West Woods and the Secrets of Stonehenge's Stones
Hidden among the trees of Wiltshire, England, lies a woodland whispering tales of giants and ancient puzzles. West Woods, once an unassuming site, has shot to fame in recent years as the likely source of the colossal sarsen stones that make up Stonehenge, the iconic prehistoric monument.
For centuries, the origin of these massive stones, weighing up to 25 tons, remained a mystery. Theories pointed to distant locations, with speculations ranging from Wales to even Africa. But in 2020, a scientific breakthrough changed everything.
Geochemical analysis of a core drilled from a Stonehenge sarsen stone matched perfectly with samples from West Woods. This confirmed what many archaeologists had suspected for years: this unassuming woodland held the key to Stonehenge's construction.
But West Woods is more than just a quarry. Evidence suggests it was a place of human activity long before the sarsens were extracted. Stone tools dating back to the Mesolithic period (7,000 - 4,000 BCE) have been found, hinting at a long association with humans.
One particularly intriguing stone in West Woods is the Polisher Stone, bearing grooves indicative of its use for shaping and sharpening axes. This suggests the woodland may have served as a workshop for prehistoric toolmakers, adding another layer to its rich history.
Today, West Woods stands as a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of the people who built Stonehenge. Walking through the woodland, one can almost imagine the mammoth task of transporting these colossal stones 25 kilometers across the ancient landscape.
While the exact purpose of Stonehenge remains shrouded in mystery, understanding its building materials helps us piece together the lives of its builders. West Woods is no longer just a woodland; it's a window into the past, offering clues about a civilization capable of incredible feats of engineering and collaboration.
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