# How did the Altar Stone travel some 700 km from north-east Scotland? · Stonehenge > Five answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Five are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/questions/QST0CRWPFTW17XZ/how-did-the-altar-stone-travel-some-700-km-from-north-east Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T14:44:30+00:00 --- **0** # How did the Altar Stone travel some 700 km from north-east Scotland? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [Where exactly did the Altar Stone come from, and how did it travel?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/questions/QST0CRWPD4Y0ARZ/where-exactly-did-the-altar-stone-come-from-and-how-did-it)·5 answers·0·0 following **Five answers, none ahead** None 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]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP1DY3VNT/a-scottish-provenance-for-the-altar-stone-of-stonehenge)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP6J05WJK/from-highlands-to-henge-refining-the-provenance-and). ## Answers 5 [**Ice alone brought the stone to Salisbury Plain or near it.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/answers/ANS0CRWPT302Y9V/ice-alone-brought-the-stone-to-salisbury-plain-or-near-it) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 2 against Disputed [**Ice carried the stone south-east towards Dogger Bank and people hauled it the remaining 400 km.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/answers/ANS0CRWPSBJ7VRQ/ice-carried-the-stone-south-east-towards-dogger-bank-and) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/answers/ANS0CRWPTTE0GZT/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The stone was hauled overland the whole way.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/answers/ANS0CRWPRVY502P/the-stone-was-hauled-overland-the-whole-way) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 against Still possible [**The stone went by sea down the east or west coast of Britain.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/answers/ANS0CRWPR4G7HBZ/the-stone-went-by-sea-down-the-east-or-west-coast-of-britain) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible ## History 1. 1971[Kellaway puts forward: ice alone brought the stone to Salisbury Plain or near it.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP6ST1HZK/glaciation-and-the-stones-of-stonehenge) 1. 2024[Clarke et al. puts forward: the stone went by sea down the east or west coast of Britain.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP1DY3VNT/a-scottish-provenance-for-the-altar-stone-of-stonehenge) 1. 2024[Clarke et al. puts forward: the stone was hauled overland the whole way.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP1DY3VNT/a-scottish-provenance-for-the-altar-stone-of-stonehenge) 1. 2024[Clarke et al.: a coastal route avoids the mountains and rivers of an overland haul of over 700 km.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP1DY3VNT/a-scottish-provenance-for-the-altar-stone-of-stonehenge)For: The stone went by sea down the east or west coast of Britain. 1. 2026[Clarke et al. puts forward: ice carried the stone south-east towards Dogger Bank and people hauled it the remaining 400 km.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP6J05WJK/from-highlands-to-henge-refining-the-provenance-and) 1. 2026[Clarke et al.: no archaeological trace of the voyage exists.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP6J05WJK/from-highlands-to-henge-refining-the-provenance-and)Against: The stone went by sea down the east or west coast of Britain. 1. 2026[Clarke et al.: no trace of an overland haul has been reported.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP6J05WJK/from-highlands-to-henge-refining-the-provenance-and)Against: The stone was hauled overland the whole way. 1. 2026[Clarke et al.: dogger Bank was drowned by post-glacial sea-level rise before the stone likely reached Stonehenge.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP6J05WJK/from-highlands-to-henge-refining-the-provenance-and)Against: Ice carried the stone south-east towards Dogger Bank and people hauled it the remaining 400 km. 1. 2026[Clarke et al.: ice modelling gives a localised south-eastward path from Caithness towards Dogger Bank.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP6J05WJK/from-highlands-to-henge-refining-the-provenance-and)For: Ice carried the stone south-east towards Dogger Bank and people hauled it the remaining 400 km. 1. 2026[Clarke et al.: ice from Caithness flowed mostly north-east; glacial transport alone cannot account for the stone's arrival.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP6J05WJK/from-highlands-to-henge-refining-the-provenance-and)Against: Ice alone brought the stone to Salisbury Plain or near it. 1. 2026[Clarke & Kirkland: salisbury Plain river sands show no glacial input.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP6A65JCF/detrital-zirconapatite-fingerprinting-challenges-glacial)Against: Ice alone brought the stone to Salisbury Plain or near it. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stonehenge/questions/QST0CRWPFTW17XZ/how-did-the-altar-stone-travel-some-700-km-from-north-east%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/QST0CRWPFTW17XZ/how-did-the-altar-stone-travel-some-700-km-from-north-east%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/QST0CRWPFTW17XZ/how-did-the-altar-stone-travel-some-700-km-from-north-east%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/QST0CRWPFTW17XZ/how-did-the-altar-stone-travel-some-700-km-from-north-east%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/QST0CRWPFTW17XZ/how-did-the-altar-stone-travel-some-700-km-from-north-east%23add-source) Where it fits Stonehenge [**Where exactly did the Altar Stone come from, and how did it travel?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/questions/QST0CRWPD4Y0ARZ/where-exactly-did-the-altar-stone-come-from-and-how-did-it)Key question · most likely the stone came from the mainland Orcadian Basin, in Caithness or around the Moray Firth **How did the Altar Stone travel some 700 km from north-east Scotland?** You're here · 5 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]