The grains of sand that unravel the Stonehenge enigma after 5,000 years: Researchers have discovered new evidence indicating that the stones were relocated by humans rather than by glaciers.

23 01 2026

The 5,000-year-old enigma of Stonehenge might have been resolved at last – aided by a handful of minuscule sand grains. Although the majority of researchers contend that the enormous stones of Stonehenge were transported from Wales and Scotland, an alternative theory suggests that the builders received assistance. As per the glacial transport theory, the ice that once enveloped ancient Britain conveniently moved the stones to the Salisbury Plain.

A handful of minuscule grains of sand might have ultimately unraveled one of the most persistent enigmas surrounding Stonehenge, as researchers discover proof that the stones were moved by humans rather than by glaciers

Nevertheless, researchers have now discovered substantial evidence indicating that the megaliths were likely transported by humans. Employing advanced mineral fingerprinting methods, geologists from Curtin University demonstrated that no glacial debris ever reached the Salisbury Plain. Had the rocks been transported by ice, they would have left a breadcrumb trail of millions of microscopic mineral grains. However, upon examining the sand in Wiltshire, the researchers found that none had been relocated there during the last ice age, which occurred between 20,000 and 26,000 years ago. Lead author Dr. Anthony Clarke informed the Daily Mail: ‘Our results render glacial transport improbable and support the prevailing theories that the megaliths were transported from remote locations by Neolithic individuals utilizing techniques such as sledges, rollers, and waterways.’

While the large standing stones, known as sarsens, originate from an area merely 15 miles (24 km) north of the stone circle, the smaller bluestones and the unique altar stone are not sourced locally. Geologists have traced the two to five-tonne bluestones back to the Preseli Hills in Wales, whereas the six-tonne altar stone has been identified as coming from a site at least 460 miles (750 km) away in northern Scotland. This indicates that Neolithic individuals would have had to transport specifically chosen stones over extensive distances using only stone and wooden tools. For some researchers, this notion appears so improbable that the glacial transport theory presents itself as a more plausible alternative. If ice did indeed cover the Salisbury Plain at some point in the distant past, it would have left behind evidence that should be observable today. Many of these significant traces, such as scratches on the bedrock or sculpted landforms, are either absent or inconclusive in the vicinity of Stonehenge. However, the ice would have also left a microscopic trace that scientists should be capable of detecting.

The large standing stones, referred to as sarsens, are sourced from an area located merely 15 miles (24 km) to the north of the stone circle, while the smaller bluestones and the distinctive altar stone are not obtained locally. Geologists have traced the bluestones, which weigh between two to five tonnes, back to the Preseli Hills in Wales, whereas the six-tonne altar stone has been determined to originate from a location at least 460 miles (750 km) away in northern Scotland. This suggests that Neolithic people would have needed to transport specifically selected stones over considerable distances using only stone and wooden tools. For some researchers, this idea seems so unlikely that the glacial transport theory emerges as a more credible alternative. If ice did indeed cover the Salisbury Plain at some point in the distant past, it would have left behind evidence that should be detectable today. Many of these important traces, such as scratches on the bedrock or sculpted landforms, are either missing or inconclusive in the area surrounding Stonehenge. Nevertheless, the ice would have also left a microscopic trace that scientists should be able to identify.

The large standing stones, known as sarsens, are obtained from a region situated just 15 miles (24 km) north of the stone circle, while the smaller bluestones and the unique altar stone are sourced from locations that are not local. Geologists have traced the origins of the bluestones, which weigh between two to five tonnes, back to the Preseli Hills in Wales, while the six-tonne altar stone has been identified as coming from a site at least 460 miles (750 km) away in northern Scotland. This indicates that Neolithic individuals would have had to transport carefully chosen stones over significant distances using only stone and wooden tools. For some researchers, this notion appears so improbable that the glacial transport theory presents itself as a more plausible alternative. If ice did indeed cover the Salisbury Plain at some point in the remote past, it would have left behind evidence that should be detectable in the present day. Many of these significant traces, such as scratches on the bedrock or sculpted landforms, are either absent or inconclusive in the vicinity of Stonehenge. However, the ice would have also left a microscopic trace that scientists should be capable of identifying.

