Standing majestically on Salisbury Plain for over 5,000 years, Stonehenge remains one of the world's greatest archaeological mysteries. As featured on Expedition Unknown, Josh Gates explored not just the iconic stone circle itself, but an entire landscape of ancient monuments that reveals a complex prehistoric civilization. This UNESCO World Heritage site continues to captivate visitors with its astronomical alignments, massive trilithons, and the enduring question of how our Neolithic ancestors transported and erected these colossal stones.
Stonehenge is a prehistoric megalithic structure on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, consisting of an outer ring of vertical sarsen standing stones, each around 13 feet high, 7 feet wide, and weighing approximately 25 tons, topped by connecting horizontal lintels secured with mortise and tenon joints. Inside this outer ring are smaller bluestones and free-standing trilithons, with the entire monument aligned toward the sunrise on the summer solstice and sunset on the winter solstice. The stones are set within earthworks in the middle of one of the densest complexes of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds. In Expedition Unknown, Josh Gates explored the origins of this iconic structure and investigated the broader landscape of monuments that may have inspired its construction.
Construction begins with the circular earth bank and ditch
Human burials begin at the site; bluestones may have arrived
Famous circle of large sarsen stones erected
Bluestones given their current positions
Construction phases conclude
Becomes legally protected under the Ancient Monuments Protection Act
Added to UNESCO World Heritage Sites list
Mainstream archaeology holds that Stonehenge was constructed in several distinct phases spanning roughly 1,500 years, from approximately 3100 BC to 1600 BC. The earliest phase consisted of the circular earthwork bank and ditch, while the iconic sarsen stone circle was erected much later, between 2600 and 2400 BC. Radiocarbon dating indicates the smaller bluestones were positioned between 2400 and 2200 BC, though some evidence suggests they may have been present at the site as early as 3000 BC. The monument's alignment with the summer solstice sunrise and winter solstice sunset suggests astronomical or ceremonial significance, though experts continue to debate its primary purpose.
Archaeologists have established that Stonehenge likely served as a burial ground from its earliest beginnings, with deposits containing human bone dating from as early as 3000 BC and continuing for at least 500 years. The engineering achievement represented by the monument is remarkable—the sarsen stones were somehow transported and erected using Neolithic technology, with horizontal lintels secured using mortise and tenon joints, a feature unique among contemporary monuments. The smaller bluestones are believed to have originated from Wales, raising ongoing questions about how and why they were transported such a distance.
Gates' investigation in "Origins of Stonehenge" explored the broader landscape context that mainstream archaeology increasingly recognizes as crucial to understanding the monument. Rather than viewing Stonehenge in isolation, the episode examined the surrounding network of Neolithic and Bronze Age structures, including several hundred tumuli, that make this area of Salisbury Plain one of the densest complexes of ancient monuments in England. This landscape approach reflects current archaeological thinking about how ceremonial centers developed in prehistoric Britain.
What remains genuinely debated within mainstream scholarship includes the specific methods used to transport and erect the massive stones, the monument's precise ceremonial or astronomical functions, and the relationship between Stonehenge and the surrounding monuments. The episode contributed to public understanding of how Stonehenge fits within a broader sacred landscape, rather than standing as a single isolated mystery, reflecting the archaeological consensus that these monuments were part of an interconnected ceremonial complex.
The horizontal lintel stones are secured to the vertical sarsens using mortise and tenon joints, a woodworking technique unique among contemporary stone monuments.
Each sarsen standing stone in the outer ring weighs approximately 25 tons and stands about 13 feet high.
The site sits in the middle of the densest complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds.
Human burials at the site span at least 500 years, from approximately 3000 BC onward, suggesting Stonehenge served as a burial ground from its earliest phase.
Stonehenge is managed by English Heritage with the surrounding land owned by the National Trust, and advance ticket booking is generally required. Visitors view the stones from a designated pathway that circles the monument at a respectful distance, with visitor center facilities including exhibits about the site's construction and history. Access to the inner circle is possible through special tours arranged outside regular opening hours.
Salisbury, approximately 8 miles to the south
Late spring through early autumn offers the most pleasant weather, though summer solstice (June 20-21) draws massive crowds for the sunrise alignment. Winter solstice viewing is also popular but requires tolerance for cold conditions and limited daylight.
UNESCO World Heritage Site (1986); legally protected Scheduled Monument since 1882
Scotland
Scotland features numerous Neolithic stone circles and monuments from the same prehistoric period that produced Stonehenge.
Wales Underground Caves
Wales is believed to be the source of Stonehenge's bluestones, making Welsh archaeological sites relevant to understanding the monument's construction.
Denmark
Denmark contains significant Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments contemporary with Stonehenge's construction phases.
Best time to visit: Visit during early morning or late afternoon for the best lighting and smaller crowds, with summer solstice offering a unique but very crowded experience.
Travel tip: Book timed entry tickets well in advance online, as walk-up availability is extremely limited, especially during peak summer months and solstice periods.
Historical data sourced from Wikipedia