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The historical ritual which means of Stonehenge continues to be a thriller, however researchers are one step nearer to understanding how the well-known stone circle was created.
The distinctive stone mendacity flat on the heart of the monument was delivered to the location in southern England from close to the tip of northeast Scotland, researchers reported Wednesday within the journal Nature. It’s not clear whether or not the 16-foot (5-meter) stone was carried by boat or by land — a journey of greater than 460 miles (740 kilometers).
“It’s a surprise that it’s come from so far away,” mentioned University of Exeter archaeologist Susan Greaney, who was not concerned within the examine.
‘COLOSSAL’ THEORY ON STONEHENGE ORIGIN EXPLORED IN NEW FRESH NATION SPECIAL
For greater than 100 years, scientists believed that Stonehenge’s central sandstone slab — lengthy referred to as the “altar stone” — got here from a lot nearer to Wales. But a examine final yr by a number of the identical researchers confirmed that the stone didn’t match the geology of Wales’ sandstone formations. The precise supply of the stone remained unknown till now.
For the examine, the crew was not permitted to chip away rocks on the web site, however as an alternative analyzed minerals in bits of rock that had been collected in earlier digs, some relationship again to the 1840s. They discovered a match within the sandstone formations of Orcadian Basin in northeast Scotland, a area that features components of the tip of the Scottish peninsula in addition to the Orkney Islands.
“That geological ‘fingerprint’ isn’t repeated in any other area of sediment in the U.K.,” mentioned Aberystwyth University geologist Nick Pearce, a examine co-author.
The world heritage web site of Stonehenge is seen in Wiltshire, England on Dec. 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Greaney mentioned the tough logistics of shifting the stone such an extended distance present a excessive stage of coordination and cultural connection between these two areas of historical Britain.
Stonehenge was constructed round 5,000 years in the past, with stones forming completely different circles delivered to the location at completely different instances. The placement of stones permits for the solar to rise by a stone “window” throughout summer season solstice. The historical objective of the altar stone — which lies flat on the coronary heart of Stonehenge, now beneath different rocks — stays a thriller.
“Stonehenge isn’t a settlement site, but a place of ceremony or ritual,” mentioned Heather Sebire, senior curator at English Heritage, who was not concerned within the examine. She mentioned that previous archaeological excavations had not uncovered proof of feasting or day by day residing on the web site.
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Previous analysis has proven cultural connections — reminiscent of similarities in pottery types — between the world round Stonehenge and Scotland’s Orkney Islands. Other stones at Stonehenge got here from western Wales.
While Britain is dotted with different Neolithic stone circles, “the thing that’s unique about Stonehenge is the distance from which the stones have been sourced,” mentioned Aberystwyth University’s Richard Bevins, a examine co-author.
