Stonehenge is easily one of the most recognizable monuments in the world. The prehistoric circle of massive standing stones rises out of the Salisbury Plain in England, with construction believed to have begun over 5,000 years ago. Although the site remains unfinished, archaeologists estimate that the Stonehenge that exists today took centuries to complete, with six phases of building stretching across the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.
Despite its fame, Stonehenge has always been shrouded in mystery. Archaeologists still don't know why it was built and how ancient people managed to move stones weighing up to 25 tons from quarries located 100 to 150 miles away - especially without modern tools. Now, a surprising discovery may offer some clarity. Scientists recently analyzed organic material found at Stonehenge, and the results could be the missing puzzle piece in the mystery of how the monument's builders transported its massive stones.
Scientists Recently Analyzed A 5,000-Year-Old Cow's Tooth Discovered At Stonehenge
Archaeologists are studying a decades-old cow's tooth for answers about how Stonehenge was built. The molar came from a jawbone buried near the monument's southern entrance between 2995 and 2900 BC, right around the time construction began. While this finding was uncovered in 1924, it was never clear to researchers why it was buried there and what it meant - until now.
A study completed by a team of researchers from the British Geological Survey (BGS), Cardiff University, and University College London recently analyzed the tooth's chemical composition.
They discovered unusual spikes in lead isotopes during late winter and early spring, which they believe were caused when the cow - likely pregnant - drew on reserves of lead stored in its skeleton to support a calf.
"It tells us that very early in its life it incorporated lead into its skeleton and that lead was from old Palaeozoic rocks, older than about 400 [million] years old. Those types of rocks crop up primarily in Britain in Wales, which is the nearest supply, and also in the Lake District and Scotland," Professor Jane Evans, a BGS honorary research associate, told the Guardian.
According to Evans, these results could mean that the animal may have come from a region with Palaeozoic rocks before ending up at Stonehenge.
What This Surprising Find Reveals About Stonehenge's Builders
Researchers have long debated the identity of Stonehenge's builders. Some conspiracy theorists believe aliens were responsible, but archaeologists have previously hypothesized that the site was constructed and continually renovated over thousands of years by different communities. In fact, DNA studies of burials near the monument suggest that some of the individuals connected to its construction may have originated in Wales or the Mediterranean.
No matter who was responsible for Stonehenge's construction, transporting its massive stones would have been a huge undertaking for anyone. According to the British Museum, not only were the stones dragged, but the builders placed them on large wooden sledges, making the loads even heavier.
Additionally, since some of the final carving and shaping was done once the stones arrived at the site, each block weighed even more. To lighten the burden and keep the sledges from digging into the ground, builders likely had to construct wooden tracks. With over 70 stones making the journey, the constant strain would have torn up the soft ground. But even with this system, hauling such large stones over hundreds of miles would still have required tremendous effort.
The recent analysis of the 5,000-year-old cow's tooth conducted by researchers suggests Stonehenge's builders may not have worked alone. Since the animal originated in Wales, the same region as the stones and some of the builders, it supports the theory that cattle or oxen were used to haul the massive stones to Salisbury Plain.
Discovery:
An ancient cow's tooth attached to an ancient jawbone.
Discovery Age:
Between 2995 and 2900 BC
Discovery Date:
1924
Discovery Location:
Near the southern entrance of Stonehenge
Main Findings:
Cows or oxen may have been used to move the monument's massive stones frmo Wales to Salisbury Plain.
Whether the animal itself made the journey alive or its remains were carried later is still uncertain. Researchers believe the cow may have died decades, or even centuries before it was finally buried at the site, implying that it carried symbolic importance to the communities who built and modified Stonehenge.