Stonehenge The Truth Behind the Stones - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1135 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2019/04/01 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Truth Essay Did you like this example? There are many theories about a mysterious rock formation in the U.K. called Stonehenge. This formation is made up of two circular shapes with two horseshoe-like shapes in the center. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Stonehenge: The Truth Behind the Stones" essay for you Create order Many archeologists have attempted to excavate the site, as well as go there to learn more about the structure and why the ancient people built it. They have all come up with different things. From theories of it being a ritual site, a place of healing, a type of sun dial that measured the summer solstice, and it being the last stop on a long journey of a burial ritual, Stonehenge no doubt had a ritualistic history; however, this paper will focus on it being a place of healing. In 2010, Vince Gaffney, a professor of landscape archeology, set out on a three-year project in order to find out more about Stonehenge (Underhill 50). Gaffney worked on virtual excavations in the past and did the same thing with Stonehenge. He looked into all the past research, as well as did his own through virtual models and images. One thing that peaked his interest was a wooden structure about 1,000 yards away from Stonehenge, very similar in shape and size. He also noticed that Stonehenge may have had a wooden ring around the outside of the stones in the past. So, Gaffney decided to go on a three-year journey into discovering more about Stonehenge and the architectural structures around it. Using the latest technology at the time, Gaffney made his first discovery in just two weeks. According to William Underhill in his work Scientific America Vol. 304, Within just two weeks the team, armed with high-powered magnetometers and ground-penetrating radar, discovered traces of that putative timber ring (Underhill 50). This was exactly what he was hoping for because he knew that there was more to come based on his calculations from h is virtual research. Through more of his discoveries, there is now more information about what Stonehenge may have looked like in the beginning and after building was completed. Stonehenge has been defined as many different things by archeologists. Writer for Science News, Bruce Bower defined Stonehenge in a 2007 volume of the magazine as a legendary set of massive stones that people positioned on Salisbury Plain around [4,600 years ago] (Bower Vol. 171 67). He later stated in June of 2008, that it was a set of earth, timber and stone structures perched provocatively on Englands Salisbury Plain (Bower Vol. 173 13). These definitions are interesting because they changed a lot in only a one-year time period. This is because of all the new developments in technology, as well as more archeologists being interested in learning more about Stonehenge. Through a lot of Gaffneys research, as well as others, we now know what Stonehenge most likely looked like when it was first created c.a. 1600 B.C. Underhill stated that Stonehenge started off as a circular ditch and bank ¦possibly surrounding a ring of timber posts (Underhill 51). Later discoveries then helped to d evelop the idea that over the following 1,000 years, people brought in the giant blue stones and arranged them in a pattern to measure the summer solstice sun. These bluestones were important because they were said to have brought a healing property into the structure. After realizing what Stonehenge looked like, archeologists began digging into what Stonehenge was actually used for in 1600 B.C. Mike Parker Pearson, an archeologist at the University of Sheffield, announced a discovery made in 2007 of remains that were described to be part of a vast prehistoric settlement (Underhill 52). These remains were found about two miles away from Stonehenge itself. Pearson believed that the remains of the village-like structures where the builders of Stonehenge lived during the time they were building the monument. Through this discovery, he started considering that there might be other monuments linked to Stonehenge, so he started looking. He ended up excavating what is now known as the Southern Circle, a concentric ring of timber posts and said that it was the mirror image of the arrangement at Stonehenge (Underhill 52). This discovery lead to other archeological excavations and findings, showing that Stonehenge was only part of a larger landscape and ritual ground. Archeologists began to suspect that there might have been another reason for Stonehenge, however, when they discovered some human remains near Stonehenge that were not native to the area. In 2002, archeologists were continuing to excavate areas around Stonehenge. They came across some human remains three miles from the monument in a place called Amesbury. They belonged to a man that was from the Bronze Age, and he was buried with an assortment of different treasures and archery gear. He was named the Amesbury Archer because of these factors. He is believed to have been an important figure to the native people at the time. This was most likely because of his knowledge