Stone Age people watched the sunrise and sunset at special times of the year near Stonehenge, just like we watch the clock on the kitchen wall to know when it's time for dinner.
Like Watching the Sun on a Big Calendar
Imagine you have a big round calendar made of stones, that’s kind of what Stonehenge is. When the summer solstice comes (that’s the longest day of the year), the sun rises exactly where the big stone called the Heel Stone points. It's like the sun says, "Hey, I'm here for the summer party!"
When the winter solstice comes (the shortest day of the year), the sun sets right in line with the main stones in the circle. It’s like the sun is saying, “I’m taking a long nap, see you later!”
A Big Stone Clock
Stone Age people didn’t have clocks or phones, but they used the sky and big stones to know when the seasons were changing. They probably celebrated these special days with food, songs, and maybe even dancing, just like we celebrate birthdays and holidays today!
Examples
- A person uses a stick in the ground to see where the shadow falls at sunrise.
- An ancient person stands inside a circle of stones and watches the sunlight shine through a specific gap.
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See also
- How Does Scientists 'shocked' at new Stonehenge discovery | BBC News Work?
- How Does Megalith Movers: Building Stonehenge Work?
- How Does The Real Purpose of Stonehenge Was Just Discovered Work?
- How Was Stonehenge Created? | Animated History?
- How Does We FINALLY Know How Stonehenge Was Built Work?