World-Leading Archaeoastronomer Visits Leicester High School for Girls
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Leicester High School for Girls was honoured to welcome eminent Archaeoastronomer Professor Clive Ruggles of the University of Leicester for a talk hosted by the School’s Curie Academic Society.
Addressing an audience of students, staff and parents, Professor Ruggles shared insights from his research on the astronomical significance of Stonehenge. Challenging common myths, he presented compelling evidence that the ancient monument was not primarily aligned to the summer solstice, as popularly believed, but rather served to mark the winter solstice through lunar observations.
His talk shed new light on the site’s construction and purpose, offering a deeper understanding of how people may have used Stonehenge some 5,000 years ago. The session prompted a flurry of questions from the audience, with discussion continuing beyond the scheduled time—proof of the thought-provoking nature of his research.
Mr Andrew McMurray, Head of Science, said:
"We are incredibly grateful to Professor Ruggles for sharing his world-class expertise with our school community. His visit was not only informative but inspirational, sparking curiosity and critical thinking among our students."
The event is part of the School’s ongoing commitment to academic enrichment, bringing experts from a range of disciplines to share their knowledge and passion with students.