Archaeologists Propose New Explanation for Stonehenge’s Purpose

The iconic Stonehenge monument may have been envisioned as a unifying political symbol, but in the end, it turned out to be a failure in achieving its intended purpose.

Scientists now believe they have unraveled the mystery behind Stonehenge. According to a study published in Archaeology International, the enigmatic megalith may have been built as a response to increasing immigration from Europe during the Neolithic era.

The monument, with its colossal stones transported from distant regions, was possibly intended to preserve the identity of Neolithic Britain and foster national unity. However, the effort was ultimately unsuccessful, as the island’s native population was eventually supplanted by incoming immigrants.

A key aspect of this theory is the recent discovery that the 6-tonne altar stone at Stonehenge originated from northern Scotland, 700 kilometers away. Previously, researchers had established that the bluestones were transported from Wales, a distance of 225 kilometers, while the larger sarsen stones were sourced just 24 kilometers from the site.

The study’s authors propose that the diverse origins of the stones suggest Stonehenge served both political and religious purposes. It may have symbolized the unity of Britain’s people, celebrating their shared ancestry and spiritual connection to the cosmos.

Unlike other prehistoric monuments in Britain, which were typically built with stones from within a 7-kilometer radius, Stonehenge’s builders transported materials from much farther afield. This ambitious endeavor might have been an attempt to represent various ancient communities and establish a collective identity.

The researchers speculate that the altar stone arrived during the monument’s second construction phase, coinciding with a period of significant societal transformation.

Immigrants from mainland Europe were settling in Britain, influencing its Neolithic culture. Stonehenge, they suggest, was an effort to unify the nation in the face of this demographic shift.

Unfortunately, by the time the monument was completed, the cultural landscape of Neolithic Britain had been largely replaced by that of the new arrivals. Stonehenge, intended as a symbol of unity and resilience, ultimately failed to preserve the identity of its creators.