This provides ‘robust, verifiable evidence’ that the massive stones were indeed transported manually to the Salisbury Plain. This could imply that we need to acknowledge more the creativity and resolve of our ancient forebears. Professor Kirkland states: ‘One could suggest a coastal transport by boat for the longer distances, followed by overland transportation utilizing sledges, rollers, prepared pathways, and organized labor, particularly for the largest stones. ‘Contemplating this supports the notion of a sophisticated interconnected society during the Neolithic period.’

Relevant Links
Grains of sand prove people – not glaciers – transported Stonehenge rocks – THE CONSERVATION~
The grains of sand that solve Stonehenge mystery after 5,000 years: Scientists uncover new evidence the stones were moved by humans – and not glaciers – DAILY MAIL
Want to visit Stonehenge with an expert tour guide and hear all about the latest discoveries? THE STONEHENGE TOUR COMPANY
Visit the inner circle of Stonehenge and walk amongst the Stones and dawn or dusk – STONEHENGE GUIDED TOURS

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The English Heritage Stonehenge experience as an independent visitor:

5 01 2026

For people across the world- Stonehenge is a must see location, it’s majesty as well as it’s mystery has made it a mainstay on everyone’s bucket list. Stonehenge receives over one million visitors a year and is the busiest U.K attraction outside of London. During peak periods, there are over 10,000 visitors a day with queues stretching up to 100 meters from the ticket office to the car park. Here is an independent visitor experience.

I’m sure that if you’re planning a trip to Stonehenge you already have an idea of how special the monument is. Stonehenge is full of mystery; its construction and very existence are still open to interpretation even in our technologically advanced world. Stonehenge boasts an amazing and unique design. Many believe that the stones possess healing powers. All this is true and visiting Stonehenge is almost an ethereal experience, perhaps because of the mysteries surrounding it. I want you to get the most out of your visit so here are a few of my top tips – enjoy!

There are shuttle buses from local towns such as Salisbury that offer direct pick up / drop off services to Stonehenge. Remember to check their timetables and give yourself plenty of time to get back to the bus stop. Once the last one has gone there is no service until the next day and although the security guards are very friendly and informative they will not let you stay overnight to sleep by the trilithons, under the stars!

When you arrive as an independent traveler the first thing you’ll notice is the visitor centre. It was moved away from the monument itself several years ago giving a far better experience than previously.

Timed Stonehenge tickets must be brought in advance and visitor numbers are limited. You must present your booking confirmation on arrival. You can book direct with English Heritage or search for discount tickets.
Tickets cost £30 per adult

Although it’s very tempting to show your ticket confirmation and rush straight to the stones, take the time to go to the visitor centre and exhibition space first. Take in the atmosphere of the World Heritage Site, allow yourself to step into the landscape of when the Henge was constructed 4,500 years ago.

I’d highly recommend you use English Heritage’s complementary wifi to download the free multi-language audio guide. Covering the exhibition and the monument itself, it’s a fantastic way to learn about the local landscape and the most famous prehistoric monument in the world!

In the exhibition you’ll discover more than 250 significant archaeological artefacts showing how local Neolithic people lived, worked and played around the monument. You’ll see hand tools including antler picks, jewellery, Grooved Ware pottery, Arrowheads, Battle Axes, as well as ancient human remains. One of my favourite exhibits uses advanced technology to reconstruct a man’s face from a skull discovered locally. It really helped me connect with the people who erected the monument.

Once you leave the exhibition, you’ll find a large scale map of the UNESCO World Heritage Site local landscape including Durrington Walls, Woodhenge and Avebury as well as Stonehenge. It shows how Stonehenge is best considered in its ancient landscape and not in isolation as we often think of it today.

