The startling 1960s theory that Stonehenge was a prehistoric computer
This article revisits a 1966 theory by astronomer Gerald Hawkins, who used early computing to suggest that Stonehenge was a prehistoric device for predicting eclipses. The theory posits that the site's layout served as a sophisticated astronomical calendar.
Why it matters
It highlights the intersection of archaeology and early computing, demonstrating how modern technology can provide new perspectives on ancient history.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Fiona Macdonald Getty Images In August 1966, a US astronomy professor shared his astonishing findings with the BBC. He believed that the Neolithic stone circle was built to predict eclipses.
Experts have long debated the meaning of Stonehenge, the prehistoric stone circle in the south-west of England. They have speculated that the mysterious monument might have been a place to commemorate the dead, a sacrificial altar, or a site of other religious ceremonies. But in August 1966, a Boston astronomy professor, Gerald Hawkins, told the BBC's Chronicle programme that he'd solved the puzzle thanks to a peculiar configuration of numbers – and an early IBM computer.
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