Recent research is shaking up our understanding of Stonehenge’s Altar Stone. For years, experts believed it came from Wales. However, a new study shows it actually hails from the Orcadian Basin in Scotland, about 466 miles away. This finding challenges old theories and opens new questions about how ancient people moved such heavy stones.
Researchers at Curtin University used chemical analysis to create a “fingerprint” of the Altar Stone. They discovered mineral grains in the stone that match those found in Scotland, not Wales. “Our analysis indicated that the stone is made up of minerals ranging from 1,000 to 2 billion years old,” said Anthony Clarke, lead author of the study. This means the journey to Stonehenge involved more than just a few locals moving stones around.
The Altar Stone is large, weighing in at six tons. Previous studies had identified its source as the Brecon Beacons in Wales, but this new research, published in the journal Nature, points to Scotland as its true home. Richard Bevins, a co-author and professor at Aberystwyth University, stated that this discovery sparks a new search for the stone’s exact origin in Scotland.
This research also raises fascinating questions about transportation methods during the Neolithic period around 2,600 BC. Moving such a hefty stone over land would have been challenging. Researchers suggest that a marine shipping route along the coast might have been used, indicating a surprising level of societal organization and trade networks in prehistoric Britain.
Chris Kirkland, another co-author and professor at Curtin University, emphasized that transporting the stone speaks volumes about the coordination and capabilities of societies in that era. “This indicates a structured community that was far more advanced than we generally recognize,” he said.
For those interested in ancient history, this discovery helps paint a vivid picture of how connected and organized Neolithic societies were. It suggests that they had the means to transport massive stones over long distances, shedding light on the complexities of their culture.
In a time when long-distance trade and advanced transportation methods seemed unimaginable, this finding reminds us that history can be full of surprises. Understanding where the Altar Stone truly came from not only enriches our knowledge of Stonehenge but also invites us to rethink the capabilities of our ancestors.
For more on the Stonehenge findings, check out [English Heritage](https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/things-to-do/stone-circle/stones-of-stonehenge/).
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Stonehenge, chemical fingerprint, Altar Stone, Curtin University, Anthony Clarke, southern England, Scotland, trade networks
