Stonehenge, an old monument in England, was thought to have stones from different parts of Great Britain. But recent research found that the six-tonne Altar Stone at Stonehenge actually came from northern Scotland, not south-west Wales as believed before. This discovery shows that building Stonehenge involved stones from all over Britain, suggesting a more connected and advanced society in ancient Britain than we thought.

The study, led by Welsh PhD student Anthony Clarke, now at Curtin University in Australia, was published in the journal Nature. Clarke’s findings challenge what we knew about the Altar Stone’s origin and reveal how different regions of Britain interacted in ancient times. While it might be disappointing for Wales, as the stone was thought to be from there, it shows the diverse sources of Stonehenge’s stones.

Researchers were surprised to find out that the Altar Stone came from north-east Scotland, more than 700km away from Stonehenge. By analyzing rock fragments and their unique chemical makeup, they figured out where the stone came from. This discovery makes us wonder how the Altar Stone was moved such a long distance and why people went to such great lengths. Learning about how Neolithic people transported things and connected with each other gives us valuable insights into their abilities and society.

Stonehenge’s construction began 5,000 years ago and saw changes over many years. Stones from different parts of Britain being used at Stonehenge show that various communities worked together. This discovery goes beyond just where the stones came from; it gives us a peek into the social, spiritual, and technological sides of ancient British society. Archaeologists and experts at English Heritage, who look after Stonehenge, are excited about what this new research means. Finding out that the Altar Stone came from Scotland challenges what we knew before and shows how complex ancient societies in Britain were. This study opens doors for more exploration into how things were moved, how societies connected, and what spiritual beliefs were held by Neolithic communities, helping us learn more about the past.

Original news source: Famous Stonehenge stone came from Scotland not Wales (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: After reading the article about Stonehenge, ask students to summarize the key points in their own words. Encourage them to focus on the main idea, important details, and the significance of the discovery. This will help them practice reading comprehension and paraphrasing skills.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and ask them to discuss their opinions on the significance of the recent discovery about the Altar Stone at Stonehenge. Each group should come up with reasons to support their opinion. Afterward, conduct a class poll to see which viewpoint is the most popular. This activity will help students practice expressing and defending their opinions in English.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “Stonehenge” on the board and ask students to call out words or phrases that come to mind when they hear it. Encourage them to think of related terms, such as “ancient,” “mystery,” “monument,” or “history.” This activity will help students expand their vocabulary and make connections between words.

– Sketch It
Instructions: In pairs, ask students to take turns describing a specific part of Stonehenge based on the article, while their partner draws it. For example, one student could describe the Altar Stone while the other sketches it. This activity will help students practice describing objects and scenes in English, as well as listening and interpreting visual information.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Pose a question related to the article, such as “Why do you think Stonehenge was built using stones from different parts of Britain?” Give students a few minutes to think about their response individually, then have them discuss their ideas with a partner. Finally, ask a few pairs to share their thoughts with the class. This activity encourages critical thinking, collaboration, and speaking skills.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who led the study that discovered the Altar Stone at Stonehenge actually came from northern Scotland?
2. Why is the discovery of the Altar Stone’s origin important in understanding ancient Britain?
3. How far away is north-east Scotland from Stonehenge?
4. How did researchers determine where the Altar Stone came from?
5. What does the discovery of the Altar Stone’s origin tell us about Neolithic people?
6. When did the construction of Stonehenge begin?
7. Besides the origin of the stones, what else does the discovery of the Altar Stone provide insight into?
8. Why are archaeologists and experts at English Heritage excited about the new research on Stonehenge?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Stonehenge, an old (1)______ in England, was thought to have stones from (2)______ parts of Great Britain. But recent research found that the six-tonne Altar Stone at Stonehenge actually came from northern Scotland, not south-west Wales as believed before. This discovery (3)______ that building Stonehenge (4)______ stones from all over Britain, suggesting a more connected and advanced society in ancient Britain than we thought.

The study, led by Welsh PhD student Anthony Clarke, now at Curtin University in Australia, was published in the journal Nature. Clarke’s findings challenge what we knew about the Altar Stone’s origin and reveal how different (5)______ of (6)______ interacted in ancient times. While it might be disappointing for Wales, as the (7)______ was thought to be from there, it shows the diverse sources of Stonehenge’s stones.

Researchers were surprised to find out that the Altar Stone came from north-east Scotland, more than 700km away from Stonehenge. By analyzing rock fragments and their unique chemical (8)______, they figured out where the stone came from. This discovery makes us wonder how the Altar (9)______ was moved such a long distance and why people went to such great (10)______. Learning about how Neolithic people transported things and connected with each other gives us (11)______ insights into their abilities and society.

