When it comes to ancient stone structures, Stonehenge is usually the first landmark to spring to mind.
But over in Yorkshire, another prehistoric monument has left scientists stumped for centuries.
The Devil’s Arrows is a set of three huge stones near Boroughbridge, dating back