot", but unfounded. The fact that it is issued for the construction of Stonehenge is just its restoration. We will also tell about her.

Why were they built?

Version number 1. Observatory
To date, the generally accepted version is that Stonehenge - ancient observatory. The authorship of this version belongs to Professor Astronomy of the University of Boston Jerld Hawkins. In the late 1950s, he introduced the coordinates of the plates and other parameters of Stonehenge, as well as the model of the sun and the moon.

In 1965, the scientist wrote a book "Decoded Stonehenge", where he led the evidence that Stonehenge allowed to predict astronomical phenomena, while being an observatory, a computing center and calendar.

Another famous astronomer, Fred Hoyle, also engaged in the challenge of Stonehenge and found that the builders of the megalithic complex knew the accurate orbital period of the moon and the duration of the solar year.

Version # 2. Galaxy Model
In 1998, astronomer scientists recreated a computer model of the initial type of Stonehenge and came to the conclusion that the stone observatory was also a model of the solar system in cross-section. According to the ideas of the ancients, solar system Consists of twelve planets, two of which are behind the orbit of Pluto, one more - between the orbit of Mars and Jupiter.

Version # 3. Ritual Complex
A four-year study conducted by the Austrian Institute of Archaeological Intelligence and Virtual Archeology of Ludwig Boltzmann found that Stonehenge was not alone standing megalith, but a part of a huge ritual complex of 18 parts located in the region 12 square kilometers From Stonehenge.
Exquisitions were carried out using remote sensing and other advanced geophysical methods.

Version # 3. "Disco"
Perhaps the most original version of the destination of Stonehenge (if not to take into account the alien base for humanoids), is the version that Stonehenge is an ancient "disco".
Professor Rupert Till, an expert on acoustics and music technologies from the Hadersfield University conducted research and came to the conclusion that the gigantic stones of the complex are perfect sounds. If they are installed in a certain order, they can give interesting acoustic effects.

Of course, His experiments (after computer simulation) Rupert Till did not do in England, but in the state of Washington, where there is an exact copy of the megalithic complex. This version, although it seems strange, does not exclude the previous one - ritual dances under the accompaniment of musical instruments could be carried out on the chapsh.

How to build?

Srafting the light on how Stonehenge was built, scientists helped the study of materials from which it consists. The complex is complicated from three types of stones:

1) Drawer ("blue" stone, more precisely, gray with a bluish sandstone)
2) Rital
3) volcanic tuff.

Stones of these breeds are found only in the Wales Mountains (210 km from Stonehenge, and taking into account the relax features - 380 km).

According to the researcher of Stonehenge Richard Atkinson, the stones were taken on wooden sleds on logs. The experiments have shown: 24 people can move in such a way of cargo in one ton at a speed of one and a half kilometers per day.

Most of the path took place on water. The movement speeds contributed to the fact that the stones were processed before they were moving into place using both stone tools and temperature processing.

According to Gerald Hawkins, for the installation of the blocks, the pit was first dumped in size, three walls of which were sheer, and one with an angle of 45 degrees used as a receiving ramp.

Before Stone Stone, the pit walls were folded with wooden stakes. Thanks to them, the stone slid down, not showering the earth. The lower parts of the blocks are frown in the form of a stupid cone, it was possible to turn on its axis even after the earth was tamped.

What remains from Stonehenge?

If you look at the picture of John Concem, written by him from Nature on the territory of Stonehenge in 1835, we will see piles of stones. That is how the legendary megalitic complex looked down until the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, he, as we know, has changed. Not everyone knows about it, but Stonehenge has undergone a serious and long restoration.

Her first stage was held in 1901. The reconstruction continued until 1964, and information about the work was carefully hidden. When it became known to the general public, it gave rise to numerous attacks of the public and the press. It was resentment from what. In fact, the complex was rebuilt again. Restorers with lifting cranes put megalites and jumpers, strengthened stones, concreted their bases.

In general, Stonehenge "is not the same", but it is not customary to mention the booklets. Otherwise, this most famous (but far from a unique) megalitic complex did not provide an influx of 1 million thousand tourists per year.

