Researchers rule out Scotland as source for Stonehenge Altar Stone

Professor Duncan Pirrie and a research team from the University of South Wales published a geological study ruling out northeast Scotland as the origin of the Altar Stone at Stonehenge.

The study analyzed the 4.9 metre sandstone slab to determine how it reached Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, thousands of years ago. While previous research suggested the stone came from the Orcadian Basin in Scotland, the new investigation failed to find a location in that area with matching geological characteristics.

Professor Nick Pearce from Aberystwyth University stated that eliminating potential sources helps narrow the search for the stone's true origin. The team combined new observations with an analysis of stone fragments held in museum collections to examine minerals and composition. The researchers say the results provide the most comprehensive geological picture of the unique stone to date.