#4: The Purpose
Stonehenge probably served more than one purpose, which is deeply annoying for anyone who wants a clean answer. It aligns with the summer solstice sunrise and winter solstice sunset, suggesting ritual and astronomical significance. It also functioned within a wider ceremonial landscape that included burial mounds, avenues, timber structures, and nearby settlements. Calling it “a calendar” is tempting, but too small. Stonehenge seems to have been a stage for time, death, gathering, and meaning.
