Ancient Builders Moved Giant Stones 11 Miles for a Special Reason

Topic: Earth Science

Researchers found that ancient builders in Britain moved giant stones over 11 miles to create a special monument. The stones weighed as much as 55,000 pounds each and were chosen from a distant location with cultural significance.

Ancient builders in Britain hauled enormous stones across at least 18 kilometers (11 miles) to create the country's tallest surviving prehistoric stone row. This discovery was made by researchers led by Curtin University in collaboration with the University of York, UK. The study focused on the Devil's Arrows, a famous stone alignment near Boroughbridge in northern England.

The stones, which weigh as much as 25 tonnes (55,000 pounds) each, were thought to have come from a nearby location called Plumpton Rocks. However, researchers used a new low-impact sampling technique to collect tiny mineral grains from the stones and compared them with geological samples from possible source locations. They found that the stones actually came from Brimham Rocks, a rugged area in North Yorkshire.

The researchers believe that the stones were transported and raised during the Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age, possibly around 2000 BC. This means that prehistoric people made deliberate choices about where their stones came from, rather than just choosing the easiest or closest source of stone. The location of Brimham Rocks may have held cultural, symbolic, or spiritual significance for them.

The discovery challenges previous ideas about how prehistoric people constructed major monuments. It also highlights the importance of landscape and shared belief systems in ancient societies.

Why It Matters

This discovery is important because it shows that ancient civilizations were capable of complex planning and engineering skills. It also gives us a glimpse into their cultural and spiritual practices, which can help us better understand our own history and heritage.

Key Facts

• The Devil's Arrows are Britain's tallest surviving prehistoric stone row, standing up to 7 meters (23 feet) tall.
• The stones weigh as much as 25 tonnes (55,000 pounds) each and were moved over 11 miles from their source location.
• Researchers used a new low-impact sampling technique to determine the origin of the stones.
• The study suggests that prehistoric people made deliberate choices about where their stones came from, rather than just choosing the easiest or closest source.
• The discovery was led by Curtin University in collaboration with the University of York, UK.

Key Terms

Neolithic

A period in human history that occurred around 4000-2000 BC, marked by the development of farming and settled communities.

Bronze Age

A period in human history that occurred from around 2000-750 BC, marked by the use of bronze tools and weapons.

Implications

This discovery is important because it shows that ancient civilizations were capable of complex planning and engineering skills. It also gives us a glimpse into their cultural and spiritual practices, which can help us better understand our own history and heritage.