How many and what are the theories to describe Stonehenge?

Answer 1

How many, well how many do want? If we listed them all then the average desk top computer would rapidly grind to processor - melting halt. You can divide Stonehenge theories into themes, which for the most part also makes mind-numbing tedious reading. Watch this space and you will soon see many of them emerging in response to your question. Ideas change, theories are just 'theories', however if you stick to the Archaeology you are nearer the truth. So what do we know about Stonehenge from the remains, not what people believe it means, but what the evidence tells us, there is a huge difference. For a start there is no evidence that it was a sophisticated 'observatory', the only undisputed alignment is that of the solstices. Also the major central stones, those of the Great Trilithon, were set to face the midwinter sunset, that's a simple fact. Otherwise it was constructed as a monumental piece of architecture, very carefully designed to an extract plan. In other words the stones don't 'wander around' or were not placed in respect of external events, they conform a coherent and well defined scheme, within which every stone has its exact place. You don't need to accept this, look for yourself, and it's not another theory, simply fact (find any good reconstruction drawing of reliable plan that shows every detail, not those simply selected to 'prove' a theory). Of course the enclosure that contains the site was used for some 500 years before any stones arrived, and, once constructed people continued to modify things for nigh on 1,000 years. So consider the evidence for yourself, look for books written by archaeologists, form your own opinions of course, but question everything. And if anyone, so-called expert or not then tells you they 'know' what Stonehenge was 'for', then you can smile. Start with the 'Wiki' Stonehenge, and 'Stonehenge Theories' pages, follow up the references.