LONDON (AP) - As the sun rose on the longest day of the year, a vibrant crowd erupted in cheers at Stonehenge, marking the ancient monument’s celebration of the summer solstice—an event that has taken place for thousands of years. This time-honored tradition allowed thousands to witness the striking moment when the sun appeared over the northeast horizon, illuminating the iconic prehistoric structure located in southern England.
At dawn, the vibrant orange sun crested behind the Heel Stone, the entrance to the stone circle, bathing the monument in luminous light and drawing visitors to its center. The summer solstice stands as one of the rare occasions throughout the year wherein attendees are permitted to walk among the stones, as they are typically enclosed by a fence.
On this particular solstice, crowds gathered at the World Heritage Site in anticipation of summer's arrival in the Northern Hemisphere. The celebrations coincided with the U.K. receiving its first amber heat-health alert since September 2023, signaling high temperatures across the region. In Surrey, approximately 80 miles (128 kilometers) east of Stonehenge, temperatures soared above 33 degrees Celsius (91.4 degrees Fahrenheit), marking this as the hottest temperature recorded in the U.K. in 2023.
According to English Heritage, the organization managing the site, around 25,000 individuals, including druids, pagans, hippies, locals, and tourists, congregated to celebrate the solstice. This gathering was complemented by a virtual audience, with more than 400,000 viewers tuning in globally via a livestream.
Richard Dewdney, head of operations at Stonehenge, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, noting, “This morning was a joyous and peaceful occasion with the most beautiful sunrise. It is fantastic to see Stonehenge continuing to enchant and connect people.”
Stonehenge itself is a remarkable ancient construction that began taking shape approximately 5,000 years ago on Salisbury Plain, located 75 miles (120 kilometers) southwest of London. This unique stone circle, erected during the late Neolithic period around 2,500 B.C., has been the subject of fascination and inquiry for generations.
The origins of some of the stones, known as bluestones, can be traced back to the Preseli Hills in southwest Wales, nearly 150 miles (240 kilometers) away. Furthermore, the recently discovered altar stone has been determined to originate from northern Scotland, situated about 460 miles (740 kilometers) from Stonehenge.
The exact purpose and significance of Stonehenge have been centers of rigorous debate over the years. Numerous theories have emerged, suggesting that it served various roles, ranging from being a coronation site for Danish kings to functioning as a druid temple, a cult center for healing, or even an astronomical device for predicting eclipses and solar events. Among these interpretations, the prevailing belief is that Stonehenge served as a temple aligned with solar movements, precisely coordinating with the summer and winter solstices.
The summer solstice at Stonehenge continues to draw mass attendance, reflecting the enduring allure and mystery surrounding one of the world's most extraordinary prehistoric monuments.
