BACK INTO ITS ORIGINAL PLACE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WENT ONE OF THE GREAT STONE MEGALITHS OF STONEHENGE, ONE OF ENGLAND'S MOST POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. THE 25-TON STONE, WHICH FORMS PART OF THE FAMOUS OUTER CIRCLE AT THE ANCIENT MONUMENT, TOPPLED OVER DURING BITING FROSTS AND HIGH WINDS LAST WINTER.

THIS TIME, EXPERTS HAVE MADE SURE THAT THE STONE WON'T MEET A SIMILAR FATE AGAIN. THEY'VE STRENGTHENED IT WITH A STEEL AND WOODEN CORSET, AND REINFORCED ITS RESTING HOLE WITH CONCRETE.

TODAY'S OPERATION WAS SUPERVISED BY TWO PROFESSORS OR ARCHAEOLOGY. THEY TOOK CAREFUL PRECAUTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE CRANE LOWERED THE TONE INTO THE EXACT POSITION IT OCCUPIED WHEN PLACED THREE NEARLY 4,000 YEARS AGO.

SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THE STONES WERE ORIGINALLY PLACED THERE (ON SALISBURY PLAIN IN THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND) BY ANCIENT DRUIDS, ALTHOUGH ANOTHER SCHOOL OF THOUGHT CONTENDS THAT PREHISTORIC BRITONS WERE RESPONSIBLE.