What people have thought about Stonehenge over the centuries has changed a great deal. With the start of antiquarian investigations and then modern excavation and analysis, these theories have gained more evidence to work on. Even so, archaeologists still do not agree on a final interpretation.
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- Called a henge by Saxons because it looked like their hanging places. The Hanged Man, 15th century. By Anonymous (Visconti-Sforza tarot deck) [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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- In the 12th century Geoffrey of Monmouth thought giants had built Stonehenge. From Egerton 3028 Folio 30, British Library. This is a faithful photographic reproduction of a two dimensional, public domain work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain.
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- In the 18th century William Stukeley thought it had been built by druids. William Stukeley, 1740. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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- In the 1960s Gerald Hawkins thought it was a solar and lunar calendar. Stonehenge on midsummer, 1700 BC. Nordisk familjebok (1918), vol.27, p.115 [1]. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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- Painting by John Constable. Mike Parker Pearson believes it was built as a cemetery. This work is in the public domain in the United States, and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years or less.