The central stone of the ancient stone circle Stonehenge in England is known as the Altar Stone. Researchers have recently uncovered its origins, revealing that it comes from a different source than previously believed by the scientific community. This adds to the mystery of the already enigmatic Stonehenge site.
Stonehenge is a prehistoric stone monument located in Wiltshire, England, consisting of an outer circle of large standing sandstone blocks (called sarsen), each standing about 4 meters high, 2.1 meters wide, and weighing around 25 tons. Across the top of these stones are other stones arranged like roof beams, some connected by joints. Inside is a circle of smaller bluestones, and further in are additional stones. The entire structure is aligned with the movement of the Sun during the Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice.
The ancient stone circle Stonehenge. (Photo: Wirestock/ iStock/ Getty Images Plus).
Stonehenge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the best-preserved prehistoric monuments. To this day, no one has fully decoded the mysteries surrounding this site. It is believed that it may have been a place for religious rituals, a calendar for tracking the seasons, or even a means of communication with extraterrestrial beings…
While many of these mysteries remain unsolved, researchers have now discovered another enigma about this ancient stone circle.
A stunning view from inside Stonehenge at sunrise on the Summer Solstice. (Photo: Mystic Realms/ EarthSky).
At the center of Stonehenge is the Altar Stone – a massive sandstone slab, whose origin and purpose have been among the greatest mysteries of the world for nearly 5,000 years.
Now, a new study published in the journal Nature has revealed that the rectangular massive stone originates from Scotland, located 750 kilometers away from the Stonehenge site.
Researchers noted that the geochemical fingerprint of this stone perfectly matches the bedrock found in Scotland. The geochemical fingerprint is a chemical signature that provides information about the origin, formation processes, and/or environment of a geological sample, according to GeoScienceWorld.
The Altar Stone at the center of Stonehenge. (Photo: The Stones Of Stonehenge).
Thus, the mystery of the Altar Stone’s origin has been solved, but this raises another question: How did prehistoric people – around 2500 BC – transport such a large stone weighing about 6 tons, measuring 5 meters in length and 1 meter in width, over such a long distance?
Recently, scientists confirmed that the standing sarsen stones were brought from Marlborough, which is quite close to the Stonehenge site. However, the Altar Stone at the center of the stone circle has such a markedly different origin.
This discovery has left researchers astonished. No stone from any other contemporary structure has been moved such a distance.
“This is truly astonishing,” said Robert Ixer, a researcher at the University of London.
Scientists have studied Stonehenge for many years without finding answers. (Photo: Matt Cardy/ Getty Images).
The mysteries of Stonehenge continue to pile up. Susan Greaney, an archaeologist at the University of Exeter, remarked: “The placement of this stone at the center, like the heart of the structure, perfectly aligned with the rising and setting sun on the Summer and Winter Solstices, indicates that the people of that time believed this stone held special significance.”
