# Where exactly did the Altar Stone come from, and how did it travel? · Stonehenge > Three answers have been proposed. The stone came from the mainland Orcadian Basin, in Caithness or around the Moray Firth. leads, with evidence 3 for, 1… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/questions/QST0CRWPD4Y0ARZ/where-exactly-did-the-altar-stone-come-from-and-how-did-it Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:50+00:00 --- **0** # Where exactly did the Altar Stone come from, and how did it travel? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the stone came from the mainland Orcadian Basin, in Caithness or around the Moray Firth** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. The stone came from the mainland Orcadian Basin, in Caithness or around the Moray Firth. leads, with evidence 3 for, 1 against: supported by its tests. Two are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters A six-tonne stone from north-east Scotland implies contact across the whole island around 2500 BC⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP1DY3VNT/a-scottish-provenance-for-the-altar-stone-of-stonehenge)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP1XJ5HYH/stonehenge-and-its-altar-stone-the-significance-of-distant). ## Answers 3 [**The stone came from the mainland Orcadian Basin, in Caithness or around the Moray Firth.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/answers/ANS0CRWPJRM1Z47/the-stone-came-from-the-mainland-orcadian-basin-in-caithness) Supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for, 1 against Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/answers/ANS0CRWPM7G2DD7/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The stone came from Orkney, where Neolithic monuments of the period are concentrated.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/answers/ANS0CRWPKQW2DCD/the-stone-came-from-orkney-where-neolithic-monuments-of-the) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed ## History 1. 2024[Clarke et al. puts forward: the stone came from the mainland Orcadian Basin, in Caithness or around the Moray Firth.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP1DY3VNT/a-scottish-provenance-for-the-altar-stone-of-stonehenge) 1. 2024[Clarke et al. puts forward: the stone came from Orkney, where Neolithic monuments of the period are concentrated.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP1DY3VNT/a-scottish-provenance-for-the-altar-stone-of-stonehenge) 1. 2024[Bevins et al.: no specific outcrop has been matched and no transport evidence exists.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP1NR3QGW/was-the-stonehenge-altar-stone-from-orkney-investigating-the)Against: The stone came from the mainland Orcadian Basin, in Caithness or around the Moray Firth. 1. 2024[Clarke et al.: detrital zircon, apatite and rutile ages match the Orcadian Basin and exclude Wales and England.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP1DY3VNT/a-scottish-provenance-for-the-altar-stone-of-stonehenge)For: The stone came from the mainland Orcadian Basin, in Caithness or around the Moray Firth. 1. 2024[Bevins et al.: orkney sandstones are excluded by mineralogy and geochemistry.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP1NR3QGW/was-the-stonehenge-altar-stone-from-orkney-investigating-the)For: The stone came from the mainland Orcadian Basin, in Caithness or around the Moray Firth. 1. 2024[Bevins et al.: orkney sandstones differ in mineralogy and chemistry from the Altar Stone.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP1NR3QGW/was-the-stonehenge-altar-stone-from-orkney-investigating-the)Against: The stone came from Orkney, where Neolithic monuments of the period are concentrated. 1. 2026[Clarke et al.: caithness sandstones give the closest match to the stone's zircon age spectrum; candidate areas farther south…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP6J05WJK/from-highlands-to-henge-refining-the-provenance-and)For: The stone came from the mainland Orcadian Basin, in Caithness or around the Moray Firth. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stonehenge/questions/QST0CRWPD4Y0ARZ/where-exactly-did-the-altar-stone-come-from-and-how-did-it%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stonehenge/questions/QST0CRWPD4Y0ARZ/where-exactly-did-the-altar-stone-come-from-and-how-did-it%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stonehenge/questions/QST0CRWPD4Y0ARZ/where-exactly-did-the-altar-stone-come-from-and-how-did-it%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stonehenge/questions/QST0CRWPD4Y0ARZ/where-exactly-did-the-altar-stone-come-from-and-how-did-it%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stonehenge/questions/QST0CRWPD4Y0ARZ/where-exactly-did-the-altar-stone-come-from-and-how-did-it%23add-source) Where it fits Stonehenge **Where exactly did the Altar Stone come from, and how did it travel?** Key question · you're here [How did the Altar Stone travel some 700 km from north-east Scotland?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/questions/QST0CRWPFTW17XZ/how-did-the-altar-stone-travel-some-700-km-from-north-east)Open · 5 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]