Scientists have proposed a new explanation for how the six-tonne sandstone altar stone at Stonehenge travelled 435 miles from north-east Scotland to Salisbury Plain. A study by Sheffield Hallam University and Curtin University suggests the stone may have been carried part of the way by a glacier during the last Ice Age, depositing it in Doggerland, a now-submerged Neolithic landscape off the east coast of England. From there, prehistoric Britons likely transported the monolith south to its final resting place.
Glacial Transport and Human Effort
Dr Remy Veness, co-lead author from Sheffield Hallam University, explained that while the stone's origin in the Orcadian Basin is known, the journey has been widely debated. The research indicates that glaciers could have moved the stone as far as Dogger Bank in the North Sea, but not into southern England, meaning humans were responsible for the remaining hundreds of kilometres. This suggests a deliberate, multi-stage transport combining overland hauling with river or coastal routes.
Climate Change and Cultural Significance
The study proposes that rising sea levels at the end of the Ice Age may have motivated the movement of the stone from Doggerland to higher ground. Dr Veness noted that the altar stone must have held significant cultural value for Neolithic people, who moved it at least twice—first to save it from submersion, and later to Salisbury Plain. This implies that Stonehenge's construction may have been influenced by climate-induced migration.
From Doggerland, the stone could have been moved near the Berkshire Ridgeway, the oldest road in Europe, which was active during Stonehenge's era and may have facilitated travel to Salisbury Plain.
Organisation and Future Research
Co-lead author Dr Anthony Clarke from Curtin University emphasised that the journey required careful planning, coordination, and a deep understanding of the landscape, revealing a level of organisation among Neolithic communities not previously fully appreciated. Future research will aim to pinpoint the exact source of the stone in north-east Scotland and investigate potential transport routes. The study, titled From Highlands To Henge: Refining The Provenance And Transport Pathways Of Stonehenge’s Altar Stone, was published in the Journal of Quaternary Science.
