HISTORY IN THE NEWS
A selection of the stories hitting the history headlines
Stone clue helps solve longstanding Stonehenge mystery
The origin of the stones used to construct Stonehenge has long been a mystery – but now experts have new answers thanks to the results of a two-year investigation. The breakthrough came after a sample of a Stonehenge stone, removed during excavations in 1958, was returned last year. That sample, and standing ‘sarsen’ stones at the site, were analysed to confirm that most shared a similar chemical makeup and likely origin. Analysis of the sample was then compared with sarsens at 20 locations in southern England, with the results indicating that the origin of 50 of Stonehenge’s 52 sarsens was probably West Woods near the Wiltshire town of Marlborough – 15 miles from Stonehenge. “This is a really significant discovery,” said archaeologist Mike Pitts. “With Stonehenge archaeology, the focus so far has been largely on bluestones, which are the small stones that come from Wales. We’ve known which part of Wales these come from, more or less, since the 1920s. All this time, we had no idea – in terms of actual evidence – where the sarsens came from.”
Tools suggest humans reached Americas earlier than thought
Scientific dating of stone tools found in a cave in Mexico suggests that people lived there 33,000 years ago – around 15,000 years earlier than humans were previously thought to have inhabited the Americas. The findings, published in Nature, also suggest that the high-altitude cave was occupied for a period of at least 20,000 years. The issue of when humanity reached the American continent is hotly contested, and debate has already begun about the claims’ validity.
UK citizenship test misleading on slavery, experts argue
Historical information provided to people applying for UK citizenship is “fundamentally misleading and demonstrably false”, a group of academics have claimed. The 181 signatories to a letter to the Historical Association journal criticised sections on the British empire and the abolition of slavery. A Home Office statement argued that the guide is a “starting point” whose contents are constantly under review. For Michael Wood’s view, see page 11.
Peat-bog remains under threat
Due to their low oxygen levels, peat bogs are inhospitable to microbes – and, as such, are effective at preserving human remains. It’s a trait that has contributed to many key archaeological discoveries – yet a new study reveals this property seems to be decreasing. 'xperts compared finds made in the 1940s and 70s with those of recent years, and the latter of these bore signs of greater degradation. It’s thought increased excavation and farming, as well as climate change, may explain the shift.
DNA shows ‘earliest smallpox’
Evidence of smallpox has been found in human remains dating from between AD 600 and 1050, up to seven centuries before the previous earliest-known case. Researchers discovered DNA traces of the disease in the teeth and bones of 11 people from Denmark and Russia, although it’s not clear if it caused their deaths. The fact that the region’s Viking people were known for international trade and warfare suggests that the infection may have been widespread in northern Europe at the time.