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Unexplained Mysteries
Stonehenge
What exactly was Stonehenge used for? The mystery of its purpose has surrounded this site for thousands of years. People have theorized it was a religious place, burial ground, or even a landing pad for alien spaceships. Construct your own conclusions about this intriguing monument with this read for young students.
24 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2015
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 20, 2020
Overview
This is a very basic introduction to Stonehenge for kids.
Pros
Has some cool pictures of Stonehenge. Also, it does mention that Stonehenge is part of a larger ceremonial landscape.
Cons
The content as well as the writing itself is incredibly simplistic. Many of the ideas presented about the construction and use of Stonehenge have been debunked.
For example, it claims that Stonehenge was built as a temple for druids. This theory was proposed in the 1600s by John Aubrey but has since been proven to be wrong. Radiocarbon dating has shown that Stonehenge was built one thousands years before the arrival of the druids, so this clearly this idea is incorrect. While modern-day druids do sometimes gather at the monument, this does not mean that druids did so in the past.
It mentions the “theory” that aliens helped to build it. There are many problems with this idea. For one, the stones show clear evidence of being worked with stone tools. The stone hammerstones themselves have even been found! If aliens had pitched in, why would the stones be shaped with stone tools instead of more advanced technology? It is important to remember that people in the past were just as smart as we are today, and just as stubborn. They wanted to move giant stones, so they found a way to do that. Just because we do not yet know the exact mechanism does not automatically mean that it must have been aliens.
Verdict
In my honest opinion, this book is not worth your time. It restates ideas about Stonehenge which have been proven incorrect, which readers would not realize unless they did some more research. Kids are told that books are good sources for information, but if a kid picked up this book that would be given pseudoscience instead of real science. I am sure that great, factual kids’ books about Stonehenge exist, but this is not it.
Sources
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/v...
https://www.history.com/topics/britis...
This is a very basic introduction to Stonehenge for kids.
Pros
Has some cool pictures of Stonehenge. Also, it does mention that Stonehenge is part of a larger ceremonial landscape.
Cons
The content as well as the writing itself is incredibly simplistic. Many of the ideas presented about the construction and use of Stonehenge have been debunked.
For example, it claims that Stonehenge was built as a temple for druids. This theory was proposed in the 1600s by John Aubrey but has since been proven to be wrong. Radiocarbon dating has shown that Stonehenge was built one thousands years before the arrival of the druids, so this clearly this idea is incorrect. While modern-day druids do sometimes gather at the monument, this does not mean that druids did so in the past.
It mentions the “theory” that aliens helped to build it. There are many problems with this idea. For one, the stones show clear evidence of being worked with stone tools. The stone hammerstones themselves have even been found! If aliens had pitched in, why would the stones be shaped with stone tools instead of more advanced technology? It is important to remember that people in the past were just as smart as we are today, and just as stubborn. They wanted to move giant stones, so they found a way to do that. Just because we do not yet know the exact mechanism does not automatically mean that it must have been aliens.
Verdict
In my honest opinion, this book is not worth your time. It restates ideas about Stonehenge which have been proven incorrect, which readers would not realize unless they did some more research. Kids are told that books are good sources for information, but if a kid picked up this book that would be given pseudoscience instead of real science. I am sure that great, factual kids’ books about Stonehenge exist, but this is not it.
Sources
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/v...
https://www.history.com/topics/britis...
March 13, 2025
Great informative book about Stonehenge.
October 28, 2015
This title of the “Unexplained Mysteries” series features Stonehenge. Limited text on each spread is overshadowed by color photo-illustrations and maps of the ancient site. There is little new information here. A brief history is followed by theories of Stonehenge’s functions and the scientific research being conducted at the site. Glossary words are bolded and in color throughout the book. Back matter includes a glossary, bibliography, publisher’s website and index. The brief, accessible text will appeal to intermediate and older, reluctant readers. Order if needed.
June 27, 2015
Very basic facts about Stonehenge.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews