Craig Rhos-y-felin: a Welsh bluestone megalith quarry for Stonehenge

Parker Pearson, M. et al. (2015) Craig Rhos-y-felin: a Welsh bluestone megalith quarry for Stonehenge. Antiquity, 89(348), pp. 1331-1352. (doi: 10.15184/aqy.2015.177)

Abstract

The long-distance transport of the bluestones from south Wales to Stonehenge is one of the most remarkable achievements of Neolithic societies in north-west Europe. Where precisely these stones were quarried, when they were extracted and how they were transported has long been a subject of speculation, experiment and controversy. The discovery of a megalithic bluestone quarry at Craig Rhos-y-felin in 2011 marked a turning point in this research. Subsequent excavations have provided details of the quarrying process along with direct dating evidence for the extraction of bluestone monoliths at this location, demonstrating both Neolithic and Early Bronze Age activity.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The Stones of Stonehenge project is funded by the National Geographic Society, the Natural Environment Research Council (radiocarbon dating), the Society of Antiquaries of London, the National Museum of Wales and the Royal Archaeological Institute.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hamilton, Professor Derek
• Authors: Parker Pearson, M., Bevins, R., Ixer, R., Pollard, J., Richards, C., Welham, K., Chan, B., Edinborough, K., Hamilton, D., Macphail, R., Schlee, D., Schwenninger, J.-L., Simmons, E., and Smith, M.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Antiquity
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0003-598X
• ISSN (Online): 1745-1744
• Published Online: 07 December 2015
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 Antiquity Publicaions Ltd
• First Published: First published in Antiquity 89(348): 1331-1352
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License