Stonehenge’s construction began 5,000 (12)______ ago and saw changes over many years. Stones from different parts of Britain being used at Stonehenge show that various communities worked together. This discovery goes beyond just where the stones came from; it gives us a peek into the social, spiritual, and technological sides of (13)______ British society. Archaeologists and experts at English (14)______, who look after Stonehenge, are excited about what this new research (15)______. Finding out that the (16)______ Stone came from Scotland challenges what we knew before and shows how complex ancient societies in Britain were. This study opens doors for more exploration into how things were moved, how societies connected, and what spiritual beliefs were held by Neolithic communities, helping us learn more about the past.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What do you think about the recent discovery regarding the Altar Stone at Stonehenge?
2. How would you feel if you found out something you believed for a long time turned out to be incorrect?
3. Do you think it is important to study ancient monuments like Stonehenge? Why or why not?
4. What do you think the discovery of the Altar Stone’s origin tells us about ancient British society?
5. How do you think the Neolithic people were able to transport such heavy stones over long distances?
6. Do you believe that ancient societies were more advanced and connected than we previously thought? Why or why not?
7. What do you think the different sources of stones at Stonehenge reveal about the communities that worked together to build it?
8. How do you think the discovery of the Altar Stone’s origin will impact future archaeological research at Stonehenge?
9. Do you think it is important to preserve ancient monuments like Stonehenge for future generations? Why or why not?
10. Why do you think archaeologists and experts are excited about the new research findings at Stonehenge?
11. How would you feel if you were part of the team that made the discovery about the Altar Stone at Stonehenge?
12. What do you think the study of ancient monuments can teach us about our own society today?
13. Do you like learning about ancient history and archaeology? Why or why not?
14. How do you think the transportation of stones for Stonehenge reflects the abilities and skills of the Neolithic people?
15. Do you think it is important to understand the spiritual beliefs of ancient societies? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. monument
2. research
3. discovery
4. society
5. journal
6. origin
7. regions
8. interacted
9. analyzing
10. transported
11. insights
12. construction
13. communities
14. archaeologists
15. exploration

Meanings:
(A) The act of searching or traveling to learn more about something
(B) Examining something carefully to understand it better
(C) A structure or building that is important because of its history
(D) Communicated or worked together with others
(E) Moved something from one place to another
(F) The beginning or starting point of something
(G) A group of people living together in an organized way
(H) Understanding gained from learning or experience
(I) People who study human history by digging up old buildings and objects
(J) A magazine or publication that shares academic or scientific information
(K) The process of building something
(L) The process of studying something to learn more about it
(M) Areas or parts of a country or the world
(N) Finding something new or learning something for the first time
(O) Groups of people living in the same area or having a particular characteristic in common
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Where is Stonehenge located?
(a) Scotland
(b) Wales
(c) Ireland
(d) England

2. Who led the recent research on Stonehenge’s Altar Stone?
(a) Anthony Clarke
(b) Mary Smith
(c) John Johnson
(d) Sarah Brown

3. Which country was the Altar Stone originally believed to be from?
(a) Scotland
(b) England
(c) Wales
(d) Ireland

4. How far away is the Altar Stone’s original location from Stonehenge?
(a) More than 700km
(b) Less than 100km
(c) Around 500km
(d) Exactly 1000km

5. What did researchers use to determine the Altar Stone’s origin?
(a) Ancient texts
(b) Unique chemical makeup of rock fragments
(c) Satellite images
(d) Oral traditions

6. When did the construction of Stonehenge begin?
(a) 1,000 years ago
(b) 5,000 years ago
(c) 500 years ago
(d) 10,000 years ago

7. What does the discovery of the Altar Stone’s origin reveal about ancient British society?
(a) It was isolated and primitive
(b) It had no contact with other regions
(c) It was not capable of building such monuments
(d) It was more connected and advanced than previously thought

8. What do archaeologists and experts hope to learn more about from this new research?
(a) How to build modern monuments
(b) How to move large stones long distances
(c) How Neolithic people transported things and connected with each other
(d) How to find more ancient monuments

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The study was led by a Welsh PhD student named Anthony Clarke, who is now at Curtin University in Australia, and was published in the journal Nature.
2. Archaeologists and experts at English Heritage, who oversee Stonehenge, are uninterested in the new research and what it reveals about ancient societies in Britain.
3. The Altar Stone’s origin from north-east Scotland, over 700km away from Stonehenge, surprised researchers.
4. The use of stones from different regions of Britain at Stonehenge indicates no collaboration between various communities.
5. Stonehenge in England was believed to have stones from different parts of Great Britain, but recent research revealed that the Altar Stone actually came from northern Scotland, not south-west Wales as previously thought.
6. The discovery upholds previous beliefs about Stonehenge and suggests that ancient Britain was not more connected and advanced than we thought.
7. The discovery offers no insights into the social, spiritual, and technological aspects of ancient British society.
8. By analyzing rock fragments and their chemical makeup, researchers were able to determine where the Altar Stone came from.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Where was the Altar Stone at Stonehenge originally thought to have come from?
2. Who led the study that discovered the Altar Stone actually came from northern Scotland?
3. How did researchers figure out that the Altar Stone came from north-east Scotland?
4. What does the discovery of the Altar Stone’s origin tell us about ancient British society?
5. Why are archaeologists and experts at English Heritage excited about the new research findings?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who led the study that discovered the Altar Stone at Stonehenge actually came from northern Scotland?
– Welsh PhD student Anthony Clarke led the study.

