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Further information from The Council for British Archaeology Press Release:
HI-TECH LASERS THROW NEW LIGHT ON STONEHENGE
Computer experts and archaeologists have used laser scanning on the stones of Stonehenge for the first time and discovered carvings of ancient axe heads.
The most hi-tech investigation of the monument to date was carried out in 2002-3 by a team from Wessex Archaeology of Salisbury, near Stonehenge, and Archaeoptics Ltd of Glasgow. A full account of their work is featured in Thursday's edition of 'British Archaeology'.
The axes, both on one stone, are badly eroded and can not be seen with the naked eye. But by sweeping low-powered laser beams at the stones and analysing the data closely, a picture emerged.
The team scanned only part of three of the sarsen stones and believe that a full scan of all the surviving 83 stones would reveal more ancient carvings.
Carvings of bronze or copper axes and a dagger were first found at Stonehenge 50 years ago, but they have never been fully surveyed or studied. Comparison of a 1953 photograph with the new scans shows carvings seem to have eroded since first found, possibly because of
people touching them.
The first newly-discovered carving is about 15 cm (6 inches) square and may possibly be two axes, one on top of the other; the other is about 10 cm (4 inches) by 8 cm (3 inches).
The stones at Stonehenge were erected in about 2,300 BC. The axes are of types made around 1,800 BC, so the carvings are likely to be five centuries younger than the stones. Their purpose is a mystery.
Axe carvings on other monuments from this time are associated with burials, such as the seven axes found on a stone burial cist (a box shaped stone structure) in Argyll, Scotland. This could indicate that Stonehenge was a place where the dead were commemorated, a theory backed
by the many burial mounds found near the monument.
"The laser scanning has opened up a whole new way of seeing Stonehenge," said Tom Goskar of Wessex Archaeology. "We spent an hour recording the data at the stones and we were astounded to discover two new carvings as a result. With more time we could uncover many more and make plainer the outline of some known carvings that are difficult to see.
"This would give us a much better idea of the extent of the carvings and help us achieve a greater understanding of the monument.
"It is exactly 50 years since the carvings on Stonehenge were first documented, and the new laser scanner is a fascinating way of using state-of-the-art technology to shed light on an ancient wonder."
Alistair Carty of Archaeoptics said: "We have used 3D scanning previously to enhance badly weathered carvings on monuments, but never on details as fine as the Stonehenge axeheads. The possibility that other unknown carvings exist on the other stones is very exciting and
may hopefully lead to a more complete interpretation of Stonehenge."
Mike Pitts, editor of 'British Archaeology' and a leading expert on Stonehenge, said: "It is extraordinary that these carvings, the most significant art gallery from ancient Britain, have still not been properly studied 50 years after their first discovery. The laser scanning process makes recording and studying possible, and can be used
to reveal the nearly invisible carvings for all".
The Stonehenge Laser Scans website (www.stonehengelaserscan.org) goes
live on Thursday, with variable-light animations of the carvings.
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