In the mystery-shrouded Stonehenge, even foreigners were buried

Archaeologists have long been puzzled over why Stonehenge was constructed. The site from the late Stone Age, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, could have been a sanctuary or an observatory.

Within the monumental complex are depressions where the remains of people, which were leftover from cremations, were found decades ago. Scientists have now examined these remains of twenty-five individuals who lived between 3180 and 2380 BC.

A team of British, French, and Belgian scientists led by Christoph Snoeck from Oxford University used strontium isotope analysis in their examination of the bones. Strontium, one of the alkaline earth metals, is ingested by people through food and is subsequently deposited in their bones and teeth. Depending on where they live, people have different ratios of strontium isotopes in their bodies. Scientists can therefore determine the origin of the ancient deceased by comparing archaeological finds with samples taken from current plants, human teeth, or water.

Fifteen of the twenty-five individuals whose remains were found at Stonehenge originated from the surrounding area, according to the study's results. However, the remaining ten lived in western Wales at least for the last ten years before their deaths. The remains of some of the deceased were even cremated in Wales and then transported for burial at Stonehenge. This was revealed through the analysis of the remnants of wood found.

"This is truly an exciting discovery, as it shows how far people from Stonehenge traveled," said researcher Mike Parker Pearson from University College London, who participated in the analysis of the remains from the megalithic structure.