Ep 1. Stonehenge Decoded

Stonehenge Decoded is the first episode of the National Geographic Documentaries season 2008. The episode focuses on the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge, which has been an object of fascination for centuries.

The episode begins with an introduction to the monument and its history. The ancient stone structure in Wiltshire, England is estimated to be over 5,000 years old. It stands tall like a sentinel, a place where people gathered and performed rituals for some unknown purpose. However, several theories and myths have surrounded the enigma of Stonehenge over the years, such as that it was an astronomical tool, a healing center, or a burial site for high-ranking officials.

To uncover the real mystery behind this monument, the documentary enlists the help of three experts, Gerry Glaholt, Julian Richards, and Mike Parker Pearson, who share their thoughts and theories on what the purpose of Stonehenge might have been.

Through detailed research and carefully conducted experiments, the team shares their findings on how the builders of Stonehenge might have transported the giant stones, which can weigh up to 50 tons, from miles away.

They also reveal their discovery of a new site, just two miles from Stonehenge, which they call "Superhenge." The site is a similar prehistoric stone monument but wider and has a different layout than Stonehenge. The researchers are baffled by Superhenge and the purpose it served.

The team also introduces the viewers to a man named "Simply Mick," who has been studying the patterns of sunlight and shadows at Stonehenge for over twenty years. His research gave rise to a theory that the monument was a solar observatory and a calendar, which could predict eclipses and solstices.

The documentary then takes the viewer on a tour of the surrounding landscape and unearths evidence of a community present during the time Stonehenge was being built. The team discovers burials and artifacts that prove the existence of a civilization. This raises their theory that Stonehenge was built as a gateway to the afterlife and that the burial tombs were to guide the dead to the other world.

Finally, the team concludes by unveiling their theory that Stonehenge was an important religious and cultural center, where people from all around the country and even from abroad gathered on special occasions, such as equinoxes, solstices, and lunar eclipses, to celebrate and perform sacred rituals.

The episode concludes with no conclusive answer to the true purpose of Stonehenge. Nonetheless, the research conducted by the experts has brought clarity and shed light on the monument's history and significance. The episode is informative, engaging, and a must-watch for anyone who is interested in ancient history and who wants to know more about the secrets and mystery of Stonehenge.