2. Why is the discovery of the Altar Stone’s origin important in understanding ancient Britain?
– The discovery shows that Stonehenge involved stones from all over Britain, suggesting a more connected and advanced society in ancient Britain than previously thought.

3. How far away is north-east Scotland from Stonehenge?
– North-east Scotland is more than 700km away from Stonehenge.

4. How did researchers determine where the Altar Stone came from?
– Researchers analyzed rock fragments and their unique chemical makeup to determine where the Altar Stone came from.

5. What does the discovery of the Altar Stone’s origin tell us about Neolithic people?
– The discovery gives us insights into the abilities and society of Neolithic people, including how they transported things over long distances and connected with each other.

6. When did the construction of Stonehenge begin?
– The construction of Stonehenge began 5,000 years ago.

7. Besides the origin of the stones, what else does the discovery of the Altar Stone provide insight into?
– The discovery provides insight into the social, spiritual, and technological aspects of ancient British society.

8. Why are archaeologists and experts at English Heritage excited about the new research on Stonehenge?
– They are excited because the research challenges previous beliefs, shows the complexity of ancient British societies, and opens doors for more exploration into how things were moved and how societies connected in the past.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) monument
(2) different
(3) shows
(4) involved
(5) regions
(6) Britain
(7) stone
(8) makeup
(9) Stone
(10) lengths
(11) valuable
(12) years
(13) ancient
(14) Heritage
(15) means
(16) Altar
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. monument
Answer: (C) A structure or building that is important because of its history

2. research
Answer: (L) The process of studying something to learn more about it

3. discovery
Answer: (N) Finding something new or learning something for the first time

4. society
Answer: (G) A group of people living together in an organized way

5. journal
Answer: (J) A magazine or publication that shares academic or scientific information

6. origin
Answer: (F) The beginning or starting point of something

7. regions
Answer: (M) Areas or parts of a country or the world

8. interacted
Answer: (D) Communicated or worked together with others

9. analyzing
Answer: (B) Examining something carefully to understand it better

10. transported
Answer: (E) Moved something from one place to another

11. insights
Answer: (H) Understanding gained from learning or experience

12. construction
Answer: (K) The process of building something

13. communities
Answer: (O) Groups of people living in the same area or having a particular characteristic in common

14. archaeologists
Answer: (I) People who study human history by digging up old buildings and objects

15. exploration
Answer: (A) The act of searching or traveling to learn more about something
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Where is Stonehenge located?
Answer: (d) England

2. Who led the recent research on Stonehenge’s Altar Stone?
Answer: (a) Anthony Clarke

3. Which country was the Altar Stone originally believed to be from?
Answer: (c) Wales

4. How far away is the Altar Stone’s original location from Stonehenge?
Answer: (a) More than 700km

5. What did researchers use to determine the Altar Stone’s origin?
Answer: (b) Unique chemical makeup of rock fragments

6. When did the construction of Stonehenge begin?
Answer: (b) 5,000 years ago

7. What does the discovery of the Altar Stone’s origin reveal about ancient British society?
Answer: (d) It was more connected and advanced than previously thought

8. What do archaeologists and experts hope to learn more about from this new research?
Answer: (c) How Neolithic people transported things and connected with each other
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The study was led by a Welsh PhD student named Anthony Clarke, who is now at Curtin University in Australia, and was published in the journal Nature. (Answer: True)
2. Archaeologists and experts at English Heritage, who oversee Stonehenge, are uninterested in the new research and what it reveals about ancient societies in Britain. (Answer: False)
3. The Altar Stone’s origin from north-east Scotland, over 700km away from Stonehenge, surprised researchers. (Answer: True)
4. The use of stones from different regions of Britain at Stonehenge indicates no collaboration between various communities. (Answer: False)
5. Stonehenge in England was believed to have stones from different parts of Great Britain, but recent research revealed that the Altar Stone actually came from northern Scotland, not south-west Wales as previously thought. (Answer: True)
6. The discovery upholds previous beliefs about Stonehenge and suggests that ancient Britain was not more connected and advanced than we thought. (Answer: False)
7. The discovery offers no insights into the social, spiritual, and technological aspects of ancient British society. (Answer: False)
8. By analyzing rock fragments and their chemical makeup, researchers were able to determine where the Altar Stone came from. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