The origin of the giant sarsen stones at Stonehenge has finally been discovered with the help of a missing piece of the site which was returned after 60 years. A test of the metre-long core was matched with a geochemical study of the standing megaliths.

What is the reason for Stonehenge?

There is strong archaeological evidence that Stonehenge was used as a burial site, at least for part of its long history, but most scholars believe it served other functions as well—either as a ceremonial site, a religious pilgrimage destination, a final resting place for royalty or a memorial erected to honor and

Where is the mystery of Stonehenge?

Now researchers have resolved the mystery: 50 of the 52 extant sarsens at Stonehenge came from the West Woods site in the English county of Wiltshire, located 25 kilometers to the north of Stonehenge. The findings were published on Wednesday in Science Advances.

Why will Stonehenge always remain a mystery?

Part of Stonehenge consists of giant volcanic bluestone blocks, each weighing 3 to 5 tons. Archaeologists are confident that Stonehenges outer ring was sourced from a local quarry, its unclear how volcanic bluestone made its way to the middle of England. The larger mystery of Stonehenge is what purpose it served.

Was Stonehenge a gift?

A gift for the nation He passed the news on to the King and the Prime Minister, who expressed his deep appreciation. A deed of gift was signed at an official presentation ceremony at Stonehenge on 26 October 1918. Thanks to the Chubbs generosity, Stonehenge was saved for future generations.

Is Stonehenge second hand?

“Stonehenge is a secondhand monument,” he said sardonically. The geologist Herbert Thomas established in 1923 that the dolerite used to build Stonehenge came from an outcrop in the Preseli Hills of western Wales.