Deep inside Stonehenge lies a flat sandstone slab weighing six tonnes. For many years, researchers believed all the monument's smaller stones came from Wales. However, a study published in June 2026 revealed something surprising: this Altar Stone actually came from northeast Scotland, nearly 700 kilometres away.
Scientists from Curtin University in Australia and Sheffield Hallam University in England investigated how this massive stone reached southern England. They tested two possibilities. First, they analysed minerals in the stone to confirm its Scottish origin. Then, they created computer models showing how glaciers moved during the last Ice Age.
Their findings were clear: glaciers could have carried rocks across the North Sea, but they could not reach Stonehenge. The final journey to southern England required human effort.
Dr Anthony Clarke explained that people transported the stone deliberately, using both land and water routes. The journey may have taken place in stages, with people hauling the stone overland and floating it along rivers and coastlines. This required enormous planning and cooperation among Neolithic communities.
The research involved scientists from multiple universities studying geology, glaciers, and archaeology. Their discovery shows that ancient British people possessed remarkable organisational abilities and worked together across vast distances. Stonehenge was built between 5,000 and 4,000 years ago and remains one of the world's most famous prehistoric monuments.