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How did the Altar Stone travel some 700 km from north-east Scotland?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of Where exactly did the Altar Stone come from, and how did it travel?·5 answers·0·0 following
Five answers, none aheadNone is ahead yet. See what would settle it.

Where it stands

Five answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Five are still possible.

Why it matters

No trace of the journey has been found, so every route is inferred from geography and the stone's source; the answer bears on how far Neolithic Britain could move six tonnes⁠[1]⁠[2].

Answers 5

Evidence: 2 against
Disputed
Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Still possible
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
The stone was hauled overland the whole way.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: 1 against
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Still possible

History

  1. Kellaway puts forward: ice alone brought the stone to Salisbury Plain or near it.
  2. Clarke et al. puts forward: the stone went by sea down the east or west coast of Britain.
  3. Clarke et al. puts forward: the stone was hauled overland the whole way.
  4. Clarke et al.: a coastal route avoids the mountains and rivers of an overland haul of over 700 km.For: The stone went by sea down the east or west coast of Britain.
  5. Clarke et al. puts forward: ice carried the stone south-east towards Dogger Bank and people hauled it the remaining 400 km.
  6. Clarke et al.: no archaeological trace of the voyage exists.Against: The stone went by sea down the east or west coast of Britain.
  7. Clarke et al.: no trace of an overland haul has been reported.Against: The stone was hauled overland the whole way.
  8. Clarke et al.: dogger Bank was drowned by post-glacial sea-level rise before the stone likely reached Stonehenge.Against: Ice carried the stone south-east towards Dogger Bank and people hauled it the remaining 400 km.
  9. Clarke et al.: ice modelling gives a localised south-eastward path from Caithness towards Dogger Bank.For: Ice carried the stone south-east towards Dogger Bank and people hauled it the remaining 400 km.
  10. Clarke et al.: ice from Caithness flowed mostly north-east; glacial transport alone cannot account for the stone's arrival.Against: Ice alone brought the stone to Salisbury Plain or near it.
  11. Clarke & Kirkland: salisbury Plain river sands show no glacial input.Against: Ice alone brought the stone to Salisbury Plain or near it.
  12. Asked on this site
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