Research Traces Origin and Transport of Stonehenge's Altar Stone

Researchers from Curtin University in Perth, Australia, have traced the origin of Stonehenge's Altar Stone to northeast Scotland. The study indicates that the stone traveled to southern England through a combination of glacial movement and human transport. Geological analysis and ice-sheet modeling suggest that glaciers may have carried the stone approximately 200 miles to Dogger Bank in the North Sea, after which prehistoric people likely transported it another 250 miles to its current location in Wiltshire. Co-lead author Anthony Clarke stated that this journey would have required careful planning and coordination, emphasizing that the stone was moved deliberately rather than naturally by ice. The research highlights the importance of combining geological analysis with computer modeling to address longstanding questions about the construction of Stonehenge.