Community

Has the mystery of how Preseli rock got stonehenge finally been solved?

Published

10 months ago

June 17, 2024

‘Lost’ Boulder Proves the Bluestones Were Transported from Wales by Glacier Ice – and NOT by Humans, Study Claims

A NEW study of the ‘lost’ Newall Boulder suggests it was transported by ice, potentially overturning the theory that humans moved the stones for Stonehenge.

How Neolithic humans might have transported so many huge boulders from Wales to Stonehenge is one of archaeology’s most enduring mysteries. However, a new study of a ‘lost’ boulder taken from the Stonehenge site over 90 years ago suggests that humans might not have moved the stones at all.

Dr Brian John, a retired geology lecturer from Durham University who lives in Pembrokeshire, argues that this bluestone boulder bears marks which suggest it was moved by glacial ice. This would undermine the common theory that the bluestone was quarried in the Preseli Hills of southwest Wales and manually transported to the Salisbury Plain.

***Natural transport: Could movement of ice pushed the stones to Mendip?***

Dr John said: “I think it’s hugely significant because it supports the assumption I’ve had for some years that these are not humanly-transported.”

In addition to the tall Sarsen stones that make up Stonehenge’s distinctive appearance, the site is also home to around 80 smaller bluestones. It is generally agreed that these stones originate from the Preseli Hills of south-west Wales, but how they got to Stonehenge is often debated.

Dr John’s argument centres on an analysis of a bluestone boulder about the size of a human skull, known as the Newall boulder. This boulder was first excavated in 1924 by the geologists Colonel Hawley and Robert Newall. Hawley originally thought the rock was just a piece of rubbish and wanted to throw it away rather than analyse it. However, Newall saved the stone from the rubbish heap and placed it in a cardboard box in his attic alongside a number of other finds from the site.

***New theory: Dr John (Pic: Martin Cavaney)***

The boulder remained there until Newall passed it over to the Salisbury Museum shortly before he died in 1976. There was a brief burst of interest in the boulder around 1977, but then it was placed back into storage and effectively forgotten for another 46 years.

However, in 2022, Dr John found a reference to the boulder and asked the Museum Director, Adrian Green, if it was still in storage. On discovering that it was, he was given permission to examine it and undertake a careful examination of its surface features.

Through a detailed analysis of the boulder’s surface, Dr John identified a series of marks that suggest glacial, rather than human transport. “Glacially transported boulders tend to have facets,” Dr John explains. “That means they’ve got a number of different faces at angles to one another which actually indicated where a boulder has been abraded or, basically, sanded down.”

**Is current theory wrong?: Volunteers pull bluestone from Pembrokeshire to Stonehenge (Image: Martin Cavaney)**

As boulders move with a glacier, they get flipped over from side to side, creating several different flat faces with rounded edges, just like the Newall boulder. In addition, the boulder bears a series of scratches and small fractures, called striations and chatter marks, which are often caused by glacial transport.

And although the Newall Boulder isn’t exactly the same type of rock as the other bluestones, Dr John says this is exactly what his theory would predict. He says: “It’s often claimed in popular articles that the bluestones are all made of spotted dolerite which is this type of igneous rock we get on the Preseli Hills but they’re actually about 30 different rock types. That enormous range of rock types is absolutely typical of the way that ice travels across the terrain and picks up boulders from here there and everywhere.”

Dr John suggests that this provides convincing evidence that the Newall boulder and all of the smaller bluestone boulders at Stonehenge were moved by glacier. His claims land him squarely at the centre of one of Stonehenge’s most contentious debates. The idea that the stones were transported to Salisbury Plain began with the geologist Herbert Henry Thomas in 1923. Although Thomas was quite spectacularly wrong about almost everything, the human transport theory is still extremely popular.

A team of researchers led by Professor Mike Parker Pearson of UCL have been some of the most active proponents of this theory, arguing that the stones were moved over land. Recently, Professor Pearson and his team even claimed to have discovered evidence which identifies the quarry of the Stonehenge bluestone, dating this to 3000 BC.

***Previously, two curraghs were readied to see if Bluestones could be floated to Stonehenge (Image Martin Cavaney)***

However, Dr John now says his discovery should “open up the debate” for a consideration of other theories. He says: “Herbert Thomas thought that because glacial transport was impossible they must have been carried by human beings. That’s now part of our national myth because people have not seriously questioned it before; it’s just been accepted as the truth.”

Instead of the orderly and rather deliberate building project we sometimes imagine Stonehenge to be, Dr John says: “I think it’s always been a bit of a shambles.” He argues that the Neolithic builders simply used the stones they had in their immediate vicinity, rearranging and moving the smaller bluestones as needed. And, when they eventually had to travel too far to gather more stones, the project was simply abandoned in the state we now find it. “It was a Neolithic cost-benefit analysis that eventually the costs of getting the stones were greater than the benefits that were coming from it,” he says.

However, the ultimate test for his theory would be cosmogenic dating – a test to determine how long rocks have been exposed to the surface by measuring their exposure to cosmic rays. If Dr John is right, the deeply weathered surface of the rocks should have been exposed to the elements for hundreds of thousands of years. Alternatively, if the stones were quarried they should only have been exposed to cosmic radiation for around 3,000 to 5,000 years.

