Geologists have ruled out another theory over the origin of Stonehenge's Altar Stone.
He said: "This is the most comprehensive geological investigation of the Altar Stone ever undertaken.
"So far, none of the locations examined have the same set of characteristics as the Altar Stone.
Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementResearchers came from institutions across the UK, Canada, Italy and Sweden in order to be part of the comprehensive investigation into the Altar Stone.
Every location eliminated narrows the search and brings us closer to discovering where the Altar Stone originated.
Geologists have ruled out another theory over the origin of Stonehenge's Altar Stone.
Archaeologists have long wondered where the six-tonne sandstone monolith at the heart of the famous Neolithic monument in Wiltshire had come from.
For more than a century, it was believed to come from Wales until a more recent theory suggested it could be from the Orcadian Basin in north-east Scotland instead.
Now scientists have moved a step closer to identifying the origins of the stone, dismissing the Scottish origin theory.
The Altar Stone, which has two other stones on top of it, was thought to have come from northern Scotland (Aberystwyth University)
An international team of scientists combined anaylsis of the stone with rock tests in the Orcadian Basin, but failed to find a location in the region, some 435 miles away from Stonehenge, with the same characteristics as the stone.
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Professor Duncan Pirrie, emeritus professor at the University of South Wales who led the study, said that the search was not over for the stone's origins.
He said: "This is the most comprehensive geological investigation of the Altar Stone ever undertaken. By combining a wide range of analytical techniques, we have built the clearest picture yet of the stone's composition and tested the leading theories about its origins.
"So far, none of the locations examined have the same set of characteristics as the Altar Stone. That tells us the search is not over, but we are now far better equipped to focus on the areas most likely to yield an answer."
The sun rises at the prehistoric monument Stonehenge near Amesbury (AFP/Getty)
Academics understand that Stonehenge was constructed in several phases between around 3000 and 1600 BC, with its stones coming from far away. The smaller bluestones travelled approximately 225 km from west Wales to Wiltshire.
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Researchers came from institutions across the UK, Canada, Italy and Sweden in order to be part of the comprehensive investigation into the Altar Stone.
Professor Richard Bevins, honorary professor in the department of Geography and Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University, said that the study had refined the search for the Altar Stone's location.
"For almost a century, the prevailing view was that the Altar Stone came from west Wales. Our previous research overturned that assumption and pointed instead to Scotland as the most likely source.
The Orcadian Basin (Mike Norton/CC BY-SA 3.0)
"This latest study significantly refines the search by identifying the specific geological characteristics we need to look for, allowing future investigations to be targeted more effectively. With each new piece of evidence, we move closer to solving one of Stonehenge's most enduring mysteries."
Professor Nick Pearce, professor of geochemistry at Aberystwyth University, added: "In a geological detective story such as this, ruling out potential source areas is just as important as identifying new ones. Every location eliminated narrows the search and brings us closer to discovering where the Altar Stone originated. The stone is unique among those at Stonehenge, and tracing its source would provide valuable new insights into its remarkable journey to Salisbury Plain thousands of years ago."
