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Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mirror
Stonehenge mystery could finally be solved after major science find
Scientists believe they may now have the answer to how boulders arrived at the iconic Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire more than 5,000 years ago after a new study A mystery surrounding how boulders arrived at Stonehenge more than 5,000 years ago may have finally been solved by scientists. The iconic stones on Salisbury Plain Wiltshire attract tourists from all over the world to wonder how they came to be where they are and plenty of suggestions have been put forward over the years. It is known that Stonehenge was built around 5,000 years ago and that the rocky slabs were moved from as far away as southwest Wales and northeast Scotland. A new study, led by Professor Richard Bevins of Aberystwyth University, has concluded that the smaller stones used in the monument, known as bluestones, were not transported by ancient glaciers, but by human hands, over 125 miles from Wales. The findings centre around the 'Newall boulder,' a stone roughly the size of a football, discovered during excavations at Stonehenge in the 1920s. Using advanced geochemical and microscopic analysis, researchers compared the boulder to samples taken from Craig Rhos-y-Felin, a rocky outcrop in north Pembrokeshire, Wales, long suspected to be the source of some of Stonehenge's stones. Their analysis revealed an exact geochemical match, with identical levels of thorium and zirconium, strongly indicating the boulder was intentionally quarried and transported by Neolithic communities around 3000 BCE. "This study closes the door on the glacial transport theory," the researchers wrote in the Journal of Archaeological Science. "There is no evidence of glacial deposits across Salisbury Plain, and no similar stone fragments have been found elsewhere in the region, only at Stonehenge." The glacial theory, proposed most notably by geologist Dr Brian John, suggested that glaciers carried the stones from Wales during the last Ice Age. But the new research asserts that surface markings previously believed to be glacial abrasion are more likely the result of natural weathering or ancient human handling. Stonehenge's construction involved moving not only the bluestones from Wales, weighing up to 3.5 tonnes, but also sarsen stones, some weighing over 20 tonnes, from nearby West Woods, Wiltshire. One particularly mysterious stone, the 'Altar Stone,' is believed to have originated as far as 750km away in Scotland. Researchers say the feat of transporting such stones using Neolithic technology, including ropes, wooden sledges, and trackway, is entirely feasible and mirrors techniques still used by some indigenous communities today. While the precise purpose of Stonehenge remains a subject of debate, with theories ranging from astronomical observatory to ceremonial gathering site, this breakthrough provides compelling evidence that the monument's builders intentionally sourced and moved its stones to create what remains one of the most iconic prehistoric sites in the world. Professor Bevins and his team said: "The evidence overwhelmingly supports a human effort in transporting these stones. Stonehenge is a testament to the determination and unity of Britain's Neolithic communities, and it remains one of the greatest feats of prehistoric engineering."
Time of India
7 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Study reveals how 5,000-year-old Stonehenge's giant blocks were moved using human hands and primitive tools
A new scientific study has added weight to a long-held belief that the builders of Stonehenge, the iconic 5,000-year-old monument in southern England, transported its massive stones using only human effort and rudimentary tools. By analyzing a mysterious fragment known as the Newall Boulder, archaeologists have dismissed the theory that glaciers carried these stones to the Salisbury Plain during the Ice Age. Instead, they found geochemical and microscopic evidence linking the rocks directly to quarries in the Preseli Hills of Wales, over 200 kilometers away. This supports the argument that Neolithic people, with no access to wheels or metal tools, managed this incredible feat through ingenuity, endurance, and primitive but effective technology. Stonehenge clues hidden in the Newall Boulder The centerpiece of the new findings is a stone fragment unearthed at Stonehenge in 1924 and largely forgotten until recently. Called the Newall Boulder, this bullet-shaped piece was reanalyzed using advanced chemical and microscopic techniques. Researchers found that it shares identical mineral features with rhyolite rock found at Craig Rhos-y-felin in Wales. This connection effectively rules out glacial origin and aligns with the theory that the stone was manually extracted and transported by people. For decades, one camp of archaeologists believed the bluestones arrived at Stonehenge via glaciers during the Ice Age. Proponents like Dr. Brian John cited glacial abrasion marks as evidence. However, the latest study argues that these surface characteristics could easily be the result of weathering. More importantly, there's no supporting evidence of glaciation on Salisbury Plain — no other glacial erratics or deposits have ever been found in the area. This significantly undermines the ice transport theory. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Theories behind why Stonehenge's giant stones were arranged in a circle The circular layout of Stonehenge has puzzled historians and archaeologists for centuries, giving rise to a number of compelling theories. One of the most widely supported ideas is that the monument functioned as an ancient astronomical observatory . Researchers have noted how certain stones align with the rising and setting sun during the summer and winter solstices. This suggests that Stonehenge may have served as a prehistoric calendar, helping early societies track the changing seasons for agricultural or ceremonial purposes. Another leading theory focuses on Stonehenge's role as a sacred or spiritual site. The circular shape, often associated with unity, eternity, and the heavens, may have had symbolic significance to Neolithic communities. Some experts believe the site was used for rituals, burials, or ancestral worship, with the arrangement of the stones reflecting a cosmic order or serving as a portal between the earthly and the divine. While no single theory has been universally proven, the alignment, symmetry, and sheer scale of Stonehenge continue to point toward its importance as a center of cultural and spiritual life in ancient Britain. Human ingenuity and Neolithic engineering The idea that Neolithic people manually moved stones weighing 2 to 3 tonnes across 200 kilometers may sound implausible, but archaeologists say it's entirely feasible. Evidence from other ancient cultures shows that large stones have been transported over great distances using wooden sledges, ropes, rollers, and teamwork. The larger 'sarsen' stones at Stonehenge, some weighing up to 40 tonnes, were also moved into place, further proving that Neolithic communities had the capability to orchestrate such a massive undertaking. Stonehenge remains one of the world's most iconic and enigmatic monuments. Understanding how its stones were transported gives us deeper insight into the lives, beliefs, and capabilities of Neolithic people. The latest findings strengthen the argument that the monument wasn't the result of natural forces, but a powerful testament to human will and innovation — a message carved in stone across millennia.
