The secret behind Stonehenge: Scientists reveal why it survived more than 5,000 years

The magnificent ruins of Stonehenge have captured the imagination of generations. Its purpose, origin and history It has been revealed in scanty over the yearsThanks to extensive research and new technology that enables completely new discoveries.

The Stonehenge stone circle, whose purpose remains a mystery to scientists despite being the subject of decades of research, It is one of the most famous locations in Great Britain as it attracts many tourists and people looking to have a spiritual connection with nature.

The first mention of Stonehenge dates back nearly 900 years, in the legend of Geoffrey of Monmouth, who tells that Merlin built the monument brought from Ireland to England, with 15,000 men, the stones of the “Circle of the Dance of the Giants”, known as “magical” and “healing”.

and now, New study suggest that This monument may have lasted for a long time due to the unique geochemical composition of the standing stones.

An international team of scientists analyzed thin slices of a core sample from one of the large sandstone slabs, known as Sarsens.

sample, called Philip’s heart, for more than 60 years, and only returned to Britain after two years of keeping it as a memento in the United States for decades. Six separate pieces were removed from there. One of them, which is only 67 mm long, was taken by researchers for analysis.

The analysis shows that Sarsen consists primarily of sand-sized quartz grains that have been held tightly together by an interlocking mosaic of quartz crystals. This explains the stone’s resistance to the elements for the past 5,000 years and why it was an ideal material for building such a monument, according to experts.

“This gives answers to stone’s resistance to the elements and why it is an ideal material for building monuments”The University of Brighton geomorphologist said, David Nash, who led the study published in the journal One Plus.

In a remarkable engineering feat of the late Neolithic people, Sarsenes were erected at the site in Wiltshire, England, around 2500 BC. NS. Stone 58, one of Sarcen’s vertical giants in central Stonehenge, is about 23 feet (7 meters) high, with another 7 feet (2 meters) underground and an estimated ground weight of 24 tons.

“Reaching the perforated core of Stone 58 was pretty much the holy grail of our investigation.Nash said. “All previous work on sarsenes at Stonehenge has included samples that were excavated at the site or taken from random stones.”

Researchers used CT scan, X-ray, microscopic analysis, and various geochemical techniques to study fragments and slices from the base sample; These tests are prohibited on megaliths on the site.

“This small sample is probably now The most analyzed piece of stone besides the moon rockNash admitted.

It is not clear exactly when the rock formed, although researchers have found that Some of the sand grains included date back to a period between one thousand and 1.6 billion years ago.

“It is extremely rare for the world to have the opportunity to work with samples of national and international importance,” Professor Nash reassured. “With the help of organizations such as the British Geological Survey and the Natural History Museum, we have been able to apply a range of cutting edge technologies to Phillip’s Core.”

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