Ancestral Stones | National Geographic

Stonehenge is the only stone circle in

Stonehenge is the only stone circle in the world where the stones are shaped

the world where the stones are shaped

the world where the stones are shaped and jointed it’s grueling work the

and jointed it’s grueling work the

and jointed it’s grueling work the sarsen is one of the toughest rocks on

sarsen is one of the toughest rocks on

sarsen is one of the toughest rocks on the planet

pays wooden formers to check the shape

pays wooden formers to check the shape and dimensions flour milling techniques

and dimensions flour milling techniques

and dimensions flour milling techniques to grind the surface of the stones to a

to grind the surface of the stones to a

to grind the surface of the stones to a marble smooth finish

one of the really extraordinary things

one of the really extraordinary things about that henge is not only are they

about that henge is not only are they

about that henge is not only are they carved and smooth but they’ve carved

carved and smooth but they’ve carved

carved and smooth but they’ve carved into them what we see to be carpentry

into them what we see to be carpentry

into them what we see to be carpentry joints the upright megaliths have on the

joints the upright megaliths have on the

joints the upright megaliths have on the top of each one a tenon that slots into

top of each one a tenon that slots into

top of each one a tenon that slots into a hole on the underside of the sarsens

a hole on the underside of the sarsens

a hole on the underside of the sarsens the lintels have tongue and grooves that

the lintels have tongue and grooves that

the lintels have tongue and grooves that slot together at the ends

slot together at the ends

slot together at the ends this gives the whole structure an

this gives the whole structure an

this gives the whole structure an enormous strength but it imposes on the

enormous strength but it imposes on the

enormous strength but it imposes on the Masons from the people who made it a

Masons from the people who made it a

Masons from the people who made it a huge work not only of these people

huge work not only of these people

huge work not only of these people experts stone workers they are also

experts stone workers they are also

experts stone workers they are also exceptional engineers

they prepare to pull the stone into a

they prepare to pull the stone into a pit to hold it upright the sarsens vary

pit to hold it upright the sarsens vary

pit to hold it upright the sarsens vary greatly in length so the depth must be

greatly in length so the depth must be

greatly in length so the depth must be dug with great accuracy to keep the top

dug with great accuracy to keep the top

dug with great accuracy to keep the top line of the lintels exactly level

ropes running over wooden a frames

ropes running over wooden a frames increased leverage

and all the stone up on earth ramp

and all the stone up on earth ramp toward a pivot point made of tree trunks

each of these stones brings these

each of these stones brings these ancient Britons closer to fulfilling

ancient Britons closer to fulfilling

ancient Britons closer to fulfilling their ambition of building a city for

their ambition of building a city for

their ambition of building a city for the ancestors but Stonehenge also brings

the ancestors but Stonehenge also brings

the ancestors but Stonehenge also brings power and prestige to the leaders of

power and prestige to the leaders of

power and prestige to the leaders of this society

this society

this society Stonehenge was for the ancestors it was

Stonehenge was for the ancestors it was

Stonehenge was for the ancestors it was also for the living in the sense that it

also for the living in the sense that it

also for the living in the sense that it gave power to some over the many we have

gave power to some over the many we have

gave power to some over the many we have shadowy figures who were almost the

shadowy figures who were almost the

shadowy figures who were almost the puppeteers of their society saying we

puppeteers of their society saying we

puppeteers of their society saying we can do the most extraordinary feats of

can do the most extraordinary feats of

can do the most extraordinary feats of moving and lifting it’s a monument of

moving and lifting it’s a monument of

moving and lifting it’s a monument of brute force it’s really naked power at

brute force it’s really naked power at

brute force it’s really naked power at its rawest