Engineering Timelines - Stonehenge experiment - moving large stones in the Neolithic Age

Stonehenge experiment
P A N E L O N E

Evidence

As part of the BBC series
Secrets of Lost Empires, engineers whitbybird, archaeologist Julian Richards and stonemason Roger Hopkins carried out a series of practical experiments relating to Stonehenge's construction, using (as far as possible) tools and methods thought to be available in the Neolithic Age.

Investigation of work done in 1923 revealed that the Neolithic holes made for the upright stones were of a very specific shape. The presence of elements such as a 20 degree sloped side and a cut-back opposite it suggests that the stones may have been rotated into position.

Using 130 volunteers as manpower,
the team tested this theory, plus various methods for transporting the stones
and raising the lintels.

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They turned out to be
holes of a very specific
shape. The lower half
of the diagram
shows a section
through one. The
shape of the holes
suggested the method
that might have been
used to raise the stones.
Using a pivot block beside
the hole would provide
a stable edge.

To conduct the experiments, the team constructed a concrete replica of Stonehenge's Great Trilithon. Trilathons have three elements: two uprights and a lintel. The lintels have mortice holes that fit over hemispherical tenons on the uprights.
The uprights of the original Great Trilathon were buried 2.5m deep and rose 6m above ground.

weight of each upright
... 40 tonnes
weight of lintel
... 10 tonnes
weight of tilting stones
(see panel 3)
... 6 tonnes