Here's what we know about the builders of the Stonehenge

Stonehenge, one of the world’s most iconic and mysterious landmarks, has intrigued historians, archaeologists, and visitors alike for centuries. Standing as a testament to the ingenuity of ancient builders, the question of who built Stonehenge remains one of the greatest mysteries of the prehistoric world. This stone circle, with its massive megaliths and astronomical alignments, continues to spark debates and curiosity. In this post, we’ll explore the most prominent theories about the builders of Stonehenge and uncover the secrets behind this ancient wonder.

About the phased construction

Stonehenge was built in at least three distinct stages:

• Phase 1 (c. 3000 BCE): A circular ditch over 100 m wide was dug, with an inner bank and 56 Aubrey Holes—possibly for timber posts or bluestones.
• Phase 2 (c. 2900–2500 BCE): Bluestones from Wales arrived and may have been set upright in timber structures within the circle; some timber posts also featured during this period.
• Phase 3 (c. 2500 BCE): The iconic sarsen stones were erected and linked with mortise‑and‑tenon and tongue‑and‑groove joints to form trilithons and lintel circles.

Moving the stones: The Megalithic feat

• Sarsen Stones: These towering stones, some of which weigh over 25 tons, were transported from the Marlborough Downs, a distance of about 20 miles. The most likely method involved dragging the stones on wooden sledges, possibly using a system of logs to roll them.
• Bluestones: The smaller bluestones, which weigh up to 4 tons, came from the Preseli Hills in Wales, around 150 miles away. These were likely transported via waterways and then moved by land to the site.
• Assembly: Once the stones were transported to the site, they were carefully positioned and erected using a combination of levering, dragging, and human labor. The famous lintels (horizontal stones) were lifted on top of the upright stones, creating the structure we see today.

The astronomical alignment

Stonehenge’s primary axis points directly toward the spot on the horizon where the sun rises on the summer solstice, with the first light flooding through the Heel Stone and into the center of the circle. In reverse, the same alignment marks the winter solstice sunset, highlighting the shortest day of the year. Beyond the sun, researchers have begun to document potential lunar alignments—particularly the 18.6‑year major lunar standstill—suggesting the builders tracked both solar and lunar extremes.

Ancient astronomy

Stonehenge’s solstitial axis is reinforced by the positioning of the Station Stones, which form a rectangle whose short sides run parallel to the main sunrise‑sunset line English Heritage. Historic England’s recent review highlights that this layout wasn’t accidental: it required careful observation of the sun’s movements over many years. While some scholars once claimed the site was a fully fledged Neolithic “calendar,” a critical re‑examination argues that although Stonehenge marks key solar events, it lacks the precision of a modern time‑keeping device.