Stonehenge

 THEME: Stonehenge

Read, write and learn the following words and word combinations:

leather rope шкіряний канат

extra додатковий

roller валик

sledge візок

sacrifice жертва                                                       

solstice сонцестояння

solar сонячний

plain рівнина

Salisbury Солсбері

speculate розмірковувати

BC Before Christ до нашої ери

to span охоплювати ( про період часу)

UFO Unidentified flying object НЛО

Sarsen stone Caрацинський камінь, сарсен (піщаний валун)

World Heritage Site Світова організація охорони історичних пам’яток

Read and translate the text.

Age: 5000 years

Visitors per year: 800,000

Historical fact: The largest of the Sarsen stones transported to Stonehenge weighted 50 tons. Modern calculations show that it would have taken 500 men using leather ropes to pull one stone, with extra 100 men needed to lay the huge rollers in front of the sledge.

Greatest wonders: No one really knows why it was built.

There is nothing quite like Stonehenge anywhere in the world. The name Stonehenge originates from the Anglo-Saxon period – the old English word “henge” meaning hanging or gibbet. So what we have is literally “the hanging stones”. There are some wonderful myths and legends about the construction and purpose of the most fascinating stone monuments in the world. People have speculated about this circle of megaliths (large stones) for as long as it has been standing. This is a long time indeed. There is the same time between the fall of the Roman Empire and today as between the first and the last phase of the construction of Stonehenge. Stonehenge was built in several phases spanning 2000 years, from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age (3100 BC to 1600 BC).

Archeologists estimate that Stonehenge took more than 120 million hours to build!

The biggest of the stones (weighting 50 tons) came from faraway Wales, though no one knows how.

But why was Stonehenge built? Some seriously argue that it is a landing platform for UFOs. Others think that it was a place for ritual sacrifices during the summer solstice. Some see it as a giant lunar and solar calendar. And there are still those who believe in Druidic religion performing rituals and magic on the site. But Stonehenge could not be built by Druids. By the time they appeared in Britain, Stonehenge had already been abandoned.

Some theories recognize that Stonehenge served some astronomical purpose. And from excavations there is no doubt that the monument also was a burial ground, although there is no evidence at all of human sacrifice. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986 claims Stonehenge has had spiritual significance for many different groups over a long period of time. It is a symbol of the great achievement of ancient people.

Read the following statements and decide if they are true or false.

1. Stonehenge lies near Amesbury.  

2. It is about 8 miles north of Wiltshire.   

3. Archaeologists think that the stones were erected 4000 years ago.  

4. One part of the monument was built around 3100 BC.   

5. In 1986 Stonehenge was declared a World Heritage Site.

Match the parts of the sentences.

1. The name Stonehenge originates from     

2. Archeologists estimate that Stonehenge took                                   

3. Others think that it was a place for ritual                                              

4. Stonehenge has had spiritual significance for                                        

a) sacrifices during the summer solstice.

b) many different groups over a long period of time

c) more than 120 million hours to build

d) Anglo-Saxon period

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