What 5,000 Years of Stonehenge History Taught Me About Heritage
For many, Stonehenge is a relic of the past, a grainy image forever etched in the memory of early Windows XP users. But for me, it represents a spectacular feat of ancient engineering that has been on my bucket list since 2014. Despite living in London from 2014 to early 2019, I couldn’t manage a visit until a week ago. That visit, while fascinating, left me with more questions than answers.
For those unfamiliar with Stonehenge, it is a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in stages starting around 5,000 years ago, it consists of large stones arranged in a circle and horseshoe. The purpose of this fascinating site remains a mystery, with theories ranging from religious temples to astronomical observatories.
Walking among the stones, I was struck by their sheer size and the ingenuity required to move and arrange them nearly 5,000 years ago. This reflection sparked numerous questions: Who built Stonehenge? How did they transport these enormous stones, some weighing up to 25 tons, over great distances? What was the true purpose of this monument? While its alignment with the summer and winter solstices is well-known, could it have served a deeper astronomical function related to specific stars or celestial events? The bluestones, different from the sarsens, were transported from Wales. Why were these particular stones chosen? Since Stonehenge wasn’t built all at once, could the reasons behind its various construction phases offer clues about its evolving purpose?
These questions swirled in my mind as we left Stonehenge and headed back to London. Yet, this trip was a profound learning experience, and I want to share these insights with you.
First, it’s crucial to understand that Stonehenge’s global fame isn’t accidental. It’s the result of strategic support by the English Heritage Trust and its partners, including the Heritage Lottery Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, and several other trusts. This collaboration highlights a crucial point: maintaining and promoting historical treasures isn’t just a government responsibility. It thrives on the dedication of trusts and other like-minded groups.
Another valuable lesson from my visit was the thoughtful and creative approach to presenting Stonehenge to the world. Without careful planning, Stonehenge could have been just a vast area with ancient stones where tourists wander aimlessly. Instead, the trustees have designed the site to ensure its sustainability and maximize revenue. Visitors must park at the designated lot, purchase a ticket for £33.60 (NGN64,780.80), and take a shuttle bus to the monument. The system is cleverly designed to ensure that first-time visitors may not realize they can trek to the site, leading many to purchase tickets. Upon buying a ticket, visitors receive a pink wristband, which grants them access to the exhibition museum and shuttle bus to the main site. When returning by shuttle, site managers have strategically placed STANCHIONS to guide visitors to exit through the site shop, a subtle tactic to encourage them to buy Stonehenge memorabilia. This psychological nudge continues as visitors exit the shop and encounter the café, tempting many to indulge in drinks, ice cream, chocolates, or coffee. For me, this is a smart revenue-generating strategy that helps sustain the site’s preservation efforts and improve the UK’s revenue.
Additionally, the creative addition of an exhibition hall enhances the visitor experience. The exhibition hall houses excavated artifacts from the site, and visitors can learn about their probable history. Next to the exhibition is a place where visitors can experience a recreation of Neolithic huts to understand how the people of Stonehenge may have lived. There’s also a simulation stone weighing 25 tons that visitors can try to pull, reflecting on how people nearly 5,000 years ago managed to move such stones without cranes or sophisticated tools.
A final highlight was the photo challenge set up by the site administrators. They strategically placed six photo spots around Stonehenge, encouraging visitors to recreate specific images and share them on social media. We had a lot of fun participating in this challenge. Reflecting on it as an ethnographic researcher, my curiosity was piqued. Researchers analyzing these shared photos can gain valuable insights into visitor behavior and engagement. They might observe which spots and angles are most popular, revealing the most appealing parts of Stonehenge and its surroundings. The timing and frequency of posts can indicate peak visitation times and seasonal patterns. Analyzing the photos’ content, such as group sizes, demographics, and activities, can provide demographic insights and show how different groups interact with the site. Captions and hashtags can offer qualitative data on visitors’ emotions, perceptions, and the cultural significance they attribute to Stonehenge. Additionally, geographic location tags can help map where visitors come from, offering insights into the site’s global appeal.
In conclusion, my visit to Stonehenge underscored that Nigeria, too, has historical figures, monuments, and sites worth showcasing. However, our priorities are not yet aligned with effectively promoting our heritage. The good news is that it is not too late to start rethinking our approaches. We can draw inspiration from the English Heritage Trust. Through their strategic approach to promoting their monuments, buildings, and sites, they attract over 10 million visitors each year. Additionally, it’s worth noting that the UK tourism industry, ranked the sixth largest in the world, generated approximately £155.4 billion in 2022. By learning from their approach, we can better preserve and promote our own heritage.
For those curious about its visual past, I’ve compiled an album featuring neolithic huts, simulation stones, a shop, exhibition museum, and my own experiences. You can view it through https://photos.app.goo.gl/wyicvsFseyQ7Mx7x7
