While Stonehenge often dominates discussions of megalithic architecture in Britain and Ireland, other significant monuments such as Calanais, Newgrange, Avebury, and the Devil’s Arrows deserve similar attention. A recent study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences has finally identified the origin of the stones comprising the Devil’s Arrows, Britain’s tallest standing stone alignment.
Scientists determined that the monoliths were transported approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles) from their source by human hands rather than glacial movement. This finding addresses a long-standing gap in archaeological knowledge regarding the provenance of these massive stones.
Jim Leary, co-author from the University of York, highlighted the relative neglect of this site compared to more famous monuments. “Sites in southern England and Scotland receive considerable attention but monuments like the Devil’s Arrows have remained comparatively understudied despite their significance,” Leary stated. “We have now proved that Neolithic communities moved several 25-ton stones across Yorkshire, transforming a familiar site into an epic quest to create a sacred landscape.”
This discovery mirrors recent findings at Stonehenge, where chemical analyses have traced the origins of its constituent rocks. A 2019 study revealed that the 42 bluestones forming the inner ring originated in western Wales, while the outer sarsen stones were sourced from the Marlborough Downs, located 25 to 30 kilometers north of the site.
Finally, the Devil’s Arrows get some recognition. Yorkshire deserves more archaeological spotlight than just Stonehenge comparisons.
It’s crazy to think Neolithic people moved 25-ton stones without wheels. Pure human endurance!