Stonehenge altar stone traced to northeast Scotland, revealing monument's unifying purpose

Recent findings suggest that Stonehenge, the prehistoric megalithic structure located in Wiltshire, England, may have served as a monument of unification for the peoples of Britain long before it existed as a kingdom. According to research published in the journal Archaeology International, the massive stones used in its construction were transported from distant locations, indicating a significant collective effort by various ancient communities.

Geological analyses revealed that the Altar Stone, a central piece of the monument weighing over six tons, originated from northeastern Scotland, ruling out previous theories that it came from west Wales. Experts from University College London and Aberystwyth University believe that the Scots and the Welsh brought their local stones to Wiltshire as a goodwill contribution to the assembly of the structure.

"The fact that all its stones came from distant regions suggests that the stone circle may have had both a political and a religious purpose," said Mike Parker Pearson, a professor involved in the study. "The similarities in architecture and material culture between the Stonehenge area and northern Scotland make more sense now," he added.

The transportation of these enormous stones over hundreds of miles with primitive tools indicates a high level of societal organization and cooperation among different tribes. Researchers suggest that Stonehenge was built as a symbol of unification among three distinct regions of Britain, representing an attempt to unify the Neolithic agricultural population.

Such megaliths are thought to have had symbolic significance in Neolithic Britain, potentially representing and embodying ancestors. Pearson added: "[It was] a monument of unification for the peoples of Britain, celebrating their eternal ties to their ancestors and the universe."

The construction of Stonehenge involved assembling stones from various regions, including sarsen stones from the West Woods near Marlborough and bluestones from the Preseli Hills of southwestern Wales. The Altar Stone's placement within Stonehenge's central horseshoe structure during a rebuilding phase around 2500 BCE frames the midwinter solstice sunset, highlighting the monument's astronomical significance.

Researchers propose that the Scots and Welsh may have brought their local stones to Wiltshire not only as a physical contribution but also as a symbolic gesture to establish alliances or participate in "the extraordinary cooperation of peoples who were at great distances."

The effort required to move the large stones hundreds of miles suggests that Stonehenge had an important purpose, likely related to unification. "These new findings have significantly expanded our understanding of what the original purpose of Stonehenge might have been," said Mike Parker Pearson.

Archaeological findings at Durrington Walls, a site near Stonehenge, suggest that large feasts took place there during the construction of the monument, possibly coinciding with the winter solstice, where people gathered bringing pigs and cattle. This supports the idea of Stonehenge as a focal point for communal gatherings and rituals.

While the true use of Stonehenge remains unknown, the monument's significance is likely multifaceted and evolved over the centuries of its use. Multiple hypotheses have been proposed to explain its purpose, including its potential political and religious significance, and its alignment with solar and lunar cycles.

The study's findings hint at a higher level of societal organization than previously understood in Neolithic Britain, enabling unexpectedly advanced transportation methods.

Despite this attempt at unification, demographic changes continued as mainland peoples increased their presence on the island. By the end of the monument's various construction phases around 1600 BCE, Britain's insular Neolithic population appears to have been largely replaced by people with continental European ancestry.

Newsweek, Sky News, CNN, The Independent, and The Washington Post reported on the study, among other websites.

The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.