Stonehenge was built around 2500 BC, never ceases to fascinate the minds of scientists who are tirelessly exploring the megalithic structure. They are trying to find clues to solve the mysteries that still keeps this monument. The first relates to the sacred destination of this building in ancient times, what is not known, and the second as the hunter-gatherers of that era were able to move stones of this size. The weight of some of them reaches 25 tons.
Researchers know that Stonehenge consists of two main types of stones of different origin. The biggest, or Sarsenov, found in the same area, and smaller or “blue”, discovered pretty far from the monument. Two studies shed light on where it was taken to these stones.
A few days ago in the Journal of Archaeological Science published a detailed study on the origin of the altar stone located in the centre of Stonehenge. This six ton monolith of green micaceous Sandstone belonging to the “blue stones” were brought here from the Welsh town of Abergavenny (Abergavenny), located 160 kilometers from the facility and a few kilometers from the border of England with Wales.
According to the study, the rocks moved on the ground along the same path, undergoing the A40 highway, which connects Wales and London.
“Arseny”
In a paper published in the journal Science Advances, there are data on the origin of huge Sarsenov. In accordance with the analysis of the chemical composition of rocks, conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Brighton, most of the stones are Sandstone, from which are built the famous monument, have a common origin: the area of the West woods 25 miles away.
This discovery confirms the theory that the stones were transported to Stonehenge around the same time. There is another theory, according to which, the Heel stone, the huge Sarsen, were brought to this place before.
“It is unbelievable how the science of the XXI century helps to explore the Neolithic period and gives you the opportunity to answer a question that scientists have debated over centuries,” says one of the main authors of the study, David Nash (David Nash).
The results of the study can help scientists to determine which way the ancient builders of the monument were transported huge stones. “Until recently we didn’t know it was possible to determine the exact origin of this stone, as Sarsen,” said Nash.