Photo source: id.wikipedia.org

Stonehenge, of course, the greatest national landmark of Great Britain, symbolizing the secret, strength and power. The initial goal of the construction of Stonehenge is not clear to us, but some believe that it he served as the temple to worship the ancient deities of the Earth. It was named an astronomical observatory for labeling significant events for a prehistoric calendar. Others argue that this sacred place For the disposal of high-ranking citizens of ancient society.

Construction Stonehenge

At one time, the construction of Stonehenge was an impressive achievement of technique, requiring commitment, time and a huge number of manual labor. At the first stage of the construction of Stonehenge, about 5,000 years ago, heavy earthworks were conducted on ditching ditch. It is believed that the ditch was dug with the help of tools from a deer horns and, possibly, wooden items.

Blue stones

About 2000 BC, the construction of the first stone circle was launched, which is now an internal circle consisting of small blue stones. The stones used in this are believed to mined in the mountains located about 240 miles on the south-western tip of Wales. During construction, about 80 stones weighing up to 4 tons were used, given the distance they had to drive, it was a rather complicated transport task.

Modern theories suggest that the stones were dragged on rollers and sleigh from the mountain to the origins of the Milford Hayven River. There they were immersed on the rafts, barges or boats and sailed along southern coast Wales, and then to the Avon River and From to the point near the modern Somerset. From this point of view, it says the theory, then the stones pulled on land, in Warminster in the County of Wiltshire, about 6 miles. From there, they were slowly transported along the Villa River in Salisbury, then up the Salisbury Avon to West Asbury, and 2 more miles to the place of Stonehenge.

Construction of an external circle

Giant Sarsen stones, which form an external circle, weighed to 50 tons each. Transporting them from Malborough hills, about 20 miles north, the problem is even greater than the movement of the blue stone. Most of the way, they could pass relatively easily, but in the most steep part of the route, on the Hill of the Red Horn, modern studies believe that at least 600 people would need to be that each stone passes this obstacle.

Who built Stonehenge?

The question of who built Stonehenge is largely unanswered, even today, but the most fascinating theory is that he was built by Druids. This erroneous statement was first made about 3 centuries ago by Antiquarian John Obry. Julius Caesar and other Roman writers talk about the sacred Celts that flourished during their first conquest (55 BC). By this time, however, stones stood for 2000, and perhaps already in the destroyed state. In addition, the druids worshiped in forest churches and they did not have the need to build stone structures.

According to the architect Inigo Jones, who lived in the XVII century, Stonehenge is a gigantic relic of the Roman Temple. This theory, according to contemporaries, pure fiction.

In the XIX century, it existed that Stonehenge was built by giants, which could carry huge stones, weighing a few tons. Ancient Greeks believed that this megalithic monument was built one-eyed cyclops. Saxons even thought that gigantic stones could move independently, only with the help of a "magic word".

Recently, astronomers who consider themselves the "openers" of the secrets of Stonehenge, formulated the hypothesis that the megalithic monument is an ancient computing mechanism - an astronomical calendar or an astronomical calculator. Its location of the stones is directly related to the movement of the Sun, and other planets.

Undoubtedly, Stonehenge is an amazing structure that can be safely attributed to other miracles of light and mysterious monoliths, such as mystical. In recent decades, millions of people around the world visited Stonehenge. Enontending Americans even thought to make an accurate copy of a miracle in New Jersey.

In 1722, the Dutch ship led by Jacob Rogheven arrived on the island, which is three thousand kilometers of the west of the shore South America. Easter celebrated on this day, so the island was decided to call Easter Island. Now this island is known to the whole world. His mainstream is MOAI, statues scattered throughout the island and unique in all human culture.

According to the description of Roggevien local residents Evenings were divorced before the statues of fire and sat around, making prayers. In this case, the lifestyle of residents corresponded to primitive. They lived in small huts from the root, slept on mats, stones were used instead of pillows. Eating they prepared on hot stones. Seeing their lifestyle, the Dutch could not believe that these people could build stone gigids. They even had a proposal that the MOAI was made not from the stone, but from clay, sprung by stones. Rogheven spent on the island of just a day, so there was no qualitative research.

Next time, the Europeans looked here in 1770. The Spanish Expedition Felipe Gonzalez immediately determined the island in possession of Spain. The expedition saw that the statues were made still from the stone. They even expressed doubts that MOAI was made on this island, and not delivered from the mainland.