Half a dozen Neolithic houses have been lovingly recreated just outside the visitor and exhibition centre. They are very closely based on archaeological evidence from 100 plus houses in a huge ceremonial earthworks enclosure discovered in 2006/7 about a mile away at Durrington Walls. They dated from about the same time as the erection of the large Sarsen stones at Stonehenge. The houses are constructed with local hazel wood weaved around supporting stakes, with thatched straw roofs and walls of chalk daub. They give a fascinating clue to where the builders of Stonehenge lived during its construction.

There are two Touching Stones, one of the same material as the Blue Stones and the other of the Sarsens. Feel how they radiate heat from the sun differently, remembering you cannot touch the stones of the monument itself. Right by the touching stones is the ‘Pull A Sarsen’ experience, you can have a go at trying to move a real scale Sarsen that shows how many people it takes to move it if they all pulled as hard as you!

The most important thing to remember before you head up to the stones themselves is to use the public facilities as there is no toilet / washroom up at the monument!

The stones are just over a mile away from the visitor centre and there are two ways to get there. The quickest is the complimentary shuttle bus which runs every ten minutes and takes five minutes. The best way, if you are up for it, is to arrive at Stonehenge on foot, through the landscape. You get to experience the unchanged landscape just as our Neolithic ancestors did.

I can walk up to the stones in 15-20 minutes walking at my usual pace so give yourself a leisurely half hour. Fargo Wood marks a halfway point to the stones and is a great place to get close up to one of the many burial mounds. You can’t miss them – they look like big overturned dessert bowls covered in grass and are not giant mole hills! As you walk up to the stones, use the audio guide to for information about The Long Barrow, The Avenue and Cursus.

Once at the monument itself I recommend you walk in a clockwise direction, towards the Heel Stone (which marks the place on the horizon where the summer solstice sunrise appears when viewed from the centre of the stone circle) and The Avenue, connecting the River Avon with Stonehenge. Here you’ll get a great opportunity to take photos of the best views of the monument – the Heel Stone and section of outer ring of Sarsen stones that are still capped with their lintels. Once you have that Iconic shot remember to take it all in, enjoy your time by the stones! There is a rope barrier around the monument that takes you away from the site to get a good feel of the Henge (earth works) that the stones are set inside, before it allows you to the closest point of your visit for some great up close photos. If the stones are wet you may be able to see some of the carved graffiti – see if you can spot where Sir Christopher Wren (architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral) carved his name twice on the stones!

Now you can choose to walk back to the visitor centre through the landscape you will now be so aware of or get the shuttle bus if your feet are tired.

Once back at the visitor centre you can’t ignore the shop for a memento of your visit. My favourite items have ‘Stonehenge Rocks’ emblazoned on them! There’s everything from postcards and pop-up books to beautiful bespoke jewellery and even a limited edition Stonehenge Monopoly!

Before you leave there is also the cafe to grab a coffee and reflect on your experience at one of the most iconic monuments in the world.

It is possible to book a local expert tour guide for a Stonehenge landscape tour. These walks provides you with spectacular views of the Stonehenge area rarely seen by the millions of people who visit the monument each year. This really is a wonderful walk with some tantalizing glimpses of the Stone Circle as you approach.

English Heritage also offer the Stonehenge Private access experience that allows you to walk amongst the inner circle before or after its officially open to the public

Visit Stonehenge Relevant Links:
Ticking Stonehenge off your bucket list. Stonehenge News Blog
Stonehenge Special Access Experience. Stonehenge News Blog
Stonehenge Walking Tours. Enhance your Stonehenge visit and book a local expert tour guide.
Salisbury Reds have frequent tour buses departing from Salisbury city centre and can also include Old Sarum Hill Fort.
The Stonehenge Travel Company can meet you in Salisbury or the railway station and conduct small group private guided tours at very reasonable prices. They also include Durrington Walls and Woodhenge.
Visit Wiltshire. Tourist Information and events guide.
Stonehenge Guided Tours offer small group and private guided tours, including the Stonehenge VIP access experience with departures from London, Bath, Salisbury and Southampton.

The Stonehenge News Blog
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Prehistoric cow tooth supports Welsh origin of Stonehenge stones. Scientists uncover new evidence about how the stones were transported there.

