Returned chunk of Stonehenge solves
long-standing monument mystery

Wow I always thought the stones came from New Hampshire the granite state.

We can always count on you, OP, for these interesting, non-political, non-COVID posts. It’s such a welcome respite, and a reminder of our connection to something much bigger in our shared, earthly experience. Thank you.

Thank you, OP, for sharing something that doesn’t threaten my blood pressure.

There's something so compelling about the mysteries of Stonehenge. I read a book ages ago, I think the title was "Stonehenge Decoded", which was a completely unusual pick for me--but it called out for some reason. Will its secrets ever be known? Will we ever understand the how and why of this magnificent structure? Does it connect us in some way to something beyond our imagination or ability to decipher? Our greatest minds have been dedicated to solving this strange and beautiful phenomenon. May this little "chunk" move their discoveries forward.

Au contraire, numbers 2 & 3. If you read to the end of the article, you'll see where it states that protesters used chunks of the Henge's sarsens to chase Tommy Robinson from the UK. Hehehe

You know that the people who put those stones there probably owned slaves and moved them with slaves.

Well at least the aliens only had to move them 15 miles....

Massive stone quarried and transported in from 15 miles away, smaller stones brought in from nearly 150 miles away, some 5000 years ago. Why are no such relics found in sub-Saraharan Africa?

Everybody knows that Clark knocked those stones over.

I thank you, too, OP. The more you read about Stonehenge, the more you think about what was involved in the planning prior to execution of the plan, the more you consider that there was no written language (at least what remains in the material culture, as far as we know) by which to keep a sort of diary to keep track of or make a chronicle of the sun's course, the more totally amazing Stonehenge is (is solstice, etc is a core purpose). The engineers had to have extensive knowledge of where the sun "rose and set" every day throughout the year. Well, it sure shows profound complexity! How did they know where the materials were? How long did it take to find the right materials, which would stand up to the elements? And how would they know that? It would take many decades to determine through observation what materials were suited for the particular purpose? They had to use observation since they didn't have chemistry sets. Why did they use different materials for sarsens and the surrounding bluestones? Do archaeologists think the stones were later coated with some plaster type of substance to give the stones a smooth appearance, like the pyramids, rather than rough-hewn stone masses, and then maybe there were inscriptions? It all demonstrates really complex thought-processes. And... who invented the "inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry" that can read the "chemical signature" of the rocks??? There are other henges in different regions. Sometimes we think of prehistoric people as sticking around the neighborhood once the hunter-gatherer life-style became more or less obsolete with the development of plant and animal domestication. There wasn't an end date from one era to another. This innovation itself triggered other inventions to meet the needs of a new way of life. It must have been incredibly dangerous to go on these expeditions not just because of other tribal groups, but because wild and ferocious animals still filled the forests. The journeys to choose and then quarry the stones must have been so physically arduous. So the reason for all of the trouble had to be all-important, a matter for the survival of the group, i would guess, and the project obviously required the community to participate. mind boggling, and oh so fascinating

I visited Stonehenge in December 1977, on a freezing, blustery, and gloomy afternoon, which was glorious. There were perhaps five or six visitors in all, and a very nice docent who took the time to tell us all that was known at the time about the site. It was a wonderful experience. Nowadays, I´m told the stones are roped off; that there is a parking lot across the highway that costs fifteen quid; and that there are hordes of tourists. We were able to walk right up to the stones, which were incredible. They stopped that many years ago. Stonehenge doesn´t look like much from afar, but when you get close, the size of those stones, and the way they were brought to the site, is simply amazing. As the article states, the smaller "blue" stones were quarried in Wales, placed on primitive rafts, sailed around the tip of southwestern England, and up the Avon River, close to the site. They´re not certain how they moved any of the stones over land, except for the raft journey, which must have been harrowing; the southwestern coast of England is rough!. I´m happy I had the privilege to see the site before it became a destination for busloads of tourists.