Neolithic Humans, Not Glaciers, Likely Transported Stonehenge’s Altar Stone Over 400 Miles: study
Researchers say glaciers may have moved the six-ton stone partway, but prehistoric Britons still carried it hundreds of kilometers to Stonehenge.
- Researchers from Sheffield Hallam University and Curtin University reported that Stonehenge's Altar Stone likely travelled via glacier to Doggerland before prehistoric Britons transported the six-tonne monolith 700km to Salisbury Plain.
- Co-Lead author Dr. Anthony Clarke from Curtin explained that glaciers could not have reached southern England, meaning the monolith required "deliberately" and "carefully planned" human transport across a challenging landscape.
- Dr. Remy Veness said climate-induced migration likely drove the "audacious" decision to move the stone, as rising sea levels submerged Doggerland at the end of the last Ice Age.
- Using advanced mineral "fingerprinting" on more than 500 zircon crystals, researchers found no glacial evidence near Salisbury Plain, reinforcing that Neolithic communities organized the stone's multi-stage relocation.
- Future research will aim to pinpoint the stone's exact source in north-east Scotland, while Professor Chris Kirkland noted the study adds an important piece to understanding Stonehenge's original purpose.
77 Articles
77 Articles
Everyone knows the world's famous Stonehenge stones. But how did they get from the rough north of Scotland to the Salisbury plain in the south of the British island? Researchers come closer to the mystery.
Signs of the Times
Popular ArchaeologyStudy details epic transportation of Stonehenge stone across ancient Britain
New research by Curtin University has revealed how one of Stonehenge's most mysterious stones was likely transported hundreds of kilometres across Britain through challenging terrain, highlighting the remarkable capabilities of ancient communities. Stonehenge's central Altar Stone is a six-tonne sandstone megalith now believed to have originated in northeast Scotland, around 700km from Salisbury Plain, underscoring the extraordinary scale of its…
Stonehenge Mystery Deepens as Glaciers May Have Moved Six-Ton Altar Stone
Stonehenge Altar Stone. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain The massive Altar Stone at Stonehenge may have received some help from ancient glaciers on its long journey to southern England, but people still likely carried it much of the remaining distance, according to new research. The study, led by Anthony J. I. Clarke and published in the Journal of Quaternary Science, examined the possible origins and transport routes of the six-ton san…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 48% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