26 08 2025

A Neolithic cow tooth discovered at Stonehenge dating back to its construction offers new evidence of the stone circle’s Welsh origins, finds a new study involving UCL researchers. (SOURCE)

Stonehenge on the Winter Solstice. Construction of the iconic stone circle began around 3000 B.C.E. and continued in several phases

The paper, published in The Journal of Archaeological Science, examined a cow’s jawbone that was discovered in 1924 beside Stonehenge’s south entrance. Using isotope analysis of one of its teeth, the researchers dated it to around the time of the monument’s beginning, between 2995 and 2900 BCE, and placed its likely origin in Wales.

This is the first time that scientists have seen evidence linking cattle remains from Stonehenge to Wales, adding further weight to theories that cows were used in the transportation of the enormous rocks across the country. Previous research has shown that Stonehenge’s bluestones originated in Wales.

Professor Michael Parker Pearson (UCL Archaeology) said: “This is yet more fascinating evidence for Stonehenge’s link with south-west Wales, where its bluestones come from. It raises the tantalising possibility that cattle helped to haul the stones.”

The scientists sliced the cow’s third molar tooth, which records chemical signals from the animal’s second year of life, into nine horizontal sections. They were then able to measure carbon, oxygen, strontium and lead isotopes, which each offer clues about the cow’s diet, environment and movement.

The different concentrations and varieties of elements embedded within the tooth provided insight into the cow’s life. The oxygen isotopes revealed that the tooth captured roughly six months of growth, from winter to summer, whilst the carbon isotopes showed the animal’s diet changed with the seasons: woodland fodder in winter and open pasture in summer. Additionally, the strontium isotopes indicated the seasonal food sources came from different geological areas, suggesting that the cow either moved seasonally or that winter fodder was imported.

The lead isotopes revealed composition spikes during the late winter to spring, pointing to a lead source that was older than the lead in the rest of the tooth. The composition suggests the cow originated from an area with much older Palaeozoic rocks, such as around the Preseli hills in Pembrokeshire, Wales, where the Stonehenge’s bluestones originated before being transported to Sailsbury Plain.

Professor Jane Evans, BGS Honorary Research Associates said: “This study has revealed unprecedented details of six months in a cow’s life, providing the first evidence of cattle movement from Wales as well as documenting dietary changes and life events that happened around 5,000 years ago. A slice of one cow tooth has told us an extraordinary tale and, as new scientific tools emerge, we hope there is still more to learn from her long journey.”

In addition, researchers also concluded that the unusual lead signal could not be explained by local contamination or movement alone. Instead, that lead stored in the cow’s bones had been remobilised during the stresses of pregnancy. If true, this would mean the cow was female and pregnant or nursing during the tooth’s formation. To test the hypothesis, the team applied a peptide-based sex determination technique at the University of Manchester, which showed there was a high probability that the animal was female.

Richard Madgwick, professor of archaeological science at Cardiff University, said: “This research has provided key new insights into the biography of this enigmatic cow whose remains were deposited in such an important location at a Stonehenge entrance. It provides unparalleled new detail on the distant origins of the animal and the arduous journey it was brought on. So often grand narratives dominate research on major archaeological sites, but this detailed biographical approach on a single animal provides a brand-new facet to the story of Stonehenge.”

Links

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English Heritage launch new ‘Stonehenge Explorer’ private access tour.

30 07 2025

Step into the heart of Stonehenge on this once-in-a-lifetime, expert-led experience.

No other tour gets you closer.

In groups of no more than six people, you’ll stand in the heart of the Stone Circle, travel in style across the prehistoric landscape and get unparalleled insight into the world of Stonehenge.

You’ll start your tour at the Stonehenge visitor centre, where you will be met by your two expert guides who will accompany you throughout your visit.

They’ll share knowledge of the broader context in which Stonehenge was built and used as you travel by Land Rover to nearby Woodhenge, another important monument from the time of Stonehenge.

Back at the visitor centre, you’ll see objects unearthed from the Stonehenge landscape and step inside a reconstructed Neolithic house.

