Stonehenge may have been first erected in Wales. (ancient, Rome, years)

[Cruithne]

It is has long been known that the bluestones at Stonehenge came from Pembrokeshire hills in Wales - about 140 miles from the famous Salisbury Plain site.


New evidence suggests that the stones may have been first erected in Pembrokeshire before being moved to Salisbury Plain:

archaeologists have discovered a series of recesses in the rocky outcrops of Carn Goedog and Craig Rhos-y-felin, to the north of those hills, that match Stonehenge’s bluestones in size and shape. They have also found similar stones that the prehistoric builders extracted but left behind, and “a loading bay” from where the huge stones could be dragged away.
Carbonised hazelnut shells and charcoal from the quarry workers’ campfires have been radiocarbon-dated to reveal when the stones would have been extracted.
Prof Mike Parker Pearson, director of the project and professor of British later prehistory at University College London (UCL), said the finds were “amazing”.
“We have dates of around 3400 BC for Craig Rhos-y-felin and 3200 BC for Carn Goedog, which is intriguing because the bluestones didn’t get put up at Stonehenge until around 2900 BC,” he said. “It could have taken those Neolithic stone-draggers nearly 500 years to get them to Stonehenge, but that’s pretty improbable in my view. It’s more likely that the stones were first used in a local monument, somewhere near the quarries, that was then dismantled and dragged off to Wiltshire.”

Stonehenge may have been first erected in Wales, evidence suggests | UK news | The Guardian

[Linda_d]

Ancient -- and even medieval -- builders often reused cut stone blocks, so it's entirely possible that they were used first in some other moment and then re-used later.

[Aredhel]

Originally Posted by Linda_d

Ancient -- and even medieval -- builders often reused cut stone blocks, so it's entirely possible that they were used first in some other moment and then re-used later.

Given how hard and tedious it was to hew stone for construction, that showed good sense on the part of the builders. (One of the most striking things I remember from my visit to Rome last year was seeing buildings cobbled together from various pieces of marble that had clearly belonged to some earlier structures. The lintel of one church had "Divine Emperor Nerva" carved on it!)

I wonder why the bluestones weren't reused in a more local project, though, instead of being carted 140 miles to Salisbury? I guess we'll never know.

[England Dan]

The stones were laid on poles of yew ( I have read), and then pushed along on top, with the back poles move to the front. I cant answer how they got around barriers such as hills and streams! ( not the A303) but in are modern instant gratification world, this is impressive, And why Salisbury Plain ( the great plain)? Maybe this is due to the ancient ley-lines . Even now as you drive to Cornwall or Devon, the stones are impressive

[IsraelJudah2]

That place was torture.
I believe many Israelite children were smashed there.