A team of archaeologists led by Professor Julian Thomas from the University of Manchester has unearthed new secrets about Arthur’s Stone, a renowned monument from the UK’s Stone Age. The imposing tomb, located in Herefordshire, England, has long captivated researchers and inspired literary creations like C.S. Lewis’s “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.”
This recent excavation marks the first comprehensive exploration of Arthur’s Stone. Dating back to 3700 BC, the monument sits atop a remote hill overlooking the Black Mountains. Previously, archaeologists believed it to be a wedge-shaped stone cairn, similar to others found in the region. However, Professor Thomas and his colleague, Professor Keith Ray from Cardiff University, revealed a more intriguing story.
Their findings indicate that Arthur’s Stone originally extended beyond the visible chamber. Excavations south of the tomb revealed evidence of a long mound, constructed from stacked turf and enclosed by a wooden palisade. When this palisade decayed, causing the mound to collapse, a new avenue of larger posts was erected, leading towards the tomb from the Golden Valley below.
“Arthur’s Stone’s significance as a megalithic monument has always been recognized,” explains Professor Thomas, “but its origins remained shrouded in mystery. Shedding light on this remarkable 5,700-year-old tomb allows us to piece together the narrative of our prehistoric past.”
The initial mound’s orientation, marked by the palisade slot and aerial parch-marks, points towards nearby Dorstone Hill. Interestingly, the later avenue, along with the stone chambers and a standing stone, aligns with the distant gap between Skirrid and Garway Hill.
Professor Thomas further highlights the connection between the different construction phases: “These contrasting alignments hold immense significance. Our excavations at Dorstone Hill uncovered three similar long mounds, potentially representing the earlier stage of Arthur’s Stone. Each mound was built upon the footprint of a large timber structure that was deliberately set ablaze. This newfound link suggests Arthur’s Stone’s close association with these nearby ‘halls of the dead,’ which garnered significant attention in 2013.”
The ongoing Beneath Hay Bluff Project, led by Professors Ray and Thomas alongside associates Nick Overton and Tim Hoverd, has been delving into the early prehistoric past of southwest Herefordshire since 2010. Their latest findings paint a fascinating picture of Arthur’s Stone, revealing its role within a broader Neolithic ceremonial landscape nestled between the Golden Valley and the Wye Valley.
Source: University of Manchester