of metal working and the other advanced inventions he carried with him. When looking into the remains, archeologists found that he had lost a knee and had an infection that was causing his bones to deteriorate. Among further analysis of his teeth, Underhill writes that they suggested his original home was far away in the Alps (Underhill 53). This suggests that he came to Stonehenge because he wanted to be healed, or at least have some pain taken away because he had heard stories about the bluestones that Stonehenge was made up of. Other remains were found later on that were said to be a teenager from the Mediterranean and about seven sets of human remains were from Wales. Further theories about the healing properties have been found based on the stones in the structure itself. Many of the Stones in Stonehenge have vanished from the site and most of the stones that remain have chips carved out of them. Underhill writes that Darvill found plenty of tiny flakes apparently deliberately chipped off the larger blocks, perhaps for use as talismans (Underhill 53). Researchers today even believe that some of the original stones that are missing were shipped off to other places because some people could not go to Stonehenge themselves but needed the healing properties from the stones. Stonehenge has been said to have been a place of ritualistic burial, astronomical observations, as well as just a normal burial ground. When looking deeper into its core, however, one can see that it was also considered to be a place of healing and hope for people who were ill c.a. 1600 B.C. onward. Along with the other theories, this one has a great story behind it and some very interesting evidence to go along with it. Historians may never uncover exactly what Stonehenge was built for in the beginning, but they at least have good evidence and a strong story to give the public a good understanding of what it may have been for.

Essay on The Effect of Stress on Cardiovascular Disorders

The Effect of Stress on Cardiovascular Disorders A cardiovascular disorder is any disorder effecting the heart and circulatory system. There is evidence that links stress plays a role in the development of two types of cardiovascular disorders, hypertension (high blood pressure) and coronary heart disease (CHD), which reduces the flow of blood to the heart. Stress may directly cause cardiovascular problems by; rising heart rate which wears the lining of the blood vessels, increasing blood pressure which causes too much pressure on the blood vessels resulting in damage, also mounting glucose levels leading to blocked blood vessels. Stress can also have an effect on our lifestyle, we may find†¦show more content†¦In their support, Krantz et al did acquire informed approval from the patients. Williams et al (2000) also researched the consequence of stress on the cardiovascular system. They used 13,000 participants who were given a 10-qustion anger scale on their temper. At the time not any of the participants suffered from heart problems. Those who had the uppermost score on the anger scale were 2.7 times more likely to have suffered a heart attack than those who had scored least. Six years later the health of the participants were checked and 256 had suffered a heart attack. Russek and Zohma (1958) compiled a meta-analysis to study the effect on the cardiovascular system from stress. Participants were medical professionals; one group was selected as high stress (GPs and anaesthetists) and low stress (pathologists and dermatologists). Heart disease was most among GPs (12%) and least in dermatologists (3%). This demonstrates that peoples occupations present sources of stress that can have an impact on their health. This evidence supports the view that stress is related to heart disease but does not specify whether the link is direct or indirect. 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The debate between essentialism and social construction Free Essays

The debate between essentialism and social construction is a very complicated one. Since both essentialists and social constructionists have different perspectives on matters, in order to be able to decide whether or not there was a presence of homosexual persons over time and place certain aspects have to be taken into consideration. Such as, was it biologically inherited, was it brought about with a preference on acts and desires or overtime influenced by religion, culture, beliefs, social norms, and acceptance has a define answer is a tough decision to make. We will write a custom essay sample on The debate between essentialism and social construction or any similar topic only for you Order Now Essentialists are stereotypical; they choose to have a set definition of a homosexual, whereas a social constructionist would have variations in their idea of what makes a homosexual. A social constructionist would disagree with whether the presence of homosexual persons over time and place have a set thought as to homosexuality was biologically inherited because they would feel that, that would be limiting the thought of other aspects influencing homosexuality. Social constructionists would feel that there is not just one set category or definition that makes you a homosexual. For example, an essentialist would say that