Stonehenge, near Avebury in Wiltshire.   Ancient Monument.

An object out of place and time.
The structure is clearly an observatory and calendar.
Particularly showing the quarter days of the year,
the two Solstices and both Equinoxes, as festival days.

Linked to the precession of the Equinoxes is the 26,000 Astrological Great Year, and 2000+ year Ages, like the approaching Age of Aquarius.

Soon, in about 150 years, the Equinox Sunrise will occur in Aquarius, instead of Pisces as at present;   (interestingly we still start the zodiac with Aries - and that is 30 degree shifted from real Astronomy).

It seems that Stonehenge was re-engineered to fit a shift from Taurus to Aries circa 3500 BC and again around 1550 BC.

Perhaps able to predict eclipses. A solid example of the understanding of the motion of the Earth and Moon.

Probably inspired by other-terrestial beings, first visiting 500,000 years ago, or their decendants, who had their knowledge, as passed down to humans (with kingship) after 10,000 BC

There are 3 concrete circles in the car-park, just over the road from the monument, thought to be Totem Pole holes, and the oldest evidence of man at this site, or in UK, dating from after the end of the last ice-age, around 11000 BC.

The site has a near level horizon about 3 miles away in most directions. It is at latitude 51 degrees, 17 minutes North. The Suns azimuth (degrees clockwise from North) of rising on Summer Solstice day is about 51 degrees. The Great Pyramid, Giza, the angle is 51 and a half degrees.

The Sun moves from North to South as June moves to December. Only on 2 days of the year - the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes does it rise and Set due East and West. Because of heavenly complexities involving factors like the oubliquity of the Ecliptic, the Sun swing anually from a summer declination (or celestial sphere of latitude) of +23.5 North to a corresponding winter declination of -23.5 South. That declination shift is a sizable 47 degrees, but because of the facts of spherical geometry, the angular variation in earthly viewing can be much larger. At the latitude of Stonehenge, sunrise goes from a compass direction of 51 degrees, almost North East, down to 129 degrees, almost South East, at midwinter.

Because the angle, or tilt of the earths axis with respect to its orbit plane cahnges with time, the point on the horizon at which the sun rises on midsummer morning moves, very slowly. For the last 9000 years this movement has been to the right along the horizon at a rate of about 2/100ths of a degree per century (1 degree in 5000 years) So the oblquity of the ecliptic is decreasing. The suns azimuth of rising is increasing, which means that its solstice horizon point of rising is moving eastward.

The simple structure of Stonehenge 1 was superceeded by the giant sarcen stones, trilithons and circle. These provided fixed, well defined viewing positions for the major events of equinox and solstice. Although the equinox sun will always rise due east, the solstice positon and alignments can be dated, at other monuments as the sun slostice position gradually moves with time. I believe that Stonehenge 3 was deliberatly engineered to be enduring, and to embody the knowledge it demonstrates. Perhaps our ancient visitors from the planet Neibru, which has a 3600 year orbit of the sun were trying to leave an indication 9of their return date - By means of the misnamed Slaughter stone, now fallen, but standing aligns with the horizon, like the bowing (heel) stone, and its positon is now being approched by the summer solstice sunrise, the sun now stands full tangent on the horizon to the right of the bowing stone, but which was correctly aligned around 1650 BC. The re-occurance of the planet Neibru is due in about 100 to 1000 years. A bright star, emerging from Orion and travelling comet like west to east accross the soloar sytem passing through the asterioid belt, between Mars and Saturn.

Photos show the standing heel or bowing stone, just touching the horizon, and the fallen "slaughter" stone, the nearer, right side of which is the alignment.

The structures built evolved over many years. There is evidence of a ditch and bank of chalk, about 6 to 9 feet high surrounding it, open at the North East. It is probable that only the initiated few were allowed into the circle, to make observations.

Winter Solstice

At the Mid Winter Solstice, when viewed from the Avenue, North East, beyond the Bowing (heel) Stone, some 140 feet or more from the outer ring, the setting Sun is framed within the outer-ring, and through the central, big Trilithon (half knocked-down), looking along the main axis, to the South West.

The Sun can be observed standing still on the horizon for a few days, at its most Southerly point, which is South Westerly, then returning Northward, indicating renewal, and another solar year.

The Winter Full Moon may also be framed - in the top of the big trilithon archway, above the position of the Mid Winter Sunset. It is likely that eclipses were predicted, and the Moon re-appeared there.

This is possibly why this trilithon was later attacked, probably with fire, and pushed over. The remaining standing stone was leaning, and has since been straightened up (not precicely on axis). The fallen stone is broken in two, it, and the lintel, crashing into the unique central "Goddess" stone, which is now near ground level.

