Ancient builders hauled 25-tonne stones 11 miles to raise Britain's tallest stone row
Devil's Arrows: Ancient builders hauled 55k-lb stones 11 miles for UK stone row
New research from Curtin University and the University of York has traced the towering Devil's Arrows in North Yorkshire to Brimham Rocks, 18 kilometers away — not the closer Plumpton Rocks as previously thought. Using adhesive tape to sample mineral grains without damaging the monument, researchers ruled out glacial movement, proving the 25-tonne stones were deliberately chosen and hauled during the Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age, likely around 2000 BC.
This tells us prehistoric people placed real importance on the landscape itself. It wasn't just about convenience -- the location the stones came from likely held meaning for them.
- chrisweekly
Ken Follett (of "Pillars of the Earth" fame) wrote a terrific semi-historical* novel called "Circle of Days" that portrays a vivid picture of the people and circumstances that could've led to the creation of Stonehenge.
*"semi" qualifier bc there's so little known for sure -- but it's at least plausible, and his extensive research doesn't contradict things that can be verified.
- cjs_ac
Also, Stonehenge was built (partially) from parts of other stone circles, from as far away as Wales: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56029203
- dmichulke
25-tonne stones for 18km in case you wondered
- ChrisRR
Imperial is confusing at the best of times, but couldn't they have said 24.5 tons instead of 55,000 lbs?
- spikels
Strange they don't mention how many stones. Image shows two. There are three today and four, maybe five, originally.