Archaeologists suggest that Stonehenge may have been constructed to bring people together in ancient Britain.
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The lead author of the research – Prof Mike Parker Pearson from the UCL Institute of Archaeology – explained that the stones originating from various locations in the country make this a “unique site among over 900 stone circles in Britain”.
Published in Archaeology International, it also reveals that the 43 bluestones at Stonehenge originated from a distance of 140 miles (225km) away in Wales.
Archaeologist Prof. Parker Pearson stated, “We’ve been aware for some time that people from multiple regions of Britain brought pigs and cattle to Durrington Walls for feasting, and nearly half the individuals buried at Stonehenge had resided outside of the Salisbury Plain area.”
The connections in architectural style and material culture between the Stonehenge region and northern Scotland are now more understandable.
It was reported earlier this year that the six-tonne altar stone originated in Scotland, likely arriving around 2500BC, the time Stonehenge underwent a major transformation from its original structure.
Co-author Professor Richard Bevins at Aberystwyth University investigated the geological aspects: “Our research is similar to forensic science. We comprise a small team of earth scientists, each contributing their own area of expertise; it is the collaborations of these skills that have enabled us to pinpoint the granite originating from the bluestones, and now the Altar Stone.”
Its size and position are comparable to the large, horizontal stones in the stone circles of northeastern Scotland, where it is from.
Research suggests that these circles may be a unique feature exclusive to that region of Scotland, which could imply a close historical relationship or connection between the two locations.
The stones at Stonehenge are believed to have come from Wales for the initial construction, but for the second phase, it’s thought that there was a greater connection between Britain and Europe.
There are a multitude of theories about Stonehenge: a sacred temple, an ancient astronomical observatory, and a solar timekeeper, and this new study brings a political dimension to the discussion.
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