While the debate over the origin of the stones is still very much alive, Dr John believes the evidence of weathering will remain strong. He concludes: “I’m very confident that if one or other university can get its act together and actually get this done these stones will be seen to have been subject to cosmogenic bombardment from the atmosphere for possibly hundreds of thousands of years. That would knock the quarrying idea on its head once and for all.”

Community

Missing Isabelle and Daniel located safe and well

Published

18 hours ago

April 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE have confirmed that Isabelle and Daniel, who were reported missing from the Cardigan area, have been found safe and well.

A spokesperson said: “We are pleased to confirm that Isabelle and Daniel have been located. Thank you to everyone who shared our appeal.”

The force had issued a public appeal earlier this week in a bid to locate the pair, prompting widespread concern and support across the community.

Community

Eleven new firefighters join ranks at Mid and West Wales Fire Service

Published

19 hours ago

April 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Graduation ceremony marks end of 14-week training course

ELEVEN new Wholetime Firefighters have officially joined Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) following a graduation ceremony held at the Service’s Earlswood Training Centre on Wednesday (Apr 16).

The new recruits, collectively known as Squad 01/25, completed an intensive 14-week training programme, culminating in a formal Passing Out Parade attended by proud family, friends and senior fire service personnel.

The ceremony was opened by Chief Fire Officer Roger Thomas KFSM and featured a full Parade of Recruits, Drill Yard Displays and presentations of awards and certificates. The recruits were inspected by Chief Fire Officer Thomas, Councillor Gwynfor Thomas (Chair of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority), and Group Manager Stuart Bate, Head of Training Delivery.

Speaking at the event, Stuart Bate praised the dedication and determination shown by the new firefighters:

“From the first day of their training, they have exhibited courage, discipline, and determination to uphold the noblest traditions of the Fire Service.
They have demonstrated exceptional resilience, and have embraced the values of teamwork, integrity, and selflessness that define our profession.”

Chief Fire Officer Thomas added: “We celebrated the remarkable achievements made by these 11 dedicated individuals who have undergone fourteen weeks of rigorous training.
As an integral part of Wales’ emergency response infrastructure, MAWWFRS exemplifies professionalism and unwavering dedication to public safety – and you are now an essential part of this work.”

Award Winners

As part of the ceremony, several recruits were recognised for their outstanding performance during the course:

Physical Fitness Achievement Award: Awarded to Kallum Richards for exceptional effort and commitment to fitness throughout the course.
Recruits’ Recruit Award: Chosen by fellow recruits, this award went to Rhys Tucker for demonstrating consistent support and leadership within the group.
Highest-Achieving Recruit (Silver Axe Award): Presented to Llion Jones for exemplary performance across all aspects of training, including practical skills, exams, leadership, and teamwork.

Each graduate received a framed certificate presented by Chief Fire Officer Thomas to mark the successful completion of their training.

The new firefighters will now begin their careers across various stations within the Mid and West Wales region. The Service extended its congratulations to all members of Squad 01/25, wishing them long and successful careers in the Fire and Rescue Service.

Community

A487 at Newport made resilient after vital infrastructure work

Published

19 hours ago

April 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE A487 at Newport in Pembrokeshire has reopened following essential engineering work to future-proof the road and avoid long-term disruption to the community.

The key stretch of road reopened on schedule on 3 March after a defective culvert running beneath the A487 was fully replaced. The upgrade is expected to mitigate the impact of climate change and reduce the risk of emergency closures in the future.

The project involved complex engineering and close collaboration between contractors and key stakeholders, including Welsh Water, Wales & West Utilities, and Openreach. The culvert carries vital infrastructure, including water, sewage and gas pipes, as well as fibre optic telecommunications cables.

Without the repair, a collapse could have caused major disruption to services and forced an emergency closure of the road for an extended period. Localised flooding was also a potential risk.

Given the culvert’s location in the centre of Newport, care was taken to minimise disruption to local residents, businesses, and road users. A number of repair options were considered, but engineers concluded that full replacement of the structure was the only long-term solution.

Consultations were held to identify the least disruptive time of year to complete the works. With tourism vital to the area’s economy, it was agreed that the work would be carried out before the start of the season.

While the road was closed, engineers also carried out resurfacing along the affected stretch to address existing carriageway defects.

During the eight-week closure, local businesses reported a significant drop in footfall. Traders in Newport said January had been particularly challenging, with customer numbers falling sharply. Some were forced to reduce staffing levels or find creative ways to support loyal customers, including offering private parking for those with mobility issues.

Traders also expressed frustration at signage placed at Cardigan and St Clears, which they said gave the impression the entire road was shut, deterring potential visitors.

A diversion route for light vehicles was implemented locally, while heavy goods vehicles faced a considerably longer detour. Parking outside some businesses was restricted, and an increase in traffic through back roads added to the disruption.

Despite these setbacks, the town is now looking to the future. Businesses are reporting a renewed sense of optimism with the roadworks complete. Several are preparing for the busy spring and summer period, including events like Welsh Art Week, which is set to attract visitors from across the country.

Transport Minister Ken Skates said:
“I understand the disruption caused by works and I’d like to thank motorists and local residents for their patience whilst the work was taking place. However, it was vital that it was carried out at this time to ensure the road can remain open in the years to come.

“This is a beautiful part of Wales which attracts many tourists from across the UK and beyond. Therefore, it was important the work was completed before the start of the busy tourist season.

“I’d also like to thank the South Wales Trunk Road Agent and their supply chain for their hard work to ensure the project was completed on schedule whilst minimising disruption as far as possible.”