Recent research suggests that Stonehenge may have a Scottish connection at its core. A study analyzing the age and composition of mineral grains in Altar Stone fragments found a striking similarity to a rock formation in Scotland known as the Orcadian Basin. This discovery, published in Nature on August 14, rules out other potential sources in the UK and Ireland for the Altar Stone.
Located within a circle of smaller stones called bluestones, the Altar Stone is believed to have originated from Scotland, while most of the bluestones have been traced back to western Wales, over 225 kilometers away. It is speculated that a Welsh stone circle dating back over 5,000 years may have been the starting point for Stonehenge’s construction.
This new study challenges the previous assumption that the Altar Stone, positioned near the bluestone arc, also had Welsh origins.
Date: 2024-08-14 10:00:00
Originally published on www.sciencenews.org