Particular stone used within ancient sites was certainly not acquired with convenience in mind. Close by to many of these sites was often useable stone very readily available, but this it seems, would certainly not suffice.
I.e. The Blue Stones at Stonehenge came from Wales (approximately 175 miles away and possibly repurposed from an old stone circle - 'Waun Mawn'), and the 50 ton red granite blocks within the great pyramid came from a quarry approximately 600 miles away. This is a common thread across the world of ancient sites, specific (and often gigantic) stone transported over long distances, up and over mountains, through dense forests, across water and every other remarkably difficult terrain to negotiate in-between.
Cornwall's fantastic 16.5 ton menhir 'MenGurta', is thought to have been quarried near the village of Delabole; a distance of only around 15 miles as the crow flies, but stone does not fly! The journey to transport this magnificent stone at that time through thick woodland, brought down from very high ground to sea level, and then back up to the summit of St Breock Downs, would have been an extreme undertaking to say the least.
BUILT TO SURVIVE
One seemingly obvious and evident intent of sacred sites is that they were built to last. An international team of scientists analysed extremely thin pieces of a sample taken from one of the 20 ton sarsens stones at Stonehenge. The results revealed how the stones have survived as long as they have due to a unique geochemical composition. The stones are pre-dominantly made up of minute specs of quartz grains which are tightly cemented together by an interlocking mosaic of quartz crystals. Chemical data revealed that these (sarsen) stones were brought from approximately 15 miles away to the north of the henge.
The ancient architects clearly knew of this particular stones properties, and as ever went to incredible lengths in order to obtain it (as with the Blue Stones from Wales), knowing exactly what they needed and how it would enable their constructions to last and function as intended.
QUARTZ
When quartz is put under stress or pressure it emits an electrical charge. An everyday example of this reaction can be appreciated by those who wear a quartz watch. As the small spring presses against the watches very small quantity of quartz it emits this electrical charge, and in doing so powers the watch to function. As with many conclusions reached upon through scientific analysis of sacred sites, the use of quartz within ancient constructions was certainly no accident. Potentially, due to the pressure of heavy stone compressing against earth (and often quartz pebbles), large stone stacked on top of one another, and structures built regularly on areas prone to earthquakes; was all a deliberate endeavour to agitate this crystal and bring its power to the fore, enabling their constructions achieve a highly energetic charge indeed.
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