Stonhenge may also have been able to predict the 4 other main Lunar festivals, Imbloc, Beltane, Laamas, Samhain, on the Full Moon at the 8th sections of the year.

Festival Eye Article about Wally Hope and the Stonehenge Peoples' Free Festival

Festival Eye Article about the Millennium, Stones, etc.

Previous Years:
2006 June Solstice was a really good night of drumming in the stones. Large gathering.

At the Spring Equinox, March 21st 2006 Stonehenge was open as usual, early in the morning, 5:30ish, with some security people on duty. Sunrise obsured by clouds. More people than usual, but still plenty of room in the circle, for dancing and musicians, some drumming. Celebrations were begun overnight on the droveway, with a few vans, trucks, campers and cars. People gathererd around a fire. A circle was cast, opened and inviting all. Good mellow vibe. Afterwards, many of us went to Avebury and the Red Lion Pub.

2005 was great! Crowd estimated at over 5000
2005 photo 2

2005 photo 3

2003 Celebrations at the Solstice
On Saturday 21st. June the large temporary free Solstice car park at Stonehenge was opened from 00.01 hrs. to 14.00 hrs. - Many people who had left cars on the verge of the nearby roads were getting ticketed by Wiltshire Police - a tactic they have used for many years; it probably helps to pay some of the costs, otherwise borne by the local tax payers.

Free access to The Stones (subject to security searches) was only permitted from 02.00hrs. to 12.00 hrs.
The Solstice was at 19.12 hrs. on Saturday and so the Solstice dawn could have been either Saturday or Sunday.

Campaigners intended to protest at the decision to deny access with music fun and agit prop Morris dancing. They are demanding full restoration of their traditional rights of free access to Stonehenge and provision of land for camping while attending the Midsummer Solstice Celebration from the 21st to 23rd June 2003.

It was great to be there again, a big crowd, packed solid -like sardines, at the dawn. E. H. had designated the West side as Exit Only - the side you approach from the site entrance, So even drummers found it impossible to get in then. Helen the Hat thanked us all for coming to her party, and invited an American Indian to speak - that Stonehenge was one of the Earth's Chackras. That we should have better access to it.

Amplified music is banned by English Heritage but acoustic musicians and groups wanting to participate in the celebration should contact
stonehengeentertainmentsdiscussion

Bring blankets, food, water, a drum, a guitar, what you expect to find and join in the fun for the future of the Stonehenge Midsummer Solstice Celebration.

check out
www.InfinitePossibility.org your portal to infinite possibility

StonehengePeace E group dicussing the wider issues surrounding the stonehenge situation.

Stonehengeentertainmentsdiscussion - E group working on the music/entertainment aspect of the solstice gathering at the stones and the extended gathering.

What is An international e group group of mediaholics

www.DiceNews.com - A zillion links and stonehenge related stuff

2002 Summer Solstice featured the usual only acoustic music. The Bongos and Drums are a recording of just after the dawn, with light rain, and overcast sky.

2001Thursday 21st. June. Summer Solstice:

English Heritage (who own the gates fences and guards) offered free access to the Stones for all who come in peace from 8pm to 9am on Wednesday 21st June. Conditions included No dogs, No fires, No camping, No electric music, no climbing, Self Policing - green stewards, and that we all leave after at 9am
English Heritage provided a free Car-Park, in the gallops. Which opened about 6pm, on the evening, Wed 20th. June.
There were horse drawn travellers, busses coaches and vans, and a colourful convoy of some unusual bicycles.
A few thousand gathered at the Stones from 8pm.
The Sun rose clearly over the horizon.
A peaceful happy solstice occured. There was lots of drumming, bagpipes, and a fireshow. A "Mummers" Play, night and morning, staring King Arthur Pendragon, and Helen the Hat.
At 9am a procession of those remaining, left the Stones.

2000 Summer Solstice, hundreds of people were allowed access to the stones, from about 11pm the previous evening. A peaceful gathering took place.

99 Report of Solstice:

88 Drawings from my experience of the near riot:
Taking Chillum on the "Captured" Heel Stone - 159Kb.
Looking Back - 254Kb. Helicopter says "DISPERSE NOW, Or there will be further arrests"
Amesbury Roundabout - 169Kb. Rosie's TK Truck - She'd been arrested

1985 The Battle of the Bean Field:
Battle of the Beanfield  
Operation Solstice 2   .wmv Video 4Mb.
Operation Solstice 3   .wmv Video 3.5Mb.
Post Bean Field Newsnight .wmv Video 2Mb.
Battle of Beanfield Ian Dury

Other Links

 

Sound clip Recorded by mobile phone in the Stones Summer solstice 2005