In 1958 , a piece ofStonehengevanished during some archaeologic oeuvre at the creation - famous prehistoric repository . After place in obscurity for decades , the omit piece – a skinny cylindrical stone “ essence ” – has been found and is already induce archaeologists to excitedly scrape their beards with curio .
Now the core has been returned to its rightful place in English Heritage ’s collection of artifacts , archaeologist are hoping the elusive Harlan Fiske Stone core could bring home the bacon some priceless insights into the account of this unique Neolithic site and perhaps even uncover the source of the large endocarp that form its iconic trilithons .
Three cores proceed wanting when archeologist set about re - erecting one of the Henge ’s fallen trilithons , a typical structure consisting of two large vertical stone with a third stone laying horizontally across the top . To fix and reenforce the structure , three 32 - millimeter ( 1.2 - column inch ) holes were bored out of the rock and metal rods were inserted , which produced three foresightful subway - like cylinder of Lucy Stone .
One of the mass work on this project was Robert Phillips from the ball field foreshorten business Van Moppes . He oversee to get his hands on one of the cylindric cores and , understandably , it took pride of place in his office for many years . By 1976 , he left his caper at Van Moppes and emigrate to the US , where he and his precious Stonehenge core took up numerous posts across the country , from New York and Chicago to California and Florida .
On the even of his 90th natal day , Robert decided it was time to place his favorite souvenir into the tending of English Heritage .
“ Our father has always been concerned in archeology and he recognized the immense importance of the small-arm of the monument in his charge . It was his want that it be returned to Stonehenge , ” Robert ’s son , Lewis Phillips , said in astatement . “ We are all enthralled the core has come home , peculiarly as it is now being used to further crucial research ” .
However , the two other core remain at large .
“ The other two Stonehenge cores may still be out there somewhere and if anyone has any selective information , we ’d screw to try from them , ” said Heather Sebire , English Heritage ’s curator for Stonehenge .
Archaeologists are sure that Stonehenge ’s belittled bluestones werebrought from the Preseli Hillsin southwest Wales – well-nigh 300 km ( 186 miles ) away from the megalith – free-base on analysis of the sway . However , the origin of the large sarsen blocks is still hazy . Now equipped with these well - preserve unweathered cores , the research worker are hoping to get a more elaborate expression at Stonehenge ’s “ DNA ” and cross its line of descent .
“ Archaeologists and geologist have been debate where the stone used to work up Stonehenge add up from for years,”saidProfessor David Nash of the University of Brighton , who is look into the chemical composition of the sarsen stone .
“ formal wisdom suggests that they all came from the relatively nearby Marlborough Downs but initial results from our analysis suggest that in fact , the sarsens may follow from more than one location . Our geochemical fingerprinting of the sarsens in situ at Stonehenge , and of the core itself , when compare with samples from expanse across southerly England will hopefully tell apart us where the unlike stones came from . ”
