Archaeologists make 'fascinating' discovery about how Stonehenge was built

Stonehenge is one of the most recognisable monuments in the world, but a certain level of mystery around how the ancient structure came to be remains.

However, researchers might just be one step further towards working out exactly how the ginormous stones were transported across Britain — thanks to a 5,000-year-old cow tooth.

The tooth, taken from a Neolithic cow jawbone, was actually discovered back in 1924, next to the south entrance of Stonehenge, but researchers thought little of it until very recently.

A team of archaeologists from University College London (UCL), Cardiff University and the British Geological Survey recently studied the bones and discovered that the animal lived between 2995 and 2900 BCE, when construction on Stonehenge initially began.

Their research, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, found the cow was very likely to have come from Wales, where the bluestones used to build the monument were excavated.

The tooth could explain how the stones were transported across Britain (Andrew Aitchison / In pictures via Getty Images)

The team used isotape analysis on the cow's molars, slicing the teeth into nine thin pieces; each of which featured chemical traces from the diet and environment from the animal's second year of life.

Carbon data revealed that the cow had been eating woodland vegetation in winter and open pasture in summer, however, strontium isotopes suggested these different foods had some from different geological areas, meaning the animal must have migrated or been fed imported food.

Meanwhile, the lead isotopes showed a source from significantly older Paleozoic rocks, like those found in the Preseli Hills of Pembrokeshire, Wales.

This evidence significantly backs up the theory that cattle were used to help pull the ginormous stones from Wales to Sailsbury Plain.

Stonehenge's original purpose has been debated over the years (Chris Gorman/Big Ladder/Getty Images)

As per Archaeology Mag, UCL Professor of Archaeology Michael Parker Pearson said: "This is yet more fascinating evidence for Stonehenge’s link with south-west Wales, where its bluestones come from. It raises the tantalising possibility that cattle helped to haul the stones."

The researchers believe that placing the jawbone at the entrance of Stonehenge was a symbolic act, rather than simply a functional one.

British Geological Survey professor Jane Evans said: "A slice of one cow tooth has told us an extraordinary tale and, as new scientific tools emerge, we hope there is still more to learn from her long journey."

There is still debate among scholars over what Stonehenge was actually built for, with ideas of celebratory rituals to astronomical alignments, but this latest development goes one step further to understanding the unique monument.