Stonehenge and Avebury: Megalithic shadow casting at the solstices at sunrise

At Stonehenge and Avebury, megaliths were deliberately positioned to create shadow-casting effects during solstice sunrises. The Heel Stone's offset from the monument’s axis casts a shadow that reaches the Altar Stone at summer solstice sunrise, a phenomenon observable today. Similarly, Stone 11’s irregular placement disrupts the sarsen circle’s symmetry while its shadow aligns with damaged Bluestones 40 and 38 during winter solstice sunrises, suggesting an older midwinter alignment. At Avebury, stones in the Cove and Stone F harmonize at summer solstice sunrise, mirroring patterns seen at Drombeg Stone Circle. These findings, derived from over 120 research expeditions since 1981, combine compass analysis, photography, and historical plans to resolve previously unexplained stone positioning anomalies.

Meaden, G. T. (2017). Stonehenge and Avebury: Megalithic shadow casting at the solstices at sunrise. Journal of Lithic Studies, 4(4), 39–66. https://doi.org/10.2218/jls.v4i4.1920