5/31 Stonehenge and Salisbury

Today we, along with the Business & Economics May Sem, spent the morning and early afternoon visiting Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral. Both of these sites are located near London so after an early departure from our hotel, we arrived at Stonehenge fairly early to beat the large rush of people. While the exact purpose of Stonehenge is unknown, it is most widely believed that it was used as a sort of ancient calendar for keeping track of astrological events such as the phases of the moon and eclipses. After spending some time at Stonehenge, we got back on the bus and headed for Salisbury Cathedral. Salisbury Cathedral is a Gothic style cathedral with a spire of just over 400 feet, the tallest medieval structure in the world. Salisbury Cathedral is also home to one of the 4 original copies of the Magna Carta. After having lunch in the town of Salisbury, we headed back to London and had the rest of the day free to visit more of the sites there.


A view of Stonehenge.


Students from Math and Business/Economics listen to the headsets explain how we don't really know much about Stonehenge or its builders.


Stonehenge from information marker #4.


The mathletes gathered together, while Jason wonders why no one is answering on the other end...


This is a good view of the remaining post and lintel style stone structures.


Mathhenge.


Salisbury Cathedral and its towering spire.



Inside the cathedral, with the chairs set for Sunday worship, and the illustrious locals buried there.



A good view of the interior of the cathedral, along the nave to the stained-glass windows above the chancel.




Kristen, Carolynn, Lindsey, and Melanie mill around inside the cathedral, while Doug in the background heads for the Magna Carta.


A model of the construction of the cathedral.


On the street in Salisbury.


Kristen and Melanie at Leicester Square tube stop.

Math May Seminar, Pictures 2003