College

How many stone posts are there in the mass structure with a circle diameter of 97 feet and trilithons measuring 24 feet in height?

a) 56
b) 97
c) 24
d) None of the above

Answer :

Final answer:

The correct answer is: a) 56. Based on the information about Stonehenge, there are ten upright stones and five lintel stones forming the trilithons, and a total of 30 large sarsen stones set in a ring. If considering all the individual stones (uprights and lintels) as 'posts', the answer is 'None of the above' since there is no option for 45 or 10, the numbers that represent the uprights.

Explanation:

The correct answer is: a) 56. The question seems to speak of Stonehenge, a historical monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. This ancient structure is known for its circle 97 feet in diameter and for having trilithons measuring 24 feet in height. The entire Stonehenge site underwent various phases of construction and development over approximately 1,500 years (circa 3000-1600 BCE).

Among the notable features of the monument are the sarsen trilithons composed of pairs of large upright stones supporting a third lintel stone. According to archaeological studies, Stonehenge consists of a ring of standing stones weighing an average of 25 tons and enclosing five sarsen trilithons. These trilithons include ten upright stones and five lintel stones, with the uprights being around 13 feet high and seven feet wide.

Therefore, considering the information provided, which indicates that Stonehenge's circle has a diameter of 97 feet and that there are trilithons within the structure. This is because the circle contains 30 large sarsen stones set in a ring and there are an additional 10 uprights and 5 lintels making up the trilithons, for a total of 30 + 10 + 5 = 45. If the question strictly refers to the number of singular stone posts, then the answer is 'None of the above' because the number of upright posts is 10, not including the lintels.