New ‘Astonishing’ Theory Could Have Solved the Ongoing Mystery of Stonehenge

The origins of the mystical Stonehenge, an array of menhir-like megaliths believed to have been erected more than 5,000 years ago, are subject to new scientific theory—and this time experts are 95% certain.

Knewz.com has learned that the circular display is believed to have come into existence before the wheel was invented but consists of massive rocks that could only have been excavated 500 miles away.

Researchers believe that the six-ton slabs of Old Red Sandstone hail from the Orcadian Basin in northeast Scotland .

Chris Kirkland at the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group within Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences in Australia (responsible for the foregoing analysis) is 95% certain that Scotland is where the rock hails from.

The institution used lasers and spectrometers to examine artifacts of the rocks and found the minerals apatite, rutile, and zircon (which are known to degenerate at a set rate).

This then allowed them to date the samples and arrive at the conclusion that the rock minerals in their possession were between 450 million to 2 billion years old.

The two other stones in the circular assemblage, namely the sarsen stones that make up the columns and balancing lintels are believed to be from a nearby quarry, while those from the outer circle (“bluestones”) are thought to be from the relatively nearby Wales .

How the former and the latter were transported remains unsolved.

As for the red sandstone from Scotland 500 miles away: Experts favor a theory that they were transported on boats from their source using a route that according to scientists, “demonstrates a high level of societal organization with intra- Britain transport during the Neolithic period.”

Welsh PhD student, Anthony Clarke (also at Curtin University in Australia ) confirmed the magnitude of such a journey.

“On a serious note, Stonehenge seems to be this great British endeavor involving all the different people from all over the island,” he said.

Professor Nick Pearce from Aberystwyth in Wales has also been trying to find the origins of Stonehenge. He expressed shock at the recent development, saying:

“It blew our socks off when we discovered it was from north-east Scotland.”

“It was a shock to say the least. Coming from that distance, more than 700 km (435 miles), was remarkable.”

“The Neolithic people must have been pretty well connected, far more connected than people give them credit for. They must have been very well organized.”

“There are obvious physical barriers to transporting by land, and an equally daunting journey if going by sea.”

“These findings will have huge ramifications for understanding communities in Neolithic times, their levels of connectivity, and their transport systems.”

The findings are set to be reviewed by English Heritage, the organization responsible for looking after Stonehenge.

One of said British agency’s senior curators, Heather Sebire, has since weighed in on the matter saying:

“It is phenomenal that the people of the time brought such a large stone all this way. They must have had a compelling reason to do it.”

“They had a sophisticated and developed society and so they probably had a spiritual side, just like we do.”