Just like any other construction the Neolithic architects and engineers who built Stonehenge knew exactly what they wanted long before the foundations were dug. The stones were positioned in respect of a vision of their vision - a superb premeditated geometric structure. It was also largely prefabricated, just look for example at the complex jointing in the lintels, they can only have been created off-site and must have been trial fitted on the ground (which also indicates just how much thought and planning went into the design). As for all the so called alignments, it has only one, an axis of symmetry; that of the midwinter sunset and midsummer sunrise. Now where does this leave Stonehenge studies? Well exactly where it belongs, as investigation into the mindset behind its construction, a mathematical and geometric problem as much as an archaeological or ‘astronomical’ one.
In a recent publication ‘Solving Stonehenge’ it is revealed how every stone conforms to a precise mirrored symmetrical plan, and that markers must have been placed in exact positions against which the centre inner faces of the uprights were set. We are talking of course about the iconic sandstone (sarsen) monument, but there is evidence that geometry played a role in every phase of construction from around 3000 BC to c. 1600 BC. Mathematicians should now become involved in exploring the potential significance of the geometric arrangement, especially that of the central ‘horseshoe array’ formed by the trilithons. The prehistoric surveyors used ropes and pegs, for which we can read ‘straightedge and compass. We start with a sight line, towards the midwinter sunset, then a circle, then a triacontagon (beginning with a hexagon) against the vertices of which the exact centre of the inner faces of the circle stones were positioned (and by default the joints of the lintels). From these same 30 vertices the locations of inner faces of the 10 Trilithon upright were established; all that is with the exception of the two uprights of the Great (midwinter) Trilithon; the better faces of which look outwards towards the winter solstice sunset. Come on guys what is the significance of how the Trilithons were arranged, and why certain vertices were chosen, is there a numeric sequence to be found?……
An image showing the method seemingly used by the prehistoric to set out the trilithons can be found here: http://www.solvingstonehenge.co.uk/trilithon_geom2.html from that you can work out the rest.