Researchers from London’s Royal College of Art bashed more than 1,000 types of rock and found the bluestones of the prehistoric monument ‘sing’ when hit.

This discovery could shed light on why the stones were transported 321km from Pembrokeshire to Salisbury Plain. Their unique sonic properties could also explain why they were arranged in a circular formation: so the sound could resonate properly.

Paul Devereux, who led the study with Jon Wozencroftfrom, said: “We have had percussionists up here who have been able to actually get proper tunes out of the rocks. This is real rock music.”

A team of musicians hit the rocks with metallic hammers, producing different tones in different places, ranging from a dull thud to more metallic sounds like bells, gongs, and tin drums. Their research is published in the archaeological journal Time and Mind.