Laser scan reveals surface details of Stonehenge

Guardian : Tool marks made 4500 years ago, as well as graffiti carved by Victorian and Georgian tourists, have now been revealed by the first complete three-dimensional laser scan of the most famous of the UK’s prehistoric stone circles. In an article published in British Archaeology , Marcus Abbott, head of geomatics and visualization for ArcHeritage, and Hugo Anderson-Whymark, an Oxford-based expert on ancient worked stone, say that every square centimeter of Stonehenge has been examined. Some 850 gigabytes of data have been collected. They show the care and attention to detail of the original builders, the importance of Stonehenge’s alignment to complement the winter and summer solstices, and the efforts involved to make key areas of the circle look their best. The group English Heritage carried out the survey. The results will be used in displays for a new visitor center due to open next year.