Humanities Unit 1 Reflection

What did I learn?
I learned about what historians, archaeologists and anthropologists do. I learned how to be an archeologist. I learned what cultural and scientific dating were, along with a couple million other things
Also, while doing the essay, I went from knowing almost nothing about Stonehenge to knowing a lot. Now I know things like when it was built (around 2500 BC) and other facts about Stonehenge.
What did I find most interesting?
The thing that I found most interesting was the facts about why Stonehenge supposedly could be a UFO landing site. I got to visit sites filled with conspiracy theories and other wacky information.
What learning skills I was able to practice and how?
I practiced many learning skills, like research skills, which I used before I wrote the essay to help me learn enough to write the essay. I also used bibliography-making skills, because I used Noodle Tools to form my bibliography. Another skill I used was essay writing, which I learned in English, because in order to write a good essay, I need to know what goes where etc. I used note-taking skills while taking notes on the chaters. I used excavating, observing and recording skills at the archaeological dig.
What did I learn about myself?
I learned that I can write a surprising amount about a topic I think I don't know so much about.

 

Adrian 7A

Stonehenge Theories Essay

Stonehenge is a large prehistoric megalith located near Salisbury, in the Wiltshire region in England.  It was constructed mostly between 2640 BC and 2480 BC. Stonehenge has always been an intriguing place for historians and archaeologists, because it its past is a great mystery as to what it was used for and who built it. Because historians have been investigating it for so long, there are now many theories about what it was and how it was created. I will be investigating 3 theories, and explaining why they could be true.

Stonehenge as a healing Place

The theory that Stonehenge was a healing place is a relatively new theory. However, it does seem like a very plausible theory, for a number of reasons. In the center of Stonehenge, there is a double circle of Bluestones. Bluestones are known to have magical healing properties. Smaller pieces of bluestones have been found in the tomb buried in that area. The bluestones came from around 250 km away, and they wouldn’t have been transported from so far away for no reason. The researchers who originally suggested the healing theory, Professors Timothy Darvill and Geoffry Wainwright also said that Stonehenge could have been both a religious site and a healing site. A recently discovered person buried in that area, nicknamed “Amesbury Archer”, named after the bows and arrows he was found with, had a knee injury and an infected jaw, and was dated to be from the same time of Stonehenge’s heyday. His tomb was found 3 miles from Stonehenge, which suggests that he was sick and trekked to Stonehenge to try to get healed.

Stonehenge as an Observatory

Another theory is that Stonehenge was an Observatory. This theory has been around for a long time, and is probably one of the most popular theories. One of the pioneers of this theory was Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer. He theorized that Ancient temples were aligned towards the sunrise at the time they were built. He also wrote a book in 1906 that pointed out some similarities between Stonehenge and the Egyptian temples. 57 years later in 1963, a man named Gerald Hawkins used a computer to analyze Lockyer’s theory. His computation found that there were 165 points on Stonehenge that were associated with sun and moon movements. Hawkins concluded that Stonehenge was an ancienct computer that was designed to predict lunar eclipses.

Stonehenge as a UFO landing Site

Yet another theory is that Stonehenge was an alien landing site. The believers of this theory argue that since Stonehenge was a circle, it would have made alien landings easy because the UFO could land on top of Stonehenge. Also the stone was the material of choice because it is strong and can support the weight of a UFO on it. Since the stones used to build Stonehenge came from far away, they could have been transported to the site of Stonehenge by antigravity. In the center of Stonehenge, there is a sort of podium that could have been used as a podium for the aliens to speak to the humans.

There are many plausible theories about Stonehenge. I explored only 3, but all 3 are plausible, some more than others. I believe that people will never find a final answer to the mystery that is Stonehenge, but our theories will probably get closer and closer to the truth. I believe that the most plausible theory is the theory that Stonehenge was a healing site, because it has many reliable reasons backing it up. Also, two experts on Stonehenge both believe it, which makes it more credible to me.

Works Cited

Alexander, Gabriel. “Is Stonehenge a UFO Landing Pad?” Timehuman - The Future Guide. N.p., 2 June 2010. Web. 22 Oct. 2010. <http://timehuman.blogspot.com/‌2010/‌06/‌could-stonehenge-be-landing-pad-for.html>.

Geddes, Linda. “Five theories about Stonehenge.” NewScientist. N.p., 29 May 2008. Web. 27 Oct. 2010. <http://www.newscientist.com/‌article/‌dn14011-five-theories-about-stonehenge.html>.

Martin, Melanie. “What is Stonehenge? Top Three Alternative Ideas.” PurpleSlinky. N.p., 10 June 2008. Web. 19 Oct. 2010. <http://purpleslinky.com/‌offbeat/‌what-is-stonehenge-top-three-alternative-ideas/>.

MSNBC. “Dig hints at Stonehenge’s healing role.” MSNBC Science. N.p., 27 Sept. 2008. Web. 22 Oct. 2010. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/‌id/‌26838058/>.

“Stonehenge Theories: CELESTIAL OBSERVATORY.”  Stonehenge Decoded. National Geographic.  Date Unknown. National Geographic. Web. Transcript. 27 Oct. 2010. <http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/‌episode/‌stonehenge-decoded-3372/‌celestial-observatory#tab-Videos/‌05323_00>.

User Tirbrath. Stonehenge - Observatory and Cultural/‌Spiritual Centre. Youtube. N.p., 9 Mar. 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/‌watch?v=MBLSveipnYc>.

Wilson, Hugh. “The healing stones - a new theory for an ancient icon.” BBC. N.p., Mar. 2008. Web. 22 Oct. 2010. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/‌history/‌programmes/‌stonehenge/‌article1.shtml>.