Why was Stonehenge built? Scientists may have finally found an answer to 5,000-year-old mystery

UPDATED: Dec 20, 2024 22:19 IST

Scientists may have finally uncovered the mystery of the UK's iconic Stonehenge, which has fascinated people for hundreds of years.

Stonehenge, one of the world’s most iconic prehistoric monuments, may have been rebuilt to unite ancient Britons, according to new research.

The study, published in Archaeology , suggests that the monumental reconstruction of Stonehenge between 2620 and 2480 BC coincided with the arrival of new settlers from Europe. These findings could change our understanding of the purpose behind the site.

Stonehenge’s massive stones have always been a subject of curiosity, since many of them were transported from distant regions.

The latest study said that the Altar Stone, a key monolith in the center of the circle, was brought from northeastern Scotland which is around 435 miles away. "The fact that all of its stones originated from distant regions, making it unique among over 900 stone circles in Britain, suggests that the stone circle may have had a political as well as a religious purpose — as a monument of unification for the peoples of Britain, celebrating their eternal links with their ancestors and the cosmos," said lead study author Mike Parker Pearson, Professor at University College London’s Institute of Archaeology.

Stonehenge’s construction began around 3000 BC and continued over several phases. The bluestones, made from fine-grained sandstone, were transported from the Preseli Hills in west Wales, about 140 miles away. Larger sarsen stones came from West Woods near Marlborough, around 15 miles away. But the Altar Stone, the largest of the bluestones, is thought to have been brought to Stonehenge during a rebuilding phase. The exact date of its arrival remains uncertain, but it is believed to have occurred between 2500 and 2020 BC.

The new study has also floated the theory that reconstruction was a response to political and cultural changes during the time.

Between 2500 and 2000 BC, newcomers from Europe, known as the Beaker people, arrived in Britain. The influx of people may have prompted the rebuilding of Stonehenge to help integrate these new groups with the existing Neolithic population.

The stone transport effort would have involved thousands of people, requiring significant coordination without the aid of wheels, which had not yet reached Britain. "They would have taken significant coordination across Britain — people were literally pulling together — in a time before telephones and email to organize such an effort," Parker Pearson said.

The discovery of striking similarities between Stonehenge and other stone circles in Scotland, particularly in Orkney, further supports the idea of interregional cooperation. The study suggests that the Altar Stone may have symbolized an alliance between distant communities. Additionally, the layout of the houses near Stonehenge and their similarities to those in northern Scotland point to a broader cultural connection.

Despite the ongoing mystery surrounding its true purpose, Stonehenge remains a powerful symbol of unity and cultural significance.