a homosexual is someone who has black hair; therefore everyone who has black hair to an essentialist would be a homosexual. Whereas, a social constructionist would say black hair, brown, yellow, purple it doesn’t matter it is in fact what that person felt that made him a homosexual. So taking an essentialist point of view stating that there was homosexual persons throughout time and place would discriminate other homosexuals who had different sexual desires, preferences, and acts that transcended through time due to other influencing matters. Matters such as culture, social norms and acceptance, beliefs, and backgrounds are good examples. Whereas Gordon and Abott state, â€Å"Social Constructionism usually has to do with categorizing. † This statement could be viewed as someone stating that religion is a deciding factor to whether someone is homosexual and someone else saying that background is a deciding factor to deciding homosexuality. There are two ideas or theory’s stated here that both do influence homosexually. A social constructionist would be able to figure out what is means to be influenced by religion and what is meant to be influenced by background, and be versatile between the two the groups allowing homosexual individuals themselves to decide which factor influenced them even if it was both religion and background.. While an essentialist would simply state those definitions and state which category he/she would fall into there would be not switching into groups. (Gordon and Abott). In the article the Hijras of India by Serena Nanda, the Hijras of India are viewed as a separate group just like gay, lesbian and bisexual people in any other cultures, countries, religions, etc, just because their differences are not viewed as a social norm. They are also treated differently in every aspect because of different influences such as births and weddings. Hijras are a religious group of men who dress and act like women either because they are men who are bisexual and gay, or because when they were young boys they were castrated because of religious beliefs. The Hijras that were castrated when the where young boys are neither men nor women and cannot reproduce so they are viewed as powerful, able to curse those who disrespect them, yet outsiders in their contribution to this India society. Considering gay, lesbian and bisexual lives are not accepted in this culture, would it be reasonable to say that these men who started this religious belief where gay or bisexual men are looking for a way to express there emotions in this non accepting society? This would be a social constructionist view because over time actions and desires have changed in this society because acceptance, beliefs, culture, etc have become more accepting and understanding of the true meaning behind this religious belief. Some other things that came up were are these acts still being performed to younger boys and is this against their religion to deny a human being the right to be male and reproduce (source: Nanda)? In Class on Tuesday September 23, 2003 we had a class discussion on biological differences or mishaps that happen to babies that make it confusing to decide what sex that baby really is. In this class discussion we looked at different examples of baby girls who had their chromosomes in tact but their ovaries were inside of them and had larger clitorises. Should they have been men? We also looked at many other different situations pertaining to that subject. This could also relate back to the Hijras because they could not help what was done to them and this was only done because of social norms and social acceptance. This being an essentialist point of view there was a need for order and meaning. A social constructionist would just simply say that they could fall into many categories and find out what it means to be an XYYY baby or an XX baby with no vagina hole. â€Å"Thus, social constructionists spend much time â€Å"deconstructing† things: demonstrating that a group of categories have no truth and showing how they are socially accomplished (Gordon and Abbott)† Instead of the doctors, parents or the Hijra men who decided what sex a child should be a social constructionist would not follow the social norm in a need to have order and find an answer they would except the difference and make it a category with meaning. Ancient Greece provides another example of how there has always been a presence of homosexuality with an influence from culture. There was presence of homosexuality then and still is today but it has been influenced throughout time by culture, acceptance, social norms etc†¦ , because over time religion, cultures, etc have become more important and more needed for order to place people by the essentialists (Vance). Social constructionist views are more acceptable to differences and variations form the social norms of order and judging. They have shown that there has been a presence of a homosexual person over time and place but not just one type of homosexual person variations of unique homosexual persons. Social constructionism proves that there is not just one way to be but many ways and many categories we can all fit in not judging upon sexual orientation. How to cite The debate between essentialism and social construction, Papers