Ancient Cow’s Tooth Could Reveal How Stonehenge Was Built
A cow’s tooth discovered at Stonehenge may provide fresh insight into how the prehistoric monument was built and the origins of the animals and possibly people who helped transport its massive stones.Researchers analysing a molar found in a jawbone, deliberately placed at the entrance of Stonehenge around 2995-2900 BCE, have traced the animal’s early life back to Wales. This discovery strengthens theories that cattle may have been used to haul the stones some 125 miles to Salisbury Plain.
The study, conducted by the British Geological Survey, Cardiff University, and University College London, examined lead isotopes in the tooth. These revealed that the cow grazed in areas with rocks dating back over 400 million years a geological match for Wales.
“It suggests this animal didn’t begin life in Wiltshire,” explained Prof Jane Evans of the BGS. “Its earliest grazing was on ancient Welsh terrain, pointing to a direct connection between Wales and the origins of Stonehenge.”
The jawbone’s deliberate placement raises questions of ritual significance. Archaeologists suggest it may have been linked to the earliest groups who transported the stones, marking both the journey and the monument’s creation.
While cattle were not traditionally believed to have been used as beasts of burden in Neolithic Britain, recent studies hint their physiology may have allowed them to pull heavy loads. If so, oxen could have played a role in the arduous process of moving the stones.
Carbon and strontium isotopes also revealed seasonal dietary changes, suggesting the cow may have been moved between grazing areas or supplied with imported fodder.
Michael Parker Pearson, a prehistory professor at UCL, called the findings “fascinating evidence for Stonehenge’s ties to south-west Wales,” while Cardiff’s Prof Richard Madgwick said the tooth provides “an unparalleled biography of a single animal that reshapes our understanding of the monument’s story.”
Archaeologists already know that Stonehenge’s iconic bluestones came from the Preseli Hills in Wales, while others were sourced locally in Wiltshire. More recently, one central megalith was identified as originating from north-east Scotland suggesting the monument was built with stones, people, and animals drawn from across Britain.
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