Investigating the Secrets of Stonehenge with Raman Spectroscopy: Provenance of the Ancient Altar Stone

Sergio Andò; Marta Barbarano; Jorge Diniz; Richard E Bevins; Nick J G Pearce

doi:10.1093/mictod/qaae025

Investigating the Secrets of Stonehenge with Raman Spectroscopy: Provenance of the Ancient Altar Stone

Sergio Andò, Marta Barbarano, Jorge Diniz, Richard E Bevins, Nick J G Pearce

Department of Geography and Earth Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

In-field compositional analysis of large prehistoric relics, such as the Altar Stone at Stonehenge (England), is limited due to the size of the relics and difficulty in obtaining samples that can be analyzed in a laboratory. In this study, a portable Raman spectroscopy system was used to analyze the Altar Stone to help determine its origin and classification, which appears to differ from other bluestones at Stonehenge. While the study is ongoing and the definitive origin of the Altar Stone is not yet known, this study demonstrates the applicability of a portable Raman spectroscopy system in the compositional analysis of large samples in the field.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	28-29
Number of pages	2
Journal	Microscopy Today
Volume	32
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/mictod/qaae025
Publication status	Published - 04 Jun 2024

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Cite this

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abstract = "In-field compositional analysis of large prehistoric relics, such as the Altar Stone at Stonehenge (England), is limited due to the size of the relics and difficulty in obtaining samples that can be analyzed in a laboratory. In this study, a portable Raman spectroscopy system was used to analyze the Altar Stone to help determine its origin and classification, which appears to differ from other bluestones at Stonehenge. While the study is ongoing and the definitive origin of the Altar Stone is not yet known, this study demonstrates the applicability of a portable Raman spectroscopy system in the compositional analysis of large samples in the field.",

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Investigating the Secrets of Stonehenge with Raman Spectroscopy: Provenance of the Ancient Altar Stone

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