Unexpected Corpses Unearthed At Stonehenge May Finally Reveal Who Built It — And Why
Adam Stanford/Aerial-CamExcavation team near Stonehenge.
Study of Stonehenge typically focuses on its structure rather than the people buried at the site, but a new study published on Aug. 2 in the journal Scientific Reports revealed surprising results based on recent examinations of the bone fragments from human remains that had been found there.
Researchers found that at least 10 of the people buried there had come from areas some 180 miles away, leaving experts wondering just how and why those people ended up at Stonehenge.
The team of researchers then analyzed the bone fragments from the 25 cremated individuals through their bones’ strontium isotopes.
Scientific ReportsBone fragments unearthed at Stonehenge.
A person’s bones absorb strontium, a metal deposited in bedrock, from the food and water that they consume, so researchers compared the ancient strontium isotopes to plants, water, and teeth from present-day United Kingdom to discover that the origin of 10 individuals was in western Wales.
This discovery marks another connection between Stonehenge and this section of Wales, in addition to the fact that the monument’s bluestones originally came from a quarry in Wales.
Stonehenge remains one of the world’s greatest ancient mysteries, though each archaeology news-making discovery like this one just might bring us closer to understanding the monument’s wealth of secrets.
After this look back at the best in 2018’s archaeology news, take a look at these 14 archaeological discoveries that changed history. Then, finish off your year by taking a look at one of the most interesting men in the world — Joe Exotic.