Next followed the expedition of Cook and Laperose. Cook noted a high level of skill of ancient engineers. Cook surprised how ancient people without serious technologies were able to establish such giants on stone pedestals. He also noticed that some of the statues were overturned by face down, and it was noticeable that the reason for this was not natural destruction.

Together with Cook on the island, Polynesian landed, understanding the language of the inhabitants of Easter Island. They were found to be that these statues were not established in honor of the gods, but for representatives local government distant times. In addition, modern researchers come.

Studies of our era

European discoveries have not passed without a trace for the inhabitants of the island. The export of objects and values \u200b\u200bof the aborigines in museums around the world began. Most of This heritage was destroyed. Therefore, before the researchers of the 20th century, there were many questions, and only the ranks of history were given on their permission. The task was not the lungs.

The first serious study of Moaev on Easter Island was held in 1914-1915 by the Englishman Katri Rutledge. She was drawn up a map of the island with an early raraku's printed volcanic, where most of the collectors were carved, the trails from the volcano to platforms with established statues, about 400 statues.

Another development of events is associated with the name of Tour Heyerdal. The latitude of the problem was determined before the scientific society. There were many problems and questions, the answers to some of them did not find it to this day.

Secrets and numbers

The Moa Islands of Easter was installed with the X to the XVI century. The creation of huge megalithic statues was common worldwide in the early stages of the development of civilizations, so it does not surprise the fact that the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating Moaev could be born here.

In total, about 1,000 remains of statues made in the volcanic crater early rarapa. Most of them remained lying here. Here lies and the biggest one of them is 19 meter gigid. At the same time, several statues were made at once, so all the stages of the manufacture of MoEv can be traced among the left works.

Work began with a face. Next, the treatment has flowed onto the sides, ears, hands on the stomach. The figures were made without legs, like a long bust. When the back is released from the breed, the workers began to deliver an idol to the foot. Also found a lot of destroyed statues that have not moved the road.

At the foot of the statues were installed in a vertical position, and their refinement and decoration took place. After this stage, they were waiting for another transportation.

Beyond the limits of the volcano managed to leave 383 statues. Here they were installed on the platform from two to 15 pieces of contractions. The height of the statues here reaches 8 meters. In the old days of the heads of the idols were covered with bunch, imitating red hair. The first visitors from Europe were still caught in Pukao. The last giant was overturned in 1840.

Allowed was the question of the delivery method. So towing megaliths in other peoples was carried out by human force with the help of ropes and sleds with rotating rollers. Such rollers were found on Easter Island, which once again confirmed this assumption.

At the moment, most monuments are re-established on the platform and continue to look at the ocean. The MOAI is indeed a unique building around the world, continue to delight and amaze visitors to the island.

AT stone circle An ancient cemetery, in the pulsating ancient magic and the power of the cult of old, forgotten and eternal gods, Stenolaz raised his hands and a bloody knife. And shouted. Fucking. Diko. Inhuman.
Everything around froze in horror.
Angey Sapkovsky "Lady Warriors"

Among the windy wastelands, above the heather, under the low hectic sky - hieroglyphs on gray stone. Exterior time, lost, alien to our world, abandoned from another, unknown reality, separated by the abyss of centuries. Bearing the seal of eternity fragments of forgotten eras, who survived not one generation of legends, in which there is no bit of truth. But still performed strange strength and invincible greatness. Causing trepid even now. Megalithites.

Megaliths ("big stones") are usually referred to as prehistoric structures from huge stone blocks connected without the use of the solution. But this definition is very inaccurate. A significant part of the archaeological monuments attributable to Megaliths, in a strict sense, are not structures in general, since they consist of a single monolith or several plates not connected to each other.

In addition, stones of megalithic buildings are not always great. Finally, the Megaliths often include some buildings already built in historical time, but either using cyclopeous blocks (Jupiter's Temple in Baalbek), or without the use of the solution (Machu Picchu in Peru, XVI century).

What then unites megaliths? Perhaps monumentality and halo are mystery. Megalith - the creation of the past, often the nameless people. This is a message from the unimaginably distant "long-gendar" past. Monument to the unknown builder.

