Prehistoric Sourcing of Devil’s Arrows: 25-Tonne Stones Hauled 18 Kilometres from Brimham Rocks
For decades, the origins of Britain’s tallest surviving stone row—the Devil’s Arrows—remained a mystery. How did ancient builders transport twenty-five-tonne stones across the rugged landscape of North Yorkshire? New research led by Curtin University, in collaboration with the University of York, has finally answered this question. The study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society A, reveals that these enormous monoliths were deliberately sourced from Brimham Rocks, at least eighteen kilometres away. This finding challenges long-held assumptions that the stones came from the nearer Plumpton Rocks.
Geological Fingerprinting Reveals True Source
How did the team confirm the source without damaging the ancient stones? They used a low-impact sampling method: adhesive tape collected tiny mineral grains from the Devil’s Arrows. By analysing the age “fingerprints” of these grains, researchers matched them precisely to Brimham Rocks. This technique ruled out natural processes like glacial movement, proving intentional human transport.
Lead author Dr. Anthony Clarke stated, “Our research shows these stones weren’t simply taken from the nearest available source—they were deliberately chosen from a challenging landscape eighteen kilometres away.” Each stone weighs more than twenty-five tonnes; moving them required incredible planning, coordination, and engineering skill.
What Drove Neolithic Builders to Such Effort?
Why would prehistoric communities go to such lengths? Co-author Dr. Jim Leary from the University of York noted, “These results show that ancient communities were making deliberate and meaningful choices about where their stones came from. It highlights the importance of landscape and shared belief systems.” The location of the source—Brimham Rocks—likely held cultural or spiritual significance. Perhaps the towering rock formations themselves inspired awe, mirroring the upright stones of the monument.
The Devil’s Arrows, located near Boroughbridge, stand up to seven metres tall. They form a rare stone alignment in a lowland setting, erected during the Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age, possibly around two thousand B.C. But how did builders move such massive blocks without wheels or beasts of burden? They likely used sledges, rollers, and human muscle, dragging the stones over wooden tracks or along rivers.
A New Link Across Yorkshire Landscapes
Justin Scully, National Trust general manager for Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal and Brimham Rocks, expressed delight: “This research reveals a direct link between Brimham Rocks and the Devil’s Arrows, connecting two remarkable Yorkshire landscapes. We’re grateful to the researchers for uncovering this new chapter.”
The study not only solves a geological puzzle but also deepens our understanding of Neolithic society. These people invested immense resources into monument-building, reflecting complex social organisation and shared beliefs.
Future Research: Unlocking More Mysteries
The team plans to apply their noninvasive method to other standing stones with unknown origins. Targeted excavations at both the monument and Brimham Rocks could reveal when the stones were moved and how these extraordinary structures were constructed.
Meanwhile, one question lingers: What other secrets lie hidden within Britain’s ancient stones? As Dr. Clarke remarked, “These next steps could help us better understand the past.” The Devil’s Arrows now stand not only as a testament to prehistoric engineering but also as a symbol of deliberate, meaningful connection to the land.
Source: Prehistoric Sourcing of Devil’s Arrows: 25-Tonne Stones Hauled 18 Kilometres from Brimham Rocks
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Sources:
Clarke, A., et al. (2025). “Deliberate Prehistoric Sourcing of the Devil’s Arrows, Britain’s Tallest Stone Row.” Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical and Physical Sciences.
Curtin University press release.
National Trust statement by Justin Scully.