Bluestones | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

CGHW1 Dec 8, 2007 21:27:49

Apparently many of the bluestones at Stonehenge have been smoothed.

According to Atkinson in his book of 1956, this smoothing had been caused by thousands of tourists over the centuries touching the bluestones and causing the smooth surfaces. Is this still the current view?

One must remember that the bluestones are harder than granite, so why are the bluestones smooth and not the much softer stones made of sandstone ?

It seems to me that the bluestones must have been deliberately smoothed by those who built stonehenge. The bluestones have a sparkling nature when freshly quarried (or so I have been led to believe), so perhaps they were regularly polished to maintain that glistening quality...

Any thoughts ?

ChrisW

Cursuswalker Dec 8, 2007 23:53:56

Replying to CGHW1

There are smooth areas on the sarsens. I wouldn't offer an explanation as to why, but they seem to result from variations in the type of sandstone.

starfury Dec 9, 2007 10:23:25

Replying to CGHW1

When the bluestone is first quarried, and you tip water over it, it looks like
the night sky. I think bluestone is also known as spotted dolerite.
When fresh it has white flecks in it that look like stars :)

Loads on google about it....

Andy

nigelswift Dec 16, 2007 18:02:16

Replying to CGHW1

One must remember that the bluestones are harder than granite, so why are the bluestones smooth and not the much softer stones made of sandstone ?

I don't know about "smoothed" but the sarsens were certainly "dressed" - and this was done to the outer faces rather than the inner ones. And sarsen isn't soft sandstone its incredibly hard.

Incidentally it can be smoothed quite easily to a beautiful shiny finish using salt and a piece of flint though I guess that would weather away over time.