Stonehenge archaeologists reach bluestone sockets
April 10th, 2008 - 4:02 pm ICT by adminLondon, April 10 (ANI): Archaeologists carrying out an excavation inside the ring at Stonehenge have reached sockets that once held bluestones, which scientists believe may finally explain why the site was built, and whether it was once a place of healing.
Professor Tim Darvill of Bournemouth University, one of the project leaders, says that the team now needs to excavate organic material from these holes to determine when the stones first arrived.
“The first week has gone really well. We have broken through to these key features. It is a slow process but at the moment everything is going exactly to plan,” the BBC quoted Darvill, who is leading the work with Professor Geoff Wainwright, president of the Society of Antiquaries, as saying.
The archaeologist duo believes that unearthing more facts regarding the history of the bluestones may help unravel the mystery behind the creation of the 4,500-year-old landmark.
Apart from the bluestone sockets, the team has also unearthed a whole host of other finds as they have peeled back the layers of the 2.5m-by-3.5m trench, which include a beaker pottery fragment, Roman ceramics and ancient stone hammers. (ANI)
- Excavation reveals 2300 BC as date for Stonehenge construction - Sep 22, 2008
- Stonehenge's 'little sister' discovered by archaeologists in England - Oct 03, 2009
- Traces of ancient civilisation found in Chinese desert - Oct 18, 2011
- Ancient wooden version of Stonehenge found in Britain - Jul 22, 2010
- Remains of a spectacular feast found at UK's 'Woodenhenge' - Jul 24, 2010
- Researchers 1 step closer to solving mystery of famous bluestones of Stonehenge - Feb 24, 2011
- British scientists unravel Stonehenge riddle - Dec 19, 2011
- Tunnels and Ancient Tombs Discovered in Mexico - Aug 05, 2010
- Archaeologists to explore feasting habits of ancient builders of Stonehenge - Dec 22, 2009
- Winter solstice feasts may have taken place around Stonehenge 4,500 years ago - Dec 26, 2009
- New 'henge-like' monument unearthed at Stonehenge - Feb 02, 2011
- Neolithic engineers 'used ball bearings in Stonehenge construction' - Nov 19, 2010
- Stonehenge was surrounded by two circular hedges 4,000 years ago - Feb 06, 2010
- Stonehenge builders familiar with ball bearing technology - Nov 21, 2010
- New archaeological find indicates Indo-Roman trade in ancient India - Jul 16, 2010
Tags: 5m, archaeologists, bbc, beaker, bournemouth university, darvill, excavation, holes, london, mystery, old landmark, organic material, pottery fragment, professor tim, project leaders, roman ceramics, scientists, society of antiquaries, sockets, stonehenge