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Like a rolling stone: experimental archaeology at Stonehenge
Was the communal effort of constructing Stonehenge as important to its builders as the finished monument’s purpose? And what was it like to move one of its mighty monoliths? CA spoke to Susan Greaney, Julian Richards, and Luke Winter – and travelled to the Stonehenge Visitor Centre for some hands-on experience.
A commanding voice rang out across Salisbury Plain – ‘PULL!’ – and in the next moment dozens of bodies were moving as one. Heels dug into the muddy ground; hands grasped tightly onto ropes; chests, shoulders, and arms strained in a mighty effort – and slowly, but with increasing momentum, the great limestone monolith began to move.
Specially sourced from a quarry in Purbeck, Dorset, the stone formed the focus of an experimental archaeology project that took place at the Stonehenge Visitor Centre over a chilly March weekend. At four tonnes (equivalent to four family-sized cars) it was small fry compared to some elements of Stonehenge – laser scan estimates suggest that while th
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