Eternal stones

Alien, surrealistic, contrary to all the well-known principles of architecture, the appearance of megaliths focuses the vast "modern mythology", full of Atlantov, hyperborers and other representatives of the highly developed civilizations in the summer. But there is a minimum of two reasons not to take such speculation seriously. Firstly, the intelligible explanation for the appearance of megaliths they still do not give. Secondly, the actual secrets of stories are more interesting.

To the simplest megaliths, thereby can't even be considered structures include the sacred stones of Seyda and Mengir - vertically stuck in the ground obliged, roughly processed blocks, sloped from the rock. A little later, they are replaced by orthostats, characterized by a flat form and the presence of at least one thoroughly smoothed face, on which magic signs are drawn or carved.

Single mengirs and seids, as a rule, served as the objects of worship. Near the largest 7.6 meters altitude, decorated with fame trails of a dinosaur, sacrifices were sacrificed near the largest in England. On the plains, glacial boulders have always attracted attention and, quite likely, could be considered a house of the spirit or a weapon of a first-end. Mengira kneads usually served as leaders' tombstones. In any case, it was for this purpose that the last of them under the camera was established at the beginning of the last century in Indonesia. The largest cluster of 3000 orthostats - carnak stones in Brittany - a prehistoric cemetery.

In some cases, menigra was placed by a group, forming a designating boundaries of a cult place - a circle of crumb. Often in the center of the decorative fence, the platform laid out, on which the bodies of the dead were burned or sacrificed animals and prisoners. Here, ceremonies, meetings, festivities and other public events could also be held. Cults changed. Cromlets are more durable religions.

The use of megalithic structures as observatories is not excluded. To accurately determine the position of the Moon and the Sun (by shadow), unshakable landmarks were required. Mengir placed in a circle performed this role. It should be noted that the observatories had a similar device in the Middle Ages.

Already in ancient times, people sought to variety and were not afraid of experiments. An explicit step forward, a real breakthrough in stone architecture Taula steel - structures of a large stone, omilized to small. Then the trilites appeared - the arches out of three stones - the Beauty and the pride of Stonehenge. The stability and durability of these structures brought primitive builders to the idea of \u200b\u200bthe construction of dolmen - the first stone buildings in the history of mankind.

With dolmen, as well as, with the rest of the simplest megaliths, a lot of riddles are connected. For example, they never manage to associate with some defined archaeological culture - that is, with the ancient people whose migrations are monitored by scientists in characteristic ceramics, tips and other finds. The stone does not give the age of the construction, nothing reports about the creators. Determine the date of the appearance of the Dalmon, as a rule, one can only with an accuracy of several centuries. And for such a time, the population of the country has changed more than once. The artifacts, found in the construction and around it, do not talk about anything, as it is known that Megaliths, moving from hand to hand, remained "in operation" for thousands of years.

It may be pretty puzzled by the fact that similar, almost identical megaliths are scattered along a huge area - from the Caucasus to Portugal and from the Orcania islands to Senegal. In this regard, even the version of a certain "Dolmen culture" was put forward, representatives of which once inhabited all these territories. But the hypothesis was not confirmed. Traces of such people found was not found. Moreover, it was found that the age of two of the same, located nearby dolmen can vary for a couple of thousand years.

Actually the similarity of dolmen different countries It is explained by the fact that the idea lying on the surface naturally occurred to many people. Any child could make a "house", putting four flat stone on the edge and putting the fifth on them. Either cover the hole in the stone with a flat block (trough for a degrees). Having admired by his creation, the young architect grew, became the leader and raised the fellowship for the construction of the construction already in full size.

One can say one thing: the appearance of the first megalithites is associated with the transition of the population to a tremendous lifestyle. Stretched hunters had no desire to turn the boulders met during migrations. Yes, and groups of people were too small for exercising large-scale work. At the first farmers the opportunity to do capital construction appeared. There was only experience. And nothing better than inserting two stones to the ground and hoisting them on them, they did not occur for a long time.

Apparently, Dolmen were crypts. Some of them found the remains of hundreds of people. Extlive bones formed a layer behind the layer, and new graves digged directly in the resulting mass. Other dolmen are completely empty. Probably, over the past millennium, someone took the trouble to clean them.

Path in Maze.

