Geologists are on the cusp of a potentially ground-breaking discovery that could rewrite the story of one of the world's most enigmatic monuments. After definitively ruling out a Welsh origin, the quest to find the source of Stonehenge's colossal Altar Stone has now narrowed to a sprawling region in north-eastern Scotland.
The Eureka Moment That Changed Everything
The search is being led by Professor Richard Bevins, whose own career was transformed by a similar discovery over a decade ago. In 2011, while examining stone samples from the Wiltshire site, he experienced a sudden revelation. "It was one of those kind of serendipitous occasions - a Eureka moment," Prof Bevins recalls. He realised the samples did not match any geology in west Wales, as long assumed, but instead perfectly matched an outcrop at Craig Rhos-y-Felin in Pembrokeshire. This pinpointed the first definitive source for any of Stonehenge's stones, reinvigorating debates about how they were moved such vast distances.
A New Target Emerges in Scotland
Now, 14 years later, Prof Bevins and his team believe they are closing in on the origin of the monument's centrepiece: the six-tonne Altar Stone. Last year, they confirmed it was not one of the famous bluestones from Wales. Their analysis pointed instead to sandstone deposits within the Orcadian Basin, an ancient geological formation encompassing Orkney, Shetland, and parts of the north-east Scottish mainland.
However, a detailed study on Orkney itself yielded no match, eliminating the archipelago from contention. This leaves the team staring at a massive search zone measuring approximately 125 miles by 93 miles on the mainland. "It'd be fantastic to find the exact source," says Prof Bevins. "It's been a rollercoaster... It'd certainly be the icing on the cake for all the work we've put in."
Why Finding the Source Matters
Locating the original quarry would be far more than an academic triumph. It would allow archaeologists to excavate the source site, potentially uncovering vital clues about the people who built Stonehenge. Experts could learn about their society, their tools, and even their diet.
Furthermore, a Scottish origin would lend substantial weight to theories about how the massive stones were transported over 500 miles to Salisbury Plain. Given the rugged, hilly terrain of Scotland, scholars now suspect the Altar Stone was likely moved by sea, a monumental feat of Neolithic engineering and logistics.
The discovery could also bolster research suggesting Stonehenge was an act of unification, with materials deliberately gathered from all corners of the British Isles, perhaps in response to a common threat. The public fascination with such mysteries remains intense, as shown by the record 1.4 million visitors Stonehenge attracted in 2024.
For now, the hunt is on, but it requires careful planning and new funding. "We'll be picking out some target areas within that region," Prof Bevins explains, noting that a random search would be futile. The team's next challenge is to secure the resources needed to pinpoint the exact location where one of prehistory's greatest puzzles began.
