A remarkable discovery has completely rewritten our understanding of Stonehenge and the Neolithic people who built it. Researchers have found that the six-tonne Altar Stone, the central feature of the iconic monument, traveled an astonishing 450 miles from its origin in the far north of Scotland. This revelation shatters previous theories that the stone came from southwestern Wales.
Led by Welsh PhD student Anthony Clarke, the study analyzed mineral crystals within the sandstone of the Altar Stone. The unique signature of these crystals matched with 95% certainty to rock formations in northeastern Scotland, possibly even reaching as far north as the Orkney Islands. The findings, published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature, have sent shockwaves through the archaeological community.
“I don’t think I’ll be forgiven by people back home,” Clarke joked to BBC News. “It will be a great loss for Wales!” However, the discovery holds profound implications for our understanding of Neolithic Britain. It demonstrates that Stonehenge was a truly collaborative project, with stones sourced from all corners of Great Britain, including Wales and England.
This collaborative effort suggests a much more interconnected and advanced society than previously imagined. “It completely rewrites the relationships between the Neolithic populations of the whole of the British Isles,” said Rob Ixer, an honorary senior research fellow at University College London and a participant in the study. “The science is beautiful and it’s remarkable, and it’s going to be discussed for decades to come … It is jaw-dropping.”
The discovery of the Altar Stone’s journey from the far north of Scotland represents a significant turning point in our understanding of Stonehenge and the Neolithic period. It highlights the ingenuity and interconnectedness of prehistoric communities, prompting us to reexamine our understanding of this ancient civilization and its remarkable achievements.
