A recent discovery may shed light on the origins of the Altar Stone at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, a site that has puzzled researchers for years.
Previously believed to have come from Preseli Hills in Southwest Wales, new research suggests that the 6-ton Altar Stone may actually have traveled 600 miles from Northern Scotland.
Published in the journal Nature, the study proposes that the stone was transported by sea due to the challenges of overland transport over such a long distance.
Stonehenge, constructed by ancient Britons around 3000 B.C., is made up of sarsen stones and bluestones, with the Altar Stone being the largest of the bluestones.
The Altar Stone’s origins have long been a mystery, but geologist Richard Bevins believes he has identified its source in Northeast Scotland through a unique fingerprint analysis.
Despite ongoing research and discoveries, the mysteries of Stonehenge continue to intrigue scientists and historians alike.