The special category of megaliths is flat cairny - laid out of small stones of the line or drawings. It includes numerous "stone rooks" - the burial of the Vikings, made in the form of the ship's contour designated by the boulders, and the unique "Stone Eagle" - a bird image with the open wings created by an unknown tribe of North American Indians. But the most famous flat Cairina - "labyrinths", found in Scandinavia, Finland, England, in the north of Russia and even on the new land. Rows of stones form a confusing, whipped spiral a trail. This is the least noticeable and, at the same time, extremely spectacular megaliths. For a labyrinth is a powerful symbol that is gossiping reality. The path to the country of spirits is tortuous. Who left these stone seals, unsolved signs on the northern, poor earth? Like most megaliths, the labyrinths are anonymous. Sometimes they are associated with tribes of protozamas, but the Saama themselves know nothing about the spirals. In addition, labyrinths are common outside the boundaries of the resettlement of the ancestors of this people. A separate opinion on this issue at the Nenets, considering the flat Cairnas of the hands of Sirta - the lowest centerast people of Kuznetsov, which has long passed under the ground.

But sooner or later the construction of ordinary stone boxes stopped bringing satisfaction. Dolmen is fairly effectable to glorify a separate clan, but is not enough to become proud and the cult center of a whole breeding union. People already wanted more. At least just in size.

Separate dolmen began to line up in a long corridor, often with side branches. Sometimes two connected by the transitions of the corridor were built. Natural plates were difficult to pick up in the form, and for the construction of "walls" began to apply masonry, as in composite dolmens, or one-piece polished blocks, as in tile.

But in this case, the structure did not seem sufficiently majestic. Therefore, on top of "multi-sieves" dolmen, a colossal Cairn was poured - an artificial structure in the form of piles of stones. In order for the pyramid not to settle, on the perimeter she "pinned" the ring of orthostates. If the belt was not one, it turned out something like a zigkurat. Neolithic giantovania can be judged on the scale of the Bach by the fact that such structures that have long mastered the view of the Hills, in the new time the decades have been operated as a quarry before the workers detected internal chambers.

The most impressive neolithic monuments are referred to as "corridor tombs" or "megalithic temples". But the same structure could combine the function or change them over time. In any case, the mounds were poorly suitable for rituals. Inside was too close. Therefore, Cairny continued to coexist with crumbs until people have learned to build real temples, under whos of not only priests could fit, but also believers.

Era Megalithov, which began in prehistoric times, does not have clear boundaries. She did not end, but only as construction technologies were improved, gradually went to no. Even at a relatively late era, when the methods of building the arch became known, and the buildings were built from Texa stone and bricks, the demand for gigantic blocks did not disappear. They were continued, but rather as a decorative element. And even knowing how to fasten the stones with a solution, the architects did not always find it necessary to do it. After all, ground stones fitted to each other, equipped with protrusions and grooves, looked better. Finally, even the untreated boulder sometimes turned out to be placed. Valun, which serves as the basis for the equestrian statue of Peter I in St. Petersburg, is typical megalith.

Towers of Titanov

Scottish barks and Mediterranean Nuragi - Megalites are relatively late, already related to the century of bronze. They represent towers, isolated from small raw stones without the use of the solution. And the fact that many of these structures, fastened only by weight of the material, are still worthwhile, causes great respect for the builders. The creation of borchs is attributed to pictams, and nuragov - shardenam. But both versions are not indisputable. In addition, only names given to them by foreign chroniclers remained from these peoples themselves. The origin and customs of the Pictites and Chains are unknown. And this is even more difficult to solve the appointment of numerous (only on one Sardinia more than 30,000 nuragov), but non-functional structures were built. Brooches resemble strengthening, but hardly used for defense, because they did not have boysnitis and could not accommodate a sufficient number of defenders. They did not bred fire, did not live, did not harbor the dead and did not store the supplies. The items found in the towers belong almost exclusively by the Celts, centuries later to populate Scotland and trying to come up with towers some application. However, they succeeded not more archaeologists.

Secrets of big stone

The question remains "how." How without severe equipment, people delivered huge stones, how did they raise them, how were sheed? It is these riddles that inspire the authors of alternative hypotheses. Based on which, however, lies a banal lack of imagination. An unprepared person is difficult to imagine how barbarians with stone guns are covered with a giant block and manually set it into place. It is not known to present how it is not known why the unknown way is done by an unknown to be atlanta, forces anyone.

