Stonehenge has long been shrouded in mystery, with each new discovery adding another layer to its enigmatic history. Recent research led by Curtin University has unveiled a groundbreaking revelation about the origins of Stonehenge’s massive six-ton Altar Stone, one of the monument’s most iconic features. Contrary to the long-held belief that this monolithic block originated from Wales, the new study pinpoints its origins to northeast Scotland, raising profound questions about the capabilities of ancient societies over 4,000 years ago.
Published in the journal Nature, the study analyzed the age and chemistry of minerals from fragments of the Altar Stone, explains an Aberystwyth University press release. The findings show a remarkable similarity between the Old Red Sandstone of the Orcadian Basin in northeast Scotland and the Stonehenge Altar Stone.
Anthony Clarke from the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group at Curtin University said:
“Considering the technological constraints of the Neolithic, our findings raise fascinating questions about how such a massive stone was able to be transported over the vast distance implied. Given major overland barriers en route from north-east Scotland to Salisbury Plain, marine transport is one feasible option.”
Curtin PhD candidate Anthony Clarke studying samples in the lab. (Curtin University/Nature)
Unveiling the Altar Stone’s True Origins
The Altar Stone, a sandstone slab measuring approximately 5 meters by 1 meter (16.4 feet by 3.3 feet) and 0.5 meters (1.6 feet) thick, has long stood at the center of Stonehenge’s stone circle in Wiltshire, England. For decades, it was thought to have come from the Preseli Hills in Wales, a region known to have supplied the bluestones used in Stonehenge’s construction. However, new research led by PhD student Anthony Clarke from Curtin University’s Timescales of Mineral Systems Group has upended this theory.
Mr Clarke states in a Curtin University press release:
“Our analysis found specific mineral grains in the Altar Stone are mostly between 1000 to 2000 million years old, while other minerals are around 450 million years old…. This provides a distinct chemical fingerprint suggesting the stone came from rocks in the Orcadian Basin, Scotland, at least 750 kilometers (466 miles) away from Stonehenge.”
These findings were so striking that they prompted Clarke to reflect on his own journey from Wales, where some of Stonehenge’s stones indeed originate, to Australia and back to Britain, where he helped uncover this significant discovery.
“This discovery also holds personal significance for me. I grew up in the Mynydd Preseli, Wales, where some of Stonehenge’s stones came from. I first visited Stonehenge when I was one year old and now at 25, I returned from Australia to help make this scientific discovery – you could say I’ve come full circle at the stone circle.”
Professor Richard Bevins at Craig Rhos-y-Felin – Stonehenge bluestones are derived from here and it is also a Neolithic site. (Christine Faulkner/Nature)
Advanced Neolithic Transport and Societal Organization
The discovery that the Altar Stone originated from Scotland rather than Wales has far-reaching implications for our understanding of Neolithic Britain. The transportation of such a massive stone over such a great distance—more than 700 kilometers (435 miles)—would have posed a significant challenge, even with today’s technology. Yet, this stone was moved around 2600 BC, raising intriguing questions about the methods and organization of ancient Britain.
Professor Chris Kirkland, a co-author of the study from Curtin University, suggests that the stone’s journey likely involved not just overland transport but also a maritime route along Britain’s coast.
Professor Kirkland states:
“Our discovery of the Altar Stone’s origins highlights a significant level of societal coordination during the Neolithic period and helps paint a fascinating picture of prehistoric Britain…Transporting such massive cargo overland from Scotland to southern England would have been extremely challenging, indicating a likely marine shipping route along the coast of Britain. This implies long-distance trade networks and a higher level of societal organization than is widely understood to have existed during the Neolithic period in Britain.”
The complexity of this undertaking implies a level of societal coordination, planning, and engineering that far exceeds what was previously understood about Neolithic communities in Britain. The existence of such sophisticated transport networks suggests that ancient Britons were not only capable of organizing large-scale projects but also had established trade routes and communication across vast distances.
Origins of the Stonehenge Altar Stone have been proven to be in Scotland. (ahriam12/Adobe Stock)
Shifting the Narrative of Stonehenge’s Construction
For over a century, the prevailing narrative held that the stones of Stonehenge were sourced from within a relatively close geographic area, primarily Wales. The new findings, however, challenge this notion and suggest that the construction of Stonehenge may have involved resources and people from much further afield than previously thought.
Professor Richard Bevins from Aberystwyth University, another co-author of the study, emphasized the importance of this discovery, noting that while the Altar Stone’s Scottish origin is now established, the precise location within Scotland remains unknown. This opens new avenues for research and exploration as scholars seek to understand the full extent of the networks and resources that contributed to Stonehenge’s construction.
The answers to these questions could reshape our understanding of prehistoric Britain, revealing a society that was more interconnected and technologically advanced than previously imagined.
In a separate investigation to this study, Dr John Hill of the University of Liverpool has previously argued for the presence of a Scottish architect at Stonehenge, based on the precise similarities with recumbent stone circles found in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His hypothesis was presented in an article published by Ancient Origins.
Cutting-Edge Research at Curtin University
This remarkable discovery was made possible by the cutting-edge research facilities at Curtin University, particularly the John de Laeter Centre, which houses state-of-the-art equipment such as specialist mass spectrometers. These tools allow researchers to analyze the composition of materials with unprecedented precision, shedding new light on ancient artifacts and geological samples.
Curtin University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Harlene Hayne, praised the work of Anthony Clarke and Professor Chris Kirkland, highlighting the university’s commitment to supporting pioneering research. The study, which was also funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project, underscores the importance of international collaboration, with contributions from Aberystwyth University, The University of Adelaide, and University College London.
The findings are set to spark renewed interest in Stonehenge and its mysteries. The discovery that the Altar Stone came from Scotland is a testament to the enduring allure of this ancient monument and the continued relevance of cutting-edge scientific research in uncovering our past.
The full study titled ‘A Scottish Provenance for the Altar Stone of Stonehenge’ will be published in the journal Nature.
Top image: The Altar Stone, seen here underneath two bigger Sarsen stones. Source: Professor Nick Pearce, Aberystwyth University/Nature
