PREHISTORIC BUILDERS TRANSPORTED 25-TONNE STONES 18KM FOR DEVIL'S ARROWS

Ancient builders deliberately hauled 25-tonne stones at least 18 kilometres to construct the Devil's Arrows, Britain's tallest surviving prehistoric stone row, according to research led by Curtin University in collaboration with the University of York. The study identified Brimham Rocks in North Yorkshire as the geological source of the stones, which stand up to seven metres tall near Boroughbridge in northern England. The research, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical and Physical Sciences, represents the first identification of where the stones originated. The stones are believed to have been transported and erected during the Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age, possibly around 2000 BC.

Previous research had suggested Plumpton Rocks, located closer to the Devil's Arrows, as the probable source. The new findings instead point to Brimham Rocks, indicating prehistoric builders transported the stones substantially farther than previously thought. Lead author Dr. Anthony Clarke stated the research demonstrated that the stones "weren't simply taken from the nearest available source—they were deliberately chosen from a challenging landscape." Moving each stone would have required significant planning, coordination and engineering skill given their weight. Dr. Jim Leary from the University of York noted the findings reshaped understanding of how prehistoric monument-building operated.

The research suggests prehistoric people placed real importance on the landscape itself rather than purely practical considerations. The deliberate choice to source stones from a distant, difficult terrain indicates the location held meaning for ancient builders. The study challenges long-held assumptions about the motivations and methods behind ancient monument construction in Britain.