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| Humans took boulders from Wales to Stonehenge, study finds | Humans took boulders from Wales to Stonehenge, study finds |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Bluestones are believed to have been among the first stones erected at Stonehenge about 5,000 years ago. | Bluestones are believed to have been among the first stones erected at Stonehenge about 5,000 years ago. |
| Boulders at Stonehenge were taken to the monument's site by humans, rather than dragged there by glaciers, new scientific research claims. | Boulders at Stonehenge were taken to the monument's site by humans, rather than dragged there by glaciers, new scientific research claims. |
| The ancient monument, near Salisbury in south-west England, was built with stones from all parts of Great Britain, including the smaller bluestone megaliths, most of which came from north Pembrokeshire, 140 miles (225km) away. | The ancient monument, near Salisbury in south-west England, was built with stones from all parts of Great Britain, including the smaller bluestone megaliths, most of which came from north Pembrokeshire, 140 miles (225km) away. |
| While many archaeologists believe the smaller bluestones from the Preseli Hills were transported by humans, others believe they were transported by glacial ice long before Stonehenge was built. | While many archaeologists believe the smaller bluestones from the Preseli Hills were transported by humans, others believe they were transported by glacial ice long before Stonehenge was built. |
| Now, a research team at Aberystwyth University says its work shows there is "no evidence" to support the ice transport theory. | Now, a research team at Aberystwyth University says its work shows there is "no evidence" to support the ice transport theory. |
| The bluestones are believed to have been among the first erected at the Wiltshire site about 5,000 years ago. | The bluestones are believed to have been among the first erected at the Wiltshire site about 5,000 years ago. |
| The team's work focused on the so-called Newall Boulder, a 22x15x10cm rock excavated at Stonehenge in 1924 orginally from Craig Rhos-y-Felin in Pembrokeshire. | The team's work focused on the so-called Newall Boulder, a 22x15x10cm rock excavated at Stonehenge in 1924 orginally from Craig Rhos-y-Felin in Pembrokeshire. |
| Building on previous work, the researchers presented new data which shows the boulder, now in the collection of the Salisbury Museum. | |
| In an article published in the Journal for Archaeological Research, Professor Richard Bevins concludes there is "no evidence for ice extending as far south as Salisbury Plain", where the monument is located. | In an article published in the Journal for Archaeological Research, Professor Richard Bevins concludes there is "no evidence for ice extending as far south as Salisbury Plain", where the monument is located. |
| "New evidence allows us to reiterate our earlier interpretation that the boulder is not a glacial erratic but rather is derived from a fragmented monolith at Stonehenge [...] transported from Craig Rhos-y-Felin to Stonehenge by Neolithic people," the article says. | |
| The team's work challenged a competing theory that the boulder was reduced in size and heavily modified during glacial transport, and was eventually dumped at or relatively close to the Salisbury Plain. | The team's work challenged a competing theory that the boulder was reduced in size and heavily modified during glacial transport, and was eventually dumped at or relatively close to the Salisbury Plain. |
| The Newall Boulder | The Newall Boulder |
| The theory that the boulder's shape was changed by ice is supported by five arguments related to its shape, including its crude bullet shape top. | The theory that the boulder's shape was changed by ice is supported by five arguments related to its shape, including its crude bullet shape top. |
| But Professor Bevin and his team said most of the characteristics cited "could be simply generated by surface weathering". | But Professor Bevin and his team said most of the characteristics cited "could be simply generated by surface weathering". |
| If the bluestones were transported by ice part even of the way from their source in west Wales towards Stonehenge, there should be erratics - rocks that have been transported by glaciers - from the Preseli Mountains in west and south Wales, they said. | If the bluestones were transported by ice part even of the way from their source in west Wales towards Stonehenge, there should be erratics - rocks that have been transported by glaciers - from the Preseli Mountains in west and south Wales, they said. |
| And while there are erratics in some areas, "there is no record of the very distinctive spotted dolerite used at Stonehenge", the researchers said. | And while there are erratics in some areas, "there is no record of the very distinctive spotted dolerite used at Stonehenge", the researchers said. |
| They added that the "total absence" of spotted dolorite - the distinctive rock known as bluestone - further east than the Narberth area in Pembrokeshire, and the evidence for Neolithic stone extraction at both Craig Rhos-y-Felin argue "strongly in favour of human transport". | They added that the "total absence" of spotted dolorite - the distinctive rock known as bluestone - further east than the Narberth area in Pembrokeshire, and the evidence for Neolithic stone extraction at both Craig Rhos-y-Felin argue "strongly in favour of human transport". |