Nobody really knows why Stonehenge was built. But people have been gathering at the stone circle for thousands of years.

According to English Heritage, the stone circle has “no obvious practical purpose” – the site was not inhabited and could not be defended.

The stones are believed to have been erected around 2500 BC. were brought there.

The stones are deliberately placed to align with the movements of the sun during the two solstices, marking the change of seasons. Because of its association with the movement of the sun and because of the burials discovered at the site, it is believed to have played a spiritual role.

The change of seasons would have had great significance for the people who lived there at the time, determining what would grow and what general living conditions would prevail.

Based on Stonehenge’s design, English Heritage believes the winter solstice – rather than summer – may have been the main focus for the people who built the stone circle.

“We have little evidence of what they did here,” it says, adding that excavations show the area within the circle appears to have been kept clear of everyday debris.