News

Stonehenge altar stone came from Scotland, not Wales

Published

6 months ago

August 15, 2024

THE LARGEST “bluestone” at the heart of Stonehenge came from northern Scotland, not Wales, according to new research.

Published in the journal Nature, the study analysed the age and chemistry of minerals from fragments of the Altar Stone.

The findings show a remarkable similarity between the Old Red Sandstone of the Orcadian Basin in northeast Scotland and the Stonehenge Altar Stone.

Construction at Stonehenge began 5,000 years ago, with changes and additions over the next two millennia.

Although it is unclear when the Altar Stone arrived at Stonehenge, it may have been placed within the world-renowned central horseshoe of stones during the second construction phase at around 2620 – 2480 BC.

For the past hundred years, the iconic six-tonne Altar Stone at the heart of the ancient site was believed to have come from Wales.

The majority of Stonehenge’s world-renowned ‘bluestones’ came from the Preseli Hills area in west Wales and are believed to have been the first stones erected at the Wiltshire site.

The Altar Stone, a sandstone, has traditionally been grouped with these other, smaller, igneous bluestones.

However, the Altar Stone’s origins had remained an open question, until now.

According to the new research involving scientists at Aberystwyth University, UCL, Curtin University and the University of Adelaide, both the chemical composition and the ages of mineral grains in the sandstone indicate it is very likely to have come from northeast Scotland.

The scientists used their analysis of the ages of the mineral grains to create a ‘fingerprint’ of the source of those grains. They matched ages found in rocks of the Orcadian Basin found in the north-east of Scotland, and are completely different from Welsh-sourced stones.

Co-author Professor Richard Bevins from Aberystwyth University said:

“These findings are truly remarkable – they overturn what had been thought for the past century. We have succeeded in working out, if you like, the age and chemical fingerprints of perhaps one of the most famous of stones in the world-renowned ancient monument.

“It’s thrilling to know that our chemical analysis and dating work has finally unlocked this great mystery. We can now say that this iconic rock is Scottish and not Welsh. Although we can say that much, and confidently – the hunt will still very much be on to pin down where exactly in the north-east of Scotland the Altar Stone came from.”

The new discovery implies that one of the most famous stones in the world was moved much further than had been believed – at least 700 km (435 miles).

Anthony Clarke from the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group at Curtin University said:

“Considering the technological constraints of the Neolithic, our findings raise fascinating questions about how such massive stone was able to be transported over the vast distance implied. Given major overland barriers en route from north-east Scotland to Salisbury Plain, marine transport is one feasible option.”

Co-author Dr Robert Ixer of the UCL Institute of Archaeology said: “This is a genuinely shocking result, but if plate tectonics and atomic physics are correct, then the Altar Stone is Scottish. The work prompts two important questions: why and exactly how was the Altar Stone transported from the very north of Scotland, a distance of more than 700 kilometres, to Stonehenge?”

While the research does not provide direct evidence about how the Altar Stone got to its world-famous location in Wiltshire, the revelation that it travelled so far will raise questions about its journey given the limits of human technology during Neolithic times.

Professor Nick Pearce from Aberystwyth University added:

“This stone has travelled an awful long way – at least 700 km – and this is the longest recorded journey for any stone used in a monument at that period. The distance travelled is astonishing for the time. While the purpose of our new, empirical research was not to answer the question of how it got there, there are obvious physical barriers to transporting by land, but a daunting journey if going by sea. There’s no doubt that this Scottish source shows a high level of societal organisation in the British Isles during the period. These findings will have huge ramifications for understanding communities in Neolithic times, their levels of connectivity and their transport systems.

“Hopefully, people will now start to look at the Altar Stone in a slightly different context in terms of how and when it got to Stonehenge, and where it came from. I am sure this will lead to some new thinking about the development of Stonehenge and its links to the rest of Neolithic Britain.”

The new research builds on findings published by Aberystwyth University and UCL researchers last year in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports that cast doubt on the Altar Stone’s Welsh origins, and suggested that it should not be classified as a bluestone.

This study was supported by a Leverhulme Trust Emeritus Fellowship, Salisbury Museum and Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales and funded by an Australian Research Council Discovery Project. It was a collaboration between Aberystwyth University, Curtin University, the University of Adelaide, and UCL.

Crime

Police issue warning following protests over baby abuse case

Published

9 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Tom Sinclair

POLICE have issued a warning after two nights of protests outside a property in Burton, where demonstrators gathered in response to a court decision granting bail to a man accused of serious child abuse offences.

Officers were called to the address at around 7:00pm on Tuesday (Jan 28) following reports of a crowd forming outside the property. A second gathering took place the following night (Jan 29), prompting further police presence.

During the second protest, officers arrested two men—one aged 47 on suspicion of affray and another aged 58 on suspicion of aggravated trespass. Both have since been released on bail with conditions while investigations continue.

Police confirmed that body-worn footage from both incidents is being reviewed, warning that any individuals found to have committed offences will face further action.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We will always seek to facilitate peaceful protest while balancing it with the rights of others, keeping the public safe, and preventing crime and disorder.

“We encourage anyone organising a protest to contact us so we can work together to ensure any demonstrations are conducted safely and with respect for the wider community.”

The demonstrations follow public outrage over the case of Christopher Phillips, 33, who has been charged with the sexual penetration of a seven-week-old baby, as well as assault, ill-treatment, neglect, and abandonment causing serious physical harm. His co-accused, Bryony O’Rourke, faces related charges of allowing a child to suffer serious harm.

On Friday (Jan 25), Phillips was re-granted bail, sparking fury among locals, with around 40 people gathering outside the Burton property on Tuesday to voice their anger. The Herald understands that police at the scene informed protesters that Phillips was not present at the address.

