Two British archaeologists revealed on Monday that they have discovered the key purpose behind one of Earth's most famous and enigmatic structures.The rings of monolithic rocks, known as Stonehenge, has stood for thousands of years and sparked thousands of theories as to why it was built, ranging from a temple for ancient sun-worshipers, a sacred burial site and a massive prehistoric astronomical calculator.
Professors Geoffrey Wainwright and Timothy Darvill offer their own explanation of Stonehenge, that it was an ancient healing place that drew in pilgrims from all across Europe.
The professors have based their theory on double circles of a blue stones, known to geologists as spotted dolomite, that lie at the heart of the structure.
Dragged or floated on rafts from Pembrokeshire in Wales to Salisbury Plain in southern England, Wainwright said the blue stones were prized by the ancients for their healing powers.
Pieces of the rocks ended up buried in tombs across the area, the researcher said, a testament to people's fascination with the rocks.
The proof was not only in the stones, but also in the bones. Skeletons recovered from the area showed signs of serious disease or injury."People were in a state of distress, if I can put it as politely as that, when they came to the Stonehenge monument,"Darvill said.
The pair were the first to excavate the ancient site in more than 40 years. While their findings pointed to the site being a healing pilgrimage site for the ancients, they have not thrown out other explanations of Stonehenge's use.
"It could have been a temple, even as it was a healing center," Darvill said. "Just as Lourdes, for example, is still a religious center."
