New research led by Curtin University has upended long-standing assumptions about the origins of Stonehenge’s monumental six-ton Altar Stone. Previously believed to have come from Wales, this central sandstone block, measuring five by one meters and located at the heart of Stonehenge’s iconic stone circle, has now been traced to Scotland. The study, published in the journal Nature, not only shifts our understanding of the stone’s provenance but also suggests that the societies responsible for constructing Stonehenge were more advanced in their transport methods and organization than previously recognized.
The research was conducted by a team from Curtin University’s Timescales of Mineral Systems Group within the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Led by Ph.D. student Anthony Clarke, the team analyzed the age and chemical composition of mineral grains within fragments of the Altar Stone. Their findings revealed a distinct chemical fingerprint that matched rocks from the Orcadian Basin in northeast Scotland, over 750 kilometers from Stonehenge. This discovery stands in stark contrast to the earlier belief that the Altar Stone originated from the Mynydd Preseli region in Wales, where other stones used in the monument are known to have been sourced.
Anthony Clarke emphasized the significance of these findings, noting that “specific mineral grains in the Altar Stone are mostly between 1,000 to 2,000 million years old, while other minerals are around 450 million years old. This provides a distinct chemical fingerprint suggesting the stone came from rocks in the Orcadian Basin, Scotland.” Clarke also highlighted the personal significance of the discovery, as he grew up near the Mynydd Preseli in Wales and had visited Stonehenge as a child. The research marks a significant full-circle moment for him, returning to the site as a scientist to unveil its secrets.
This revelation raises intriguing questions about how such a massive stone was transported across such a vast distance during the Neolithic period, around 2600 BC. The discovery also implies that the prehistoric societies of Britain had more complex and extensive trade networks than previously understood. Professor Chris Kirkland, a co-author of the study from Curtin University, pointed out that the transportation of the Altar Stone likely involved a marine route along the coast of Britain, reflecting a higher level of societal organization than commonly believed to have existed in Neolithic Britain.
The study was a collaborative effort involving researchers from Aberystwyth University, The University of Adelaide, and University College London. Professor Richard Bevins from Aberystwyth University remarked on the significance of the findings, which overturn a century of accepted knowledge about the origins of the Altar Stone. “We have succeeded in working out the age and chemical fingerprints of one of the most famous stones in the world-renowned ancient monument,” Bevins said. However, he acknowledged that the exact source of the stone in northeast Scotland remains to be identified.
Dr. Robert Ixer from the UCL Institute of Archaeology, another co-author of the study, described the findings as genuinely shocking. He emphasized that if the scientific analysis is correct, the Altar Stone’s Scottish origin is undeniable. Ixer also highlighted two key questions that the study raises: why and how was the Altar Stone transported over 700 kilometers from the far north of Scotland to Stonehenge?
The discovery of the Altar Stone’s Scottish origins significantly alters our understanding of Stonehenge and the societies that built it. Not only does this research redefine the geographical sources of the monument’s stones, but it also provides new insights into the capabilities and connections of Neolithic communities in Britain. As researchers continue to investigate the exact origins and transportation methods of the Altar Stone, this study underscores the complexities and mysteries that still surround one of the world’s most iconic prehistoric sites.
Source: Curtin University