Heritage is GREAT - Part 2

Canterbury and Exeter cathedrals also boast magnificent architecture and attract visitors from around the world.

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Some historic treasures date back even further.

Stonehenge… This giant circle of stones stands out as one of Britain’s most famous and visited historical sites. Dating back thousands of years, its origins still remain a mystery and that's why it’s still so popular.

Susan Greaney is a historian.

Richard: Susan, what is Stonehenge?

Susan: Stonehenge is a prehistoric stone monument built about four and a half thousand years ago in what we call the Neolithic period. We think it was probably used as some kind of temple.

Richard: So why is it so important?

Susan: Well, Stonehenge is unique in the world. It's an incredibly complex monument and it's amazing that it's survived from so long ago.

Richard: Now you also do research here, so what have you discovered about the site?

Susan: Stonehenge has got lots and lots of secrets and archaeology is trying to reveal them the whole time. One of the most recent things we've been doing is a laser survey of the standing stones and that's telling us lots of new detail about how the stones were carved, and how they were set up, and the kinds of carvings and graffiti that are on the stones.

Richard: Tell me one of the famous myths around the circle.

Susan: Well, there's a really interesting myth about the fact that the stones were brought here from Ireland by the wizard Merlin and that was a myth that was popular in the medieval period. Actually, we know that some of the smaller blue stones here do come from the west, from Wales, so there's an element of truth underneath the myth.

So there you go. What a great heritage Britain has, as seen here at Stonehenge. I'm off to explore some more.