But alternative arguments contain a fundamental error. Having lifting cranes and diamond saws, we do not use huge stone monoliths. It is irrational. More convenient materials are now available. Megaliths were constructed by people, simply not able to build another otherwise.

The stone is really hard to handle with another stone or copper. Therefore, only a century of iron began to build from relatively compact trees "bricks". After all, the smaller the block, the greater its relative surface. So the Egyptians did not want to complicate their jobs at all, using one and a half and two-tonal boulders to build a pyramid, which, of course, was not easy to transport and raise. On the contrary, they facilitated it as far as possible. After all, with a decrease in blocks, the cost of their manufacture would have increased dramatically, the transportation costs would be reduced slightly.

We would have to transfer the previous weight. The creators of Megaliths also reasoned.

Estimation of the complexity of the task "on the eye" often leads to errors. It seems that the work of Stonehenge builders was huge, but, obviously, the cost of building the smallest of Egyptian and Mesoia American pyramids was incomparably higher. In turn, at all the pyramids of Egypt, combined, passed four times less labor than one channel - a 700-kilometer "dubler" of the Nile. This is really a large-scale project! The Pyramids of the Egyptians were erected in free time. For the soul.

Was it difficult to cut and polish a 20-ton plate? Yes. But each peasant or hunter in the Stone Age for his life between the case, in the evenings, making the necessary tools, brought to almost the mirror glitter about 40 square meters of stone, if possible, choosing the highest of rocks: processing with pumping and grinding about wet sand is not only diamond. .

Differ is the delivery of huge stones not only without equipment, but also without horses, even without a wheel. Meanwhile, under Peter I, the frigates were so fermented along the route of the future White Coon. The peasants and the soldiers pulled ships on wooden rails, laying the wooden rollers. And the cargo more than once had to be inserted into multi-meter clouds. In such cases, it was necessary to build a lot, and sometimes use counterweight in the form of centes with stones. But, giving the order, the king probably thought for a short time, since it was about the operation quite ordinary. Spaniards also seemed faster and safer to drag galleons from Caribbean at Pacific Ocean Through Panaman's experiencing than to distinguish them around Cape Mountains.

Valuable information was given to a study of Maltese megalithic temples, one of which was suddenly abandoned in the construction process. Everything that workers were usually taken with themselves - stone rollers and salazzas - left in place. Even the drawings that took the form of a miniature layout of the structure were preserved (this is exactly the model, and not on paper, they built until the XVIII century). In addition, Malta, and later in other rich megalithic regions, "stone rails" were discovered - parallel grooves left by repeatedly rolling round stones under heavy sludge.

Hobby Nora

Megalithic facilities Skara-Bray is unique primarily by the fact that they are residential. Usually the people of Neolithic built from the eternal stone of the house only for the dead. But Scotland at that time was the northern outpost of agriculture. So surprisingly low, fewer pygmen, the people who decide to settle on this harsh land, had to be pushed to conscience. The lack of wood has also affected. "Hobbits" could only calculate on login brought seasy waves. Other interesting feature Data of megalithov - in their laying a little of what the epithet "Mega" would deserve. Stones, most, small. At home, it was clearly built by the forces of a single family, which is not able to deliver to the place and hoisting to the construction of a monolithic slab of the balm. The roofs of the "Hobbits" were built of wood and jam. But in each room there were several megaliths in miniature - stone stools and a shelf.

But still - wasn't it great? So if it was already necessary to complicate their already difficult barbarians with delivery and 50-ton blocks of Stonehenge? And not the benefits for the sake, but for beauty, for glory. Understanding that the arches of the cult center can be made of wood.

Residents of Neolithic England thought not too much. In the same way, the Romans were also believed, using recordable, inconceivable 800-ton blocks in Baalbek, although they could well do and ordinary. Inquins agrees with them, cutting off the stony puzzles from the stone to collect Machu Picchu walls of them. Megalithic buildings Amazed imagination even now. They hit him and then. Much more stronger. By their work, builders glorified the deity, and a little - themselves. And considering that the goals they have achieved, - although their names are forgotten, fame, having survived the birth and end of many civilizations, rattling through the millennium, - is it possible to say that work was too big?

On the contrary, it was a very economical decision.

What to play?

Rise of Nations (2003) Age of Empires 3 (2005) CIVILIZATION 4 (2005)