Stonehenge: A recent analysis raises the possibility that the Altar Stone may not be Welsh as previously believed

The largest of the stone circle's "bluestones" is the Altar Stone. A site in west Wales was once assumed to be the source, but recent study has called that into question.

The most plausible historical context for the Stonehenge Altar Stone has been clarified by a recent study.

Previously, it was believed that the largest "bluestone" at the attraction came from west Wales.

The majority of the bluestones have been taken from the Preseli hills in Pembrokeshire, which are 180 miles to the west of the Wiltshire location.

For the past 100 years, it has also been assumed that the Altar Stone at Stonehenge came from the local Old Red Sandstone strata. But its source's precise location had not been determined.

Researchers suggest to take a closer look at northern Britain, including Cheshire, the Lake District, and parts of Scotland, saying it is time to "broaden our horizons" at this time.

Journal of Archaeological Science published the study, which was directed by Aberystwyth University.

In the report, scientists claim that the long-held belief that the Altar Stone was from Wales has been impacted by treating it as a "bluestone" instead.

By severing the connection to bluestones derived from the Preseli highlands, they now argue that the stone should be "de-classified" as such.

Does not originate in Wales

The Altar Stone, also known as Stone 80, is an abnormality and ought to be treated separately, according to Professor Nick Pearce, one of the paper's authors, in a statement to Sky News.

"The view in terms of the conclusions we've drawn from this is that it doesn't come from Wales and maybe we should remove the Altar Stone from that grouping of bluestones and consider it independently," he mentioned.

Sandstone, or the Altar Stone, contains an exceptionally high quantity of barium compared to other sandstones of a similar composition, which may be useful in determining its provenance. According to Professor Pearce, the research will cause people to reconsider Stonehenge.

He continued: "Keeping them grouped together doesn't really make sense and I think it will cause people to start looking at it in a slightly different context in terms of how it got there, when it got there, where it came from, and so on. So hopefully it will lead to some sort of new thoughts about the development of Stonehenge."