Texas Survey July 2025 - Flipbook - Page 22
WEST TEXAS
The Vision
The idea was sparked by a group of local philanthropists and professors who envisioned a fullscale interpretation of Stonehenge that could serve as an educational and cultural landmark. The
goal was not to replicate the ruins stone-for-stone, but to create a layout that mirrored the
proportions and astronomical alignment of the original monument in Wiltshire, England — all while
using local limestone slabs sourced from a quarry near Garden City, Texas.
Surveying the Site
The first step was to evaluate the proposed site on the UTPB campus — a flat, open space just off
the main loop. I conducted a topographic and boundary survey of the area to determine optimal
placement, accounting for utilities, drainage, and future campus development. I established a tight
control network using GPS and total station equipment to ensure millimeter-level accuracy across
the roughly 100-foot diameter layout.
With the plane established, the next challenge was translating the original Stonehenge geometry —
specifically the concentric circles and horseshoe pattern — into the Texas site. I relied on
archaeological diagrams and research materials to derive the layout dimensions, azimuthal
orientations, and spacing of each monolith. Every point was calculated in CAD, then staked in the
field to mark the exact footprint of each stone’s base.
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