Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
The display comes after the heritage site was targeted by Just Stop Oil protesters earlier this week.
Wiltshire Police said a man in his 70s and a woman in her 20s had been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, damaging a monument and preventing a person from taking part in a lawful activity.
Many of those who attended the event expressed frustration and disapproval with the protest.
Sally Ann Spence, an archeology enthusiast dressed as a shaman excavated from the Mesolithic period before Stonehenge, said the solstice was “extremely important”.
“I understand their cause, I respect their cause. I wish they hadn’t done that on Stonehenge,” he said.
“I think putting anything on the stones is a bit misguided, there are very few lichens on the stones, it’s a world heritage site.”
READ MORE: Green light for ‘exciting’ redevelopment of Calanais visitor centre
He continued: “Being here for the solstice and representing a shaman – admittedly, from a different era – is a great experience.
“It’s exciting. It’s very busy at the moment and I love it because I use it as an opportunity to talk to people about real archaeology.”
Laura Debane, who was attending the Stonehenge solstice for the fifth time, said the spraying of the monument by Just Stop Oil was “terrible”.
“If you want to make a protest go somewhere it’s going to mean something, not in a historic place like this because there’s no oil here, it’s sacred ground.”
Ms Debane said she was glad that the protest had not ruined the event and that people were still able to come out and enjoy it.
READ MORE: Was Stonehenge an ancient calendar – or not? The mystery continues
Côr y Cewri is a monument built on the alignment of the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset.
On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Maen Heel – the ancient entrance to the Stone Circle – and the sun’s rays are channeled into the center of the monument.
It is believed that solstices have been celebrated at Stonehenge for thousands of years.
The summer solstice occurs as one of the Earth’s poles tilts highest towards the sun and the sun reaches its highest position in the sky, ensuring the longest period of daylight for the year.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24401838.summer-solstice-welcomed-thousands-stonehenge/?ref=rss
