Stonehenge could have been created as a political monument, scientists claim

London – The stone monument of Stonehenge in southern England may have been built, according to new research, to unite people during a time of cultural tension while settling the British Isles, British media report, citing a study published on Thursday in the journal Archaeology International. This new finding comes after archaeologists recently demonstrated that one of the stones – located in the middle of Stonehenge beneath other boulders – originates from as far away as the far north of Scotland.

According to lead researcher Mike Parker Pearson from the archaeological institute at University College London (UCL), the stones coming from various places in the country make Stonehenge "unique among more than 900 stone circles in Britain." He told The Guardian that they were erected to unite early agricultural communities in Britain during a time of new settlement of the islands by immigrants from Europe. The altar stone itself in the center of Stonehenge could have been, according to Parker Pearson, a gift or an indicator of a political alliance.

"We have known for some time that people came here to feast from many different parts of Britain, and almost half of the people buried here lived elsewhere," Parker Pearson told the BBC website. "Similarities in architecture and material culture between the area around Stonehenge and Scotland now make more sense," he added.

In the summer, scientists discovered that the six-ton altar stone in the center of Stonehenge comes from a location more than 700 kilometers away in Scotland. It was likely transported to the site around 2500 BC, when Stonehenge was reconstructed into its present form.

Stonehenge was created around 5,000 years ago, with the stones forming circles brought from different times and various areas. Their arrangement allows the sun to shine through a "window" in the stones during the summer solstice.

There are disputes over the purpose of Stonehenge – some say it is a religious sanctuary, an ancient observatory, or a solar calendar. However, Parker Pearson told The Guardian that in light of the new facts, Stonehenge should now be considered as a political monument.