Stonehenge came from Scotland! Says a surprising study

In a groundbreaking discovery that has stunned archaeologists, a new study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday reveals that the largest “blue stone” at Stonehenge, known as the “altar stone,” It originates from the north-eastern corner of ScotlandAnd not Wales as previously thought.

This astonishing discovery suggests that the 6-ton, 5-meter-long sandstone block was transported an astonishing distance of at least 466 miles (about 750 kilometers) by prehistoric people.

“It is rewriting the relationships between Neolithic people in the entire British Isles.” said Rob Exer, honorary senior research fellow at University College London (UCL) and one of the experts behind the study. “Science is beautiful and fascinating, and will be discussed for decades to come…it’s amazing.”

The study conducted by experts from Curtin University in Perth, Australia; University of Adelaide. Aberystwyth University; and UCL, examined the chemical composition of the altar stone and the age of the minerals within it to determine its origins.

The results were a “The Dead Bell of the Orcadian Basin in North-East Scotland” According to Nick Pearce, professor of geography and earth sciences at Aberystwyth University and co-author of the report.

The potential source area has been narrowed to Orkney. A triangle of land around present-day John O’Groats in Caithness; and a narrow coastal strip extending south to the Moray Firth around Inverness and east to present-day Elgin.

“The odds of a stone arriving from somewhere else are fractions of a percent.” Pierce said.

However, a separate academic study was excluded Orkney as the specific source of the altar stonedespite the islands’ rich Neolithic culture and monument-building tradition.

The study, which examined the chemical and mineralogical composition of stones in two large stone circles in Orkney – the Staines Stones and Brodgar’s Ring – found that their key markings were strikingly different from those found in the altar stone.

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“Everyone and their dog were saying: ‘Let’s try Orkney first. It’ll be Orkney.’ said Dr. Rob Exer, co-author of both studies. “Life would be much simpler if they turned out to be similar to the Brodgar Stones. The more we learn [about Stonehenge]”The weirder it gets.”

The exact method of transporting the altar stone remains a mystery, with sea transportation being one possible option given the major land barriers on the way from north-eastern Scotland to Salisbury Plain.

However, archaeologist and writer Mike Bates believes that an overland journey, possibly taking many years, is more likely. “If you put a stone on a boat at sea, not only do you risk losing the stone, but no one will be able to see it.” he said, suggesting that the road trip would keep people busy on the way with the stone “It becomes increasingly precious…as it moves south.”

This pioneering discovery not only changes our understanding of Stonehenge, but also indicates that the site was known to people over a much wider area of ​​Britain during the Neolithic period.

As research continues to unravel the mysteries surrounding this iconic monument, one thing is certain: The story of Stonehenge is not over yet.

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