Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MYSTERY OF THE BLUESTONES
There are 31 bluestone monoliths (plus 12 'stumps') at the centre of Stonehenge, each weighing around 4 tonnes.
Geochemical analysis shows that the Stonehenge bluestones originated from outcrops around Carnmenyn and
Carn Goedog at the eastern end of the Preseli Hills (Mynydd Preseli). Stonehenge scholars have long been of the
opinion that Preseli and the bluestones held some religious significance for the builders of Stonehenge, and that
they laboriously dragged these monoliths down to the River Cleddau, then carried them by barge from Milford
Haven, along the Bristol Channel and up the River Avon, then overland again to Salisbury Plain - a distance of
240 miles.
In 2000 a group of volunteers tried to re-enact this journey, using primitive technology to transport a single,
3-tonne bluestone from Preseli to Stonehenge. They failed - having already resorted to the use of a lorry, a crane
and modern roads, the stone slipped from its raft and sank just a few miles into the sea journey.
An alternative theory is that the bluestones were actually transported by ice age glaciers, and dumped around
40 miles to the west of the Stonehenge site some 12,000 years ago.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Castell Henllys
From 600 BC and through the Roman occupation there was a thriving Celtic settlement at
Castell Henllys (Castle of the Prince's Court). For 27 years students from around the
world, supervised by the University of York archaeology department, spent their summers
digging at the site and learned enough to build a re-creation of the settlement on its origin-
al foundations, complete with educated guesses about the clothing, tools, ceremonies and
life of that time.
Sights
Castell Henllys
(
www.castellhenllys.com
;
Felindre Farchog; adult/child £4.75/3.50; 10am-5pm )
A visit to Castell Henllys
Iron Age Fort is like travelling back in time. There are reconstructions of the settlement's
buildings - four thatched roundhouses, animal pens, a smithy and a grain store - which
you can enter and touch. Costumed staff, craft demonstrations, Celtic festivals and other
events bring the settlement to life.
HISTORIC SITE
Getting There & Away
