Stonehenge has been the stuff of legends, history and mysterious religious practices almost since the start of the oral tradition.  The origins and date of Stonehenge have been even more of a mystery for centuries.  Recently, an archeology dig sent fragments found of the second oldest stones, called blue stones, to be carbon dated.  The archeologists also had the remains from nearby tombs tested.  The results were unexpected.

According to the Telegraph, Professors Timothy Darvill and Geoffrey Wainwright are leading “the first dig inside the historic stone circle for 44 years”.  Not only have the archeologists started to pin down the date of the blue stones at Stonehenge, but they have also discovered that Stonehenge was a place of healing.

Using modern forensic science, the scientists found that a high percentage of the remains discovered in nearby tombs showed signs of having serious illnesses.  By checking the teeth, it was also clear that the remains were from people not native to the area.  Because the blue stones were said to be imbued with healing powers, people came to be healed.  Where the sick gathered, healers also went.

  Stonehenge as it exists today, was built in stages.  The earliest stage was built 3100 BC and consisted of “a large earthwork or Henge, comprising a ditch, bank, and the Aubrey holes,…round pits in the chalk, about one metre wide and deep, with steep sides and flat bottoms.”  The whole earthwork is 284 feet in diameter.

The second stage involving the addition of the blue stones, was originally placed at 2600 to 2400 BC.   Now scientists have discovered through carbon dating that the actual  dates are between 2400 and 2200 BC.  A more exact date is expected by the end of the current dig.

The blue stones were mined “from the the Preseli hills, 150 miles away in South Wales”.  It is thought that the stones were transported over land and water to where they now reside.

The third stage occurred supposedly in 2000 BC when the large, 50 ton Sarcen stones were  transported 25 miles from the Marlborough Downs near Avebury, in north Wiltshire.  The final stage involved the rearrangement of the blue stones into the current horseshoe and circle configuration.  That was some time around 1500 BC.

One of the legends that surrounds Stonehenge is that it was built by Merlin prior to his time with King Arthur.  The known dates would dispel that particular myth.

Drs. Darvill and Wainwright expect to be able to place specific dates on the blue stones.  Who knows what else they may discover during this dig.  so far the combinations of tried and true archeology methods and recent scientific carbon dating and forensic science are providing insights that were unforeseen.

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Entry was posted on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 pm under Science and technology, Technology.

Read more entries by Susan Wilson.
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