Britain’s tallest standing stones linked to distant quarry
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Scientists from Curtin University and the University of York determined that the Devil’s Arrows, three large standing stones in Yorkshire, England, originated at Brimham Rocks, 18 kilometers away.
For around 4,000 years, archaeologists debated where the builders of this Neolithic monument obtained the stones. Researchers analyzed crystals within the megaliths and matched their chemical signatures to the Millstone Grit at Brimham Rocks, a landscape feature known for its wind-sculpted rock formations.
This discovery challenges previous assumptions that the stones came from Plumpton Rocks, a closer outcrop, and also disproves the idea that they were carried to the site by glaciers. The Devil’s Arrows stand as the tallest remaining stone row in Britain, with the southern stone being the second-tallest single stone in the country. The team suggests this deliberate choice of a more distant source reflects a pattern seen at sites like Stonehenge, where builders prioritized symbolically important landscapes over convenience.
Historical records indicate the original alignment included a fourth stone, which was likely broken apart and reused for other purposes. The researchers believe moving each stone, weighing over 25 tons, required substantial planning and engineering expertise.
