5 is to air new Lion Television doc, Stonehenge: Secrets of the New Stone, fronted by Jason Watkins.
In the show, actor Jason Watkins and Historian Tracy Borman investigate the final mystery of Stonehenge – the secret of the altar stone. The programme is commissioned for 5 by Lucy Willis, Commissioning Editor – Unscripted.
The altar stone is a six-tonne slab at the very heart of Stonehenge, that has puzzled archaeologists for centuries. It’s the only stone that lies flat on its side, a different type from all the others, and the only stone whose origins are still unknown. Discovering where this huge stone came from could well be the key to understanding exactly why Stonehenge was built.
Since the 1920s, archaeologists have believed the altar stone came from Wales, along with the Stonehenge bluestones. In a TV first, Tracy and Jason uncover new research from Aberystwyth University that overturns this long-held theory. Scientists have found out that it came from far further afield than anyone imagined – somewhere in the northernmost reaches of Scotland. This breakthrough sends Jason and Tracy on a journey to the very extremes of Britain, over land and sea, in search of more answers. They investigate why this curious stone was brought to Stonehenge, and the crucial role it may have played in solstice celebrations. They try their hand at ancient techniques by which this six-tonne slab could have been transported around 500 miles by Stone Age people. And they learn more about the surprisingly sophisticated Neolithic communities who built the iconic stone circle.
Sarah Sarkhel, Executive Producer says, “This series granted us unprecedented access to the teams behind a world-shaping discovery—one poised to radically redefine how we understand Stonehenge and its profound role in the ancient story of Britain.”
Lucy Willis, Commissioning Editor – Unscripted, 5 adds, “Stonehenge is one of our biggest historical riddles and this new discovery concerning the origins of the Altar Stone is simply mind blowing. It’s hard to fathom how on earth Britons living in the Stone Age could have transported a giant stone all the way from Scotland to Salisbury Plain.”
The documentary is produced in association with All3Media International, who act as global partner. It will be available internationally under the title Stonehenge: The Final Mystery Revealed. This series is Executive Produced by Sarah Sarkhel, produced and directed by Simon Smith.
Stonehenge: Secrets of the New Stone is a 1×60’ documentary that will air Tuesday 3rd March, 9pm on 5.
Jon Creamer
Share this story
