STONHENGE, England
A new analysis of a neolithic cow tooth, which date from the construction of the famous monument, provides evidence of the gallery origin of the stones used in its construction.
Stonehenge’s mysteries have kept the scientists perplexed for centuries: which had the imposing monument, which of the stones used in their construction, and how they were.
In the 2010 decade, archaeologists and geologists identified two Quarries in Wales like the sources of the legendary blue stones raised from Stonehenge.
A new one, conducted by researchers from British Geological Survey (BGS) and recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, comes now consolidate the connection to the Wales country.
A century ago, in 1924, archaeologists discovered a cow jaw carefully placed next to the southern entrance of Stonehengeand dated it from the beginning of the monument, between 2995 and 2900 AC
This discovery has intrigued historians ever since. Why had it been placed there? Because this animal was considered special?
BGS researchers, Cardiff University and University College London have now used isotopic analyzes to bring this artifact to lifehelping to reveal new and fascinating evidence about the origins of this historical milestone.
The scientists cut the third cow’s molar, which records chemical signs of the animal’s second year of life in nine horizontal sections. Thus managed to measure the isotopes of carbon, oxygen, strontium and lead, each offering clues about the diet, the environment and the movements of the cow.
Oxygen isotopes revealed that the tooth captured approximately six months of growth, from winter to summer, while carbon isotopes showed that the animal diet varied according to the station: Wood feeding in winter and open pasture in summer.
Additionally, strontium isotopes indicated that seasonal food sources provided with different geological regionssuggesting that or the cow It was seasonally moved, or that the winter feeding was imported.
Lead isotopes revealed peaks of composition from late winter to spring, pointing to a older lead source than the rest of the tooth.
The composition suggests that the cow originated from a region with paleozoic rocks, like the blue stones found in the country of Walesbefore moving to Stonehenge.
This is the first time scientists identify evidence that connect Stonehenge cattle remains to the country of Wales, reinforcing theories that cows would have been used in the transport of huge stones by the territory.
“The study revealed unpublished details of six months in the life of a cow, providing the first events of the cattle movement from the country of Wales, as well as documenting changes in diet and life events that occurred about 5000 years ago,” explains, explains for about 5000 years ago, “explains Jane Evansresearcher at BGS, in.
“A single tooth section told us a story Extraordinary. With the emergence of new scientific tools, it is expected that there will be more to learn about this long trip, ”adds the researcher.
In addition to this discovery, the researchers also concluded that the unusual sign of lead could not be explained only by contamination place or movement.
Instead, there was another explanation: the lead stored in the bones of the cow would have been Refied during pregnancy stress. If confirmed, this would indicate that The cow was female and was pregnant or to breastfeed during tooth formation.
To test the hypothesis, the team applied a peptide -based sex determination technique at the University of Manchester, which revealed a high probability of the animal being female.
Stonehenge continues to keep many secrets to unravel. However, the new study helps fill some of these gaps, allowing us to learn more about this legendary monument.
