Conducted the first study of the samples from Stonehenge to discover the secret of the longevity of this incredible monument
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousResearchers from the University of Brighton conducted the first study of samples from the Stonehenge site and discovered the secret of the longevity of this incredible monument
A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Brighton has tried to shed light on how it is possible that the monument of the Stonehenge, erected more than 5.000 years ago in southern England, is still standing after all these years.
This is the first analysis carried out on the samples collected directly from one of the constituent megaliths of the monument, in order to understand the geological and chemical structure of the stone. The sample was collected by a stone cutter, Robert Philips, in the 50s: it was a stone 'wand' extracted from stone 58, with a diameter of 2,5 centimeters and about one meter long. Philips brought the stolen artifact as a souvenir from Stonehenge to the United States, where he lived, and only in 2018 (shortly before his death) did he return the stone to British Heritage. Currently, the site of Stonehenge is considered a World Heritage Site and it is no longer so easy to damage it by 'stealing' pieces - which is why the stolen artifact from Philips has become so important to scientists.
@ University of Brighton
The researchers used X-ray scanning systems and other analysis techniques on the find to discover that the massive blocks of sandstone that make up the monument are made up of very small grains of quartz (a kind of sand) cemented together in a mosaic of crystals of quartz. This structure of the stone would make it insensitive to the passage of time, erosion and the action of atmospheric agents to which it is perpetually exposed.
The blocks that make up Stonehenge reach 7 meters in height and weigh around 20 tons. The original monument presumably consisted of 80 stone blocks - 52 remain today. Despite all the studies so far, it is still unclear how these boulders were moved to the site and positioned in the way we are so familiar with. Scientists are confident that this new discovery will provide more information that can help trace the origin and path taken by these huge stones.
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Fonte: PLOS One / University of Brighton
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