# Who raised the stones? · Stonehenge > Four answers have been proposed. Neolithic people of Britain built it in stages from about 3000 to 2500 BC, with stones they quarried and… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/questions/QST0CRWPGJA3775/who-raised-the-stones Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T14:44:30+00:00 --- **0** # Who raised the stones? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Answered: Neolithic people of Britain built it in stages from about 3000 to 2500 BC, with stones they quarried and…** Passed its tests and review. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. Neolithic people of Britain built it in stages from about 3000 to 2500 BC, with stones they quarried and… leads, with evidence 3 for: supported by its tests. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters The medieval answer, Merlin and the giants, held for four centuries and still circulates; the dating, the quarries and the burials now say who built it and when⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP79E0KSY/history-of-stonehenge)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWNZ7M3KZ6/stonehenge-remodelled). ## Answers 4 [**Neolithic people of Britain built it in stages from about 3000 to 2500 BC, with stones they quarried and…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/answers/ANS0CRWQ0E44ED3/neolithic-people-of-britain-built-it-in-stages-from-about) Supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for Most likely [**Giants, wizards or aliens moved the stones.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/answers/ANS0CRWQ2CM4788/giants-wizards-or-aliens-moved-the-stones) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed [**Merlin moved the Giants' Dance from Ireland to Salisbury Plain as a memorial for Aurelius Ambrosius.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/answers/ANS0CRWQ1DC65F1/merlin-moved-the-giants-dance-from-ireland-to-salisbury) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 3 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stonehenge/answers/ANS0CRWQ2W81K9J/none-of-these) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: none yet Disputed ## History 1. 2007[Geoffrey of Monmouth et al. puts forward: merlin moved the Giants' Dance from Ireland to Salisbury Plain as a memorial for Aurelius Ambrosius.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP71M577R/the-history-of-the-kings-of-britain-an-edition-and) 1. 2012[Darvill et al. puts forward: neolithic people of Britain built it in stages from about 3000 to 2500 BC, with stones they quarried and…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWNZ7M3KZ6/stonehenge-remodelled) 1. 2012[Darvill et al.: the radiocarbon model dates the enclosure to about 3000 BC and the sarsen settings to about 2620–2480 BC.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWNZ7M3KZ6/stonehenge-remodelled)For: Neolithic people of Britain built it in stages from about 3000 to 2500 BC, with stones they quarried and… 1. 2012[Darvill et al.: the monument was built about 3000–2500 BC.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWNZ7M3KZ6/stonehenge-remodelled)Against: Merlin moved the Giants' Dance from Ireland to Salisbury Plain as a memorial for Aurelius Ambrosius. 1. 2016[Willis et al.: the cremated dead of about 3000–2500 BC were buried at the monument itself.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWNZFE5EMX/the-dead-of-stonehenge)For: Neolithic people of Britain built it in stages from about 3000 to 2500 BC, with stones they quarried and… 1. 2019[Parker Pearson et al.: quarry recesses, wedges and hammerstones at the bluestone outcrops date to about 3400–3000 BC.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP0EP4M79/megalith-quarries-for-stonehenges-bluestones)For: Neolithic people of Britain built it in stages from about 3000 to 2500 BC, with stones they quarried and… 1. 2019[Parker Pearson et al.: the quarries, tools and dates show people did the work with Neolithic means.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP0EP4M79/megalith-quarries-for-stonehenges-bluestones)Against: Giants, wizards or aliens moved the stones. 1. 2024[Clarke et al.: the stones come from Wessex, the Preseli Hills and north-east Scotland, none from Ireland.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP1DY3VNT/a-scottish-provenance-for-the-altar-stone-of-stonehenge)Against: Merlin moved the Giants' Dance from Ireland to Salisbury Plain as a memorial for Aurelius Ambrosius. 1. 2026[Manus puts forward: giants, wizards or aliens moved the stones.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP7H82594/did-stonehenges-stones-really-come-from-wales-and-scotland) 1. 2026[English Heritage: geoffrey of Monmouth's account of about 1136 is the earliest written version; it was widely believed until…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CRWP79E0KSY/history-of-stonehenge)Against: Merlin moved the Giants' Dance from Ireland to Salisbury Plain as a memorial for Aurelius Ambrosius. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stonehenge/questions/QST0CRWPGJA3775/who-raised-the-stones%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/QST0CRWPGJA3775/who-raised-the-stones%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/QST0CRWPGJA3775/who-raised-the-stones%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/QST0CRWPGJA3775/who-raised-the-stones%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/QST0CRWPGJA3775/who-raised-the-stones%23add-source) Where it fits Stonehenge **Who raised the stones?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]