Final answer:
The Stonehenge Riverside Project uncovered key details about Stonehenge, such as its construction phases and the origins of its stones. It also highlighted the site's likely role as an ancient astronomical observatory, with alignments to solar and lunar events, constructed using advanced techniques like mortise and tenon joints.
Step-by-step explanation:
Discoveries from the Stonehenge Riverside Project
The Stonehenge Riverside Project brought to light significant information regarding the construction and purpose of Stonehenge. Radiocarbon dating pinpointed the construction of the monument's earliest phase, the surrounding earth bank and ditch, to around 3100 BCE. The first bluestones were possibly placed between 2400 and 2200 BCE, though they might have been present as early as 3000 BCE. These bluestones, weighing two to four tons each, were transported over 250 kilometers from Wales, while the much larger sarsen stones, averaging 25 tons, came from Marlborough Downs, closer to the site. The purpose of Stonehenge has been widely debated, but its alignment with the solstices suggests it functioned as an ancient astronomical observatory.
Through the use of primitive engineering techniques, such as the mortise and tenon joints, the massive stones were erected forming a lasting monument. The megalithic structure not only encompasses an understanding of stone construction but also implies a complex communal effort spanning across hundreds of years using basic tools. The site's layout and archaeological findings suggest varying theories about its use, from a religious site to a possible palace or fortification, yet the most convincing evidence supports its role in Neolithic astronomy and ceremonies.