Stonehenge, nestled in the rural grasslands of Wiltshire, England, is a monument shrouded in mystery. 5,000 years past its creation, the origin and purpose of its cryptically placed megaliths continues to elude archaeologists. But Stonehenge holds an arguably bigger secret. And it’s one that the bureau of tourism would rather you didn’t know about.
At the turn of the 20th century, Stonehenge was little more than ruins, its toppled stones baring only a loose resemblance of their modern day withstanding image. So began a series of wide-scale renovations to breathe new life into the ailing monument, spanning a period of over 50 years. English Heritage, Stonehenge’s governing body, decidedly omitted any mention of the rebuilding in its official literature. Out of sight, out of mind, the details were forgotten by most, and the full extent of the rebuilding was never fully known, until now.
In a sprawling set of rarely seen photos dating back to 1954, the veil of secrecy is finally lifted on the covertly defiled landmark. The photos, taken by Stonehenge archaeologist Richard Atkinson, reveal evidence of stones moved, refurbished, and even reset in cement with modern machinery. Further, they confirm what few suspected all along: a heavily tampered Stonehenge, reconstructed to resemble what the site might have looked like in ancient times.
When confronted with the rebuilding claims over a decade ago, World Heritage confessed that the official Stonehenge story glazes over several notable details. The overseeing organization to the historic site further asserted that the next revision of the official guidebook would rectify this oversight, providing a transparent account of all renovations taking place in years past. Despite vows to be more forthcoming about the Henge’s heavily rebuilt past, details of its historical facelift still remains markedly absent from all official Stonehenge tours and guide materials.
Stonehenge today maintains the power to compel for plenty of legitimate reasons. Most recently, archaeologists have pinpointed a rocky outcrop in which they suspect its massive stones originated, located a bewildering 160 miles from the famed site. But overshadowing its intrigues exists the untold story of historical cleansing, tarnishing the site and the reputation of its overseers. With the recent opening of Stonehenge’s new $44 million visitors center, the opportunity to educate visitors of the unabridged story exists now more than ever before. It still remains to be seen whether World Heritage will seize the opportunity to set the record straight, or prove once again that capitalism will always prevail over truth.
Learn more: viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk