Prehistoric builders transported Devil's Arrows 11 miles
Researchers have used isotopic analysis to determine that the prehistoric Devil's Arrows stones were transported 11 miles from Brimham Rocks by human effort. This study highlights the significant logistical capabilities of Neolithic communities in Britain.
Why it matters
This discovery challenges previous assumptions about glacial movement and provides new insights into the engineering and social organization of ancient societies.
don’t blame the glaciers Prehistoric builders transported Devil’s Arrows 11 miles Isotropic analysis revealed the most likely source to be Brimham Rocks, not the nearby Plumpton Rocks.
0 Credit: University of York Credit: University of York Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Stonehenge is the most famous example of megalithic architecture across Britain and Ireland, but there are plenty of others, including Calanais, Newgrange, and Avebury, as well as the Devil’s Arrows. The latter is Britain’s tallest standing stone alignment, yet little is known about the provenance of its stones. Scientists have confirmed that the stones came from a site 18 kilometers (11 miles) away, transported by humans rather than glacial movement, according to a paper published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences.
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