Next you’ll head to the famous stone circle itself. On a guided walk through the monument field you’ll see the earthworks, barrows and outlying stones, which are a significant, if often overlooked, feature of the ritual site.   

Then it’s time to join our team (English Heritage) as they carry out daily conservation checks on the famous stones. You’ll have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to spend around 15 minutes alone in the stones, taking photos and learning from your guides what it takes to care for this precious monument.

You’ll enjoy locally sourced food and drink during the experience thanks to a hamper in the Land Rover. At the end of the tour, you will be presented with a Stonehenge tote bag containing a guidebook (available in eight languages) and a small gift to take away as a souvenir of your visit.

The Explorer Tour runs 2pm until 5pm:

October: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday

November to March: Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Please arrive at the Stonehenge car park by 1.45pm and make your way to the membership office at the visitor centre, where you’ll meet your guides for the afternoon.

The tour involves some walking over uneven ground, so it’s most suitable for people with a good level of mobility. Whatever your needs, we’ll always do our best to meet them, so get in touch with us if you have any questions.

Remember to dress for the weather. Stonehenge is in an exposed spot on Salisbury Plain, so we recommend layers and sensible footwear.

Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements or allergies.

The tour is in English. You’re welcome to bring an interpreter, but they will need their own ticket.

Price

The tour is £250 per adult aged 18 and over, and £150 for children aged 5-17. We do not recommend this tour for children under 12. 

If you’d like to book all six places for your exclusive use, the price is £1500.

Prices are valid until 31 March 2026.
BOOK DIRECT WITH ENGLISH HERITAGE

Got any further questions? Check out our Explorer Tours frequently asked questions page. 

FURTHER RELEVANT LINKS

Discover what the landscape around Stonehenge has looked like from before the monument itself was first built through to the present day. Interactive Maps of the Stonehenge Landscape
Take an interactive tour of Stonehenge with our 360 degree view from inside the monument. Select the hotspots to find out more. Stonehenge Virtual Tour: Inside the Stones
A World Heritage Site famous for its ancient ceremonial landscape of great archaeological interest. Stonehenge Landscape
Coach and Private Guided Tours of Stonehenge including the inner circle access experience with transport from London. Stonehenge Guided Rock Tours
Stonehenge guided tours with special access departing from London, Bath, Southampton, Oxford and Salisbury – The Stonehenge Guided Tour Company
Stonehenge guided landscape and private access inner circle tours departing from Salisbury. The Stonehenge Travel Company

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Stonehenge may have been built to unite early British farming communities. Experts believe monument had a political purpose as it was created with rocks from all corners of ancient Britain.

27 12 2024

Recent findings show that Stonehenge’s stones came from all over Britain – and this offers clues to the monument’s purpose, say archaeologists

A symbol of British unity? Wiltshire’s famous stone circle is one of the world’s most iconic historic sites and a British cultural icon – but its intended purpose has long divided academics 

Stonehenge may have been erected explicitly to unite early farming communities across the island of Britain at a time of cultural stress, argues Mike Parker Pearson, professor of British later prehistory at University College London – and the altar stone may have been taken from a distant Scottish monument as a gift or marker of political alliance.

While the structure is unique for many reasons – including its extensive stone-dressing and that it has lintels – no other monument in Britain or Ireland incorporates stones that were brought such huge distances, Parker Pearson writes in a forthcoming paper in the journal Archaeology International. “Stonehenge stands out in being a material and monumental microcosm of the entirety of the British Isles.”

As such, we should consider Stonehenge to be a political monument as much as a religious one, Parker Pearson said. “It’s not a temple – that has been a major stumbling block for hundreds of years. It’s not a calendar, and it’s not an observatory.” The structure’s famous alignment to the winter and summer solstices echoes earlier constructions such as Newgrange in the Boyne valley in Ireland, but may not be its main purpose, he said.

“I think we’ve just not been looking at Stonehenge in the right way. You really have to look at all of it to work out what they’re doing. They’re constructing a monument that is expressing the permanence of particular aspects in their world.”

The altar stone is often overlooked by visitors to Stonehenge because it lies flat and partly obscured by a huge fallen sarsen. It was long assumed that it had also fallen, said Parker Pearson – yet north-east Scotland is home to multiple circles in which the stones are purposely laid flat.

“Given what we now know about where it’s from, it seems all the more likely that it was deliberately set as a recumbent stone,” he said, adding that it is “highly likely” that the altar stone had been part of an earlier Scottish monument. “These stones are not just plucked out of anywhere.”

With Orkney having been ruled out as a potential origin, other potential sites or origin are now being examined. “I think we’ll wait and see. It’s very exciting,” he said.

Archaeologists believe the altar stone may have been installed around 2500BCE, about the time Stonehenge was being remodelled from its original form.

Visitors celebrate the winter solstice at Stonehenge, but the theory that the site was a solar calendar has been superseded by suggestions that it was built for political purposes

This was a period of cultural change in Britain amid new arrivals from mainland Europe. “There’s obviously some kind of interaction – you might call it first contact,” said Parker Pearson. “That is the moment that Stonehenge is built, and I wonder if it is that moment of contact that serves, in whatever way, as the catalyst for this really impressive second stage of Stonehenge. It’s an attempt to assert unity, quite possibly integrating the newcomers – or not.”

Ultimately, however, “it doesn’t succeed” – given genetic research shows the incoming “beaker people” would largely displace the earlier neolithic populations. “That said, Stonehenge is adopted [as a monument] by those beaker-using people whose descendants become the dominant population of Britain,” said Parker Pearson.

“So despite the change in population, Stonehenge continues to exert its significance in the wider world.”

RELEVANT LINKS:
Stonehenge may have been built to unite early British farming communities – Archeology News
Stonehenge may have been erected to unite early British farming communities, research finds – The Guardian
Stonehenge may have been built to unify people of ancient Britain – NEW SCIENTIST
Tours of Stonehenge with local guided experts – STONEHENGE GUIDED TOURS
Stonehenge mystery is SOLVED after 5,000 years – as scientists finally crack why the mysterious monument was built – DAILY MAIL
Stonehenge built to unite native Britons after influx of European migrants, researchers suggest – THE TELEGRAPH
Stonehenge Guided Landscape Tours – STONEHENGE TOUR COMPANY
Stonehenge Equinox and Solstice Tours – SOLSTICE EVENTS U.K

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Stonehenge Archaeology Landscape Walk 2016

26 01 2016

Explore the wider Stonehenge World Heritage landscape with a National Trust guide discovering hidden histories and ancient mysteries.

An afternoon walk up on the downs learning about the ancient archaeology of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. On this 4 mile walk with views of the stone circle, we’ll visit ancient earthworks that have revealed much about the people who once lived and celebrated here. Talking points include the Cursus, the many and varied barrows, and an ancient avenue connecting ceremonial centres.

stonehengelandscape

Booking details:
Call 0844 249 1895A 5% booking fee applies. Phone lines are open Mon to Fri 9am-5.30pm, plus Sat and Sun 9am-4pm. National Trust website

Suitability:
Accompanied children welcome, free. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Meeting point:
Meeting in a car park off Tombs Road (Larkhill) at OS grid reference SU 14382 43626 (nearest postcode SP4 8NB). A map of the meeting point on can be found on the event’s webpage.

What to bring and wear:
Dress for the weather – wrap up warm as it gets chilly up on the downs – and wear stout footwear. You may like to bring a drink and a snack.

Accessibility:
Access is by pedestrian and farm gates; the terrain is mostly grassland and trackways, often uneven underfoot. Cattle and sheep graze the gently sloping downs.

Other:
Please note, traffic on the A303 is often congested around holidays and weekends. Although your guide will tell you about it, this walk doesn’t visit the Stone Circle. You might like to visit it before the walk; NT members are admitted free.

Times

Day Times Availability
5 March 2016 14:00 – 16:30
7 May 2016 14:00 – 16:30

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