Scientists have determined that the stones forming Britain’s tallest standing stone alignment, the Devil’s Arrows, were transported by humans 11 miles from their source. The research confirms the stones were not moved by glacial activity.
A study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences details the findings. Jim Leary of the University of York, a co-author of the paper, stated, “Sites in southern England and Scotland receive considerable attention but monuments like the Devil’s Arrows have remained comparatively understudied despite their significance.” He added, “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.”
The research builds on recent chemical analyses of Stonehenge, which revealed the origins of its stones. A 2019 study found the 42 bluestones originated in western Wales, while the sarsen stones came from Marlborough Downs, approximately 17 miles from Stonehenge. In 2024, Anthony Clarke, co-author of the latest study, and his team discovered the Stonehenge Altar Stone originated in the Orkney region of northeast Scotland.
The team investigated the method of transport, addressing the debate over whether glaciers moved the bluestones or if humans were responsible. While the precise method remains undetermined, the study confirms human involvement in moving the Devil’s Arrows stones.
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