Stonehenge, the famous stone circle in southern England, has puzzled researchers for many years because of its mysterious origins and purpose. Recent studies published in the journal Nature reveal new details about a large flat stone in the center of Stonehenge, known as the “altar stone.” This stone, which is 16 feet (5 meters) long, was found to have come from northeast Scotland, not from nearer places like Wales as previously thought. The stone’s unique geological features do not match Welsh sandstone, leading to this new understanding of its origin.

To identify where the altar stone came from, researchers analyzed mineral samples from rocks collected during past excavations, some dating back to the 1840s. They discovered that the stone’s mineral composition matches rocks from the Orcadian Basin in northeast Scotland, including the Scottish peninsula and the Orkney Islands. This distinct geological “fingerprint” is not found elsewhere in the UK. The fact that the stone traveled over 460 miles (740 kilometers) suggests that the ancient people who built Stonehenge had advanced logistical skills and strong cultural connections with distant communities. Stonehenge, built around 5,000 years ago, was used for ceremonial purposes rather than daily life. The transportation of the altar stone shows the builders’ sophisticated organization and their wide network of interactions. Researchers are still investigating the exact role of the altar stone within Stonehenge.