New Research Suggests Stonehenge May Have Unified Ancient Britain

Stonehenge might have been constructed with the aim of uniting populations across ancient Britain, according to recent academic findings. This conclusion follows the discovery that one of the stones at the Wiltshire monument originated from as far away as north east Scotland. Professor Mike Parker Pearson of the UCL Institute of Archaeology, who served as the lead author of the study, stated that the presence of stones from diverse regions of the country renders it “unique among over 900 stone circles in Britain”. The research, published in Archaeology International, additionally highlights that the 43 bluestones at Stonehenge were transported 140 miles (225km) from Wales. Prof Parker Pearson remarked: “We’ve known for a while that people came from many different parts of Britain with their pigs and cattle to feast at Durrington Walls, and nearly half the people buried at Stonehenge had lived somewhere other than Salisbury Plain.” He added: “The similarities in architecture and material culture between the Stonehenge area and northern Scotland now make more sense.” Earlier this year, it was reported that the six-tonne altar stone originated in Scotland, potentially arriving around 2500BC, which was the period when Stonehenge underwent a transformation from its initial design. Co-author Professor Richard Bevins, affiliated with Aberystwyth University, investigated the geological aspects, stating: “Our research is like forensic science. We are a small team of earth scientists, each bringing their own area of expertise; it is this combination of skills that has allowed us to identify the sources of the bluestones, and now the Altar Stone.” The altar stone’s dimensions and placement bear resemblance to the large, horizontal stones found in the stone circles of northeast Scotland, its place of origin. Since these specific types of circles are exclusively located in that part of Scotland, researchers hypothesize that significant connections may have existed between the two regions. The bluestones from Wales are thought to have been brought for the initial phase of Stonehenge’s construction, whereas the second phase involved increased interaction between Britain and Europe. Numerous theories exist regarding Stonehenge, including its role as a religious temple, an ancient observatory, and a solar calendar; this recent research introduces a political dimension to these interpretations. For updates, follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. To submit your story ideas, contact us via email or WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.