WASHINGTON (AP) — The ancient ritual meaning of Stonehenge is still a mystery, but researchers are one step closer to understanding how the famous stone circle was created.
It’s not clear whether the 16-foot (5-meter) stone was carried by boat or across land — a journey of more than 460 miles (740 kilometers).
For more than a hundred years, scientists believed that Stonehenge’s central sandstone slab — long called the “altar stone” — came from much closer Wales.
But a study last year by some of the same researchers showed that the stone didn’t match the geology of Wales’ sandstone formations.
The ancient purpose of the altar stone — which lies flat at the heart of Stonehenge, now beneath other rocks — remains a mystery.
Washington (AP) — Although the ancient ritual significance of Stonehenge remains a mystery, scientists have made progress toward comprehending the construction of the well-known stone circle.
According to research published on Wednesday in the journal Nature, the distinctive stone that is flat in the middle of the monument was transported from the northeastern tip of Scotland to the location in southern England. It is uncertain if the five-meter (16-foot) stone was transported by boat or by land, covering a distance of over 460 miles (740 kilometers).
Susan Greaney, an archaeologist from the University of Exeter who was not involved in the study, said, “It’s surprising that it’s come from so far away.”.
For over a century, scientists thought that the central sandstone slab of Stonehenge, known for years as the “altar stone,” originated in Wales, which is much closer. However, a study conducted last year by a few of the same researchers revealed that the stone’s geology was inconsistent with that of the sandstone formations in Wales. Up until now, the stone’s true origin has been a mystery.
The team’s objective was to analyze minerals in rock fragments that were gathered from earlier excavations, some of which date back to the 1840s, rather than chipping away at the site’s rocks. A match was discovered in the sandstone formations of the Orcadian Basin, which is located in northeastern Scotland and encompasses the Orkney Islands and a portion of the Scottish peninsula.
None of the other sedimentary areas in the United States bears a similar geological “fingerprint.”. K. “Said Nick Pearce, a geologist at Aberystwyth University and coauthor of the study.
According to Greaney, the intricate logistics involved in transporting the stone over such a great distance demonstrate the high degree of cooperation and cultural ties that existed between these two areas of ancient Britain.
The stones that made up Stonehenge’s circles were brought to the location at various points in time, approximately 5,000 years ago. On the summer solstice, the sun can rise through a stone “window” thanks to the placement of the stones. The altar stone, which is flat in the center of Stonehenge and is currently hidden beneath other rocks, has an enigmatic historical past.
Heather Sebire, senior curator at English Heritage, who was not involved in the study, stated that Stonehenge is a place of ceremony or ritual rather than a settlement site. She stated that there had been no proof found in previous archaeological digs of daily life or feasting at the location.
Prior studies have demonstrated cultural affinities between the region surrounding Stonehenge and the Orkney Islands in Scotland, including resemblances in ceramic designs. Western Wales provided Stonehenge with additional stones.
Although there are numerous Neolithic stone circles throughout Britain, co-author of the study Richard Bevins of Aberystwyth University stated that “the thing that’s unique about Stonehenge is the distance from which the stones have been sourced.”
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