Henge

Henges are super old, round earth mounds with a ditch dug inside them. Think of a giant donut made of dirt! The middle part was left flat and open.

Sometimes, these amazing circles had big stones or wooden posts standing in the middle, like giant sculptures. They weren't built for fighting battles because the ditch was on the inside, making them tricky to defend. Instead, people think they were special places for gatherings or ceremonies.

Henges were built by people in a time called the Neolithic period, which means 'New Stone Age'. This was thousands and thousands of years ago, way before castles or even written stories! We don't know exactly who built them or why, but they were important enough to spend a lot of time and effort creating.

They are found mostly in places like Britain. It's like finding a giant, ancient playground that people used for special events.

Henges are fascinating because they show us how clever and organized people were a very long time ago. Building these huge earthworks without modern tools is amazing! Some henges are so big that the flat middle part is wider than a school bus.

They might have been used for celebrations, watching the stars, or important meetings. They are like giant puzzles from the past that historians are still trying to solve!

Not all henges are the same size! Some are called 'hengiform monuments' and are smaller, with a middle space about the size of a classroom. Then there are 'henge enclosures', which are HUGE, sometimes bigger than a whole town!

The most famous one, Stonehenge, is a bit different because its ditch is on the outside. But the main idea is always a big circle of earth with a ditch and a flat space inside.