Altar Stone at Stonehenge: Tracing its Scottish Origins
Stonehenge, the iconic ancient site in southern England, has long captivated researchers and visitors alike with its mysterious origins and purpose. Recently, a groundbreaking study has shed new light on one of Stonehenge’s central stones, the Altar Stone, revealing its surprising origin from northeastern Scotland.
Geoscientist Anthony Clarke and his team from Curtin University in Perth, Australia, conducted an analysis of the Altar Stone’s age and chemical composition, comparing it to various rock formations across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The results pointed to a remarkable match with a Scottish rock formation known as the Orcadian Basin, located over 750 kilometers away from Stonehenge. This discovery challenges previous assumptions that the Altar Stone, due to its proximity to the bluestones sourced from Wales, also had Welsh roots.
The Altar Stone, a massive sandstone slab, sits within a semicircular arc of smaller stones known as bluestones. While most of the bluestones have been traced to a source in western Wales, the Altar Stone’s Scottish connection adds a new dimension to Stonehenge’s complex history. The study’s findings suggest a long-distance connection between Late Neolithic groups inhabiting the British Isles during Stonehenge’s construction phases, with evidence of shared pottery styles and architectural techniques.
The Herculean Task of Transporting the Altar Stone
Transporting a six-metric-ton stone slab from Scotland to southern England’s Salisbury Plain presented a monumental challenge for ancient builders. The precise location of the Altar Stone’s origin, whether from the Orcadian Basin on the Scottish mainland or the Orkney Islands off the northern coast, remains a subject of debate among researchers.
Geochemist Nick Pearce of Aberystwyth University in Wales suggests that transporting the Altar Stone by ship down England’s east coast before lugging it about 160 kilometers to Stonehenge from the English Channel may have been a more practical route, especially if the stone came from an island. The logistics of moving such a massive stone across long distances highlight the incredible feats of labor, movement, and assembly undertaken by ancient civilizations during Stonehenge’s construction phases.
While the exact timing of the Altar Stone’s arrival at Stonehenge remains unknown, researchers suspect it was placed among the bluestones during a second construction phase between 2620 B.C. and 2150 B.C. The enduring mystery of Stonehenge’s construction continues to intrigue scholars and visitors alike, offering glimpses into the ancient world’s architectural prowess and cultural connections.
Architectural Links and Mysteries of the Altar Stone
The Altar Stone’s Scottish origin not only reveals a fascinating connection to distant lands but also hints at intriguing architectural similarities with stone circles in Scotland. Unlike the upright stones commonly found at Stonehenge, the Altar Stone lies on its side, reminiscent of Recumbent Stone Circles in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Archaeologist Joshua Pollard of the University of Southampton notes that the Altar Stone’s orientation and placement beneath two collapsed sarsen stones raise questions about its original position and purpose at Stonehenge. The presence of Recumbent Stone Circles in Scotland, where a slab is laid on its side within a ring of standing stones, adds a compelling architectural link to the Altar Stone’s enigmatic history.
As researchers delve deeper into Stonehenge’s mysteries and connections to distant lands, the Altar Stone stands as a symbol of ancient craftsmanship, shared cultural practices, and the enduring legacy of Neolithic civilizations in the British Isles. The ongoing exploration of Stonehenge’s origins continues to inspire awe and curiosity, inviting us to unravel the secrets of this ancient monument and the civilizations that built it.