One demonstrator told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “We’re here for the baby. It’s not right that people accused of such horrific crimes are allowed to walk free in the community.”

While initial reports described the protest as peaceful, police have now intervened following the second night of demonstrations, urging the public to express their concerns through legal means and avoid any actions that could lead to criminal charges.

The investigation into the case is ongoing.

News

Fewer road casualties recorded in first year of Wales’ 20mph speed limit

Published

10 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST year of Wales’ controversial 20mph speed limit saw around 100 fewer people killed or seriously injured on roads previously subject to 30mph restrictions, according to government figures.

New data on road casualties was cautiously welcomed by the Welsh Government, while former transport minister Lee Waters, who led the policy, described it as “the most successful road safety intervention in modern times.”

Statistics indicate that road casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads fell by 26% compared to the previous year, with ten fewer fatalities recorded. The period from July to September 2024 saw the lowest number of casualties on these roads since records began in 1979.

Policy controversy and review

The default speed limit on most urban roads was lowered from 30mph to 20mph on 17 September 2023, with certain exemptions in place. Introduced under former First Minister Mark Drakeford, the policy has been one of the most divisive initiatives since Welsh devolution, with nearly half a million people signing a petition demanding its repeal.

Public backlash prompted a review, and councils are now considering whether some roads should revert to 30mph. The Welsh Government has also commissioned a five-year study assessing the economic costs and benefits of the scheme, with findings expected in 2029.

Cautious optimism over casualty reduction

Government officials have urged caution in directly linking casualty reductions to the 20mph limit, noting that road collisions have been steadily declining over the past decade. The Welsh Government’s chief statistician has stated that at least three years of data are needed for a meaningful analysis of the policy’s long-term impact.

Figures released on Wednesday show that between July and September 2024, 410 road casualties were recorded on 20mph and 30mph roads. These included three fatalities, 90 serious injuries, and 317 minor injuries—a 35% reduction compared to the same period in 2023 and the lowest figures on record.

Over the full 12 months from October 2023 to September 2024, road casualties on these roads were 28% lower than the previous year.

Political reaction

Current Transport Secretary Ken Skates said the trend was “encouraging” and reiterated that the full effects of the policy would take time to assess.

“We know there is a way to go, and we’ve always said it will take a number of years to see the full impact of the policy,” he said. “But to see the figures for this quarter at their lowest level is positive.”

Former minister Lee Waters, now a Labour backbencher, told Herald.Wales: “We can now say with confidence that in its first year, the speed limit reduction represents the most successful road safety intervention in modern times.”

However, the policy has divided opinion both within the Labour Party and among the wider public. First Minister Eluned Morgan has acknowledged that there were issues with its implementation.

The Welsh Conservatives remain critical of the rollout. Shadow Transport Secretary Peter Fox said: “While we welcome any decrease in road casualties, these figures don’t tell the whole story. Our concern remains the way the 20mph speed limit has been implemented.

“The Welsh Labour Government’s default approach has created confusion and frustration for drivers. Their current review must address these implementation issues and ensure a more sensible and effective approach.”

News

Carmarthenshire man found guilty of murder of Sophie Evans, 30,

Published

10 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Court Reporter

A CARMARTHENSHIRE man has been convicted of murdering his son’s partner after falsely claiming she was scamming him out of his mother’s house deeds.

Richard Jones, 50, of Burry Port, was found guilty at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Jan 30) after a jury took less than three hours to reject his defence of diminished responsibility. He will be sentenced on Monday (Mar 3), when the court will determine the minimum term he must serve before being eligible for parole.

Harrowing details revealed

The court heard that Sophie Evans, 30, a mother of two, was found dead in her home on Bigyn Road, Llanelli, on Friday (Jul 5 2024). She had been strangled and left lying face down on the kitchen floor, covered only by a bath towel. A post-mortem confirmed she died from compression to the neck, with defensive wounds indicating she had fought for her life.

Jones, a regular visitor to Ms Evans’ home, was arrested later that day after making multiple calls and messages to family and friends. During police interviews, he admitted to killing her but claimed he had “lost his head” when she failed to acknowledge an alleged scam.

The jury was shown messages exchanged between Jones and his ex-partner, Tracey Thompson, in which he called his son, Jamie Davies, and Ms Evans “scamming thieves” and stated he had “taken care of the problem.”

Prosecution: ‘Callous indifference’

During the trial, consultant psychiatrist Dr Dilum Jayawickrama told the court that Jones was “100% certain in his beliefs” that he had been tricked into signing over his mother’s property. However, prosecutor Mike Jones argued that Jones “was not experiencing significant emotional distress” at the time of the killing and had shown “callous indifference” to his actions.

He highlighted Jones’ behaviour in the aftermath of the murder, including CCTV footage capturing him leaving the crime scene in a hurry before stopping at a bakery to buy food. Later, he returned home to Burry Port, where he was arrested.

‘Scumbag’ shouts in court

As Jones was led to the cells following the verdict, shouts of “scumbag” erupted from the public gallery. Jurors received applause from members of the public as they exited the courtroom.

Judge Geraint Walters told the court that the only sentence available for murder is life imprisonment. He will decide on Monday (Mar 3) the minimum number of years Jones must serve before being considered for release.

Until then, Jones remains in custody.

Speaking to The Herald after the case, Detective Superintendent Gareth Roberts, said: “The guilty verdict of the court is welcomed. Our thoughts at this time are with Sophie and the family and friends who loved her. Sophie was a young mother, beloved family member and friend. Richard Jones has been found guilty of what was a senseless, cowardly act triggered by anger and temper. Sophie was within her own home and not in a position to defend herself from Richard Jones’ cruel act of violence. The family will take some comfort that he’s now removed from society and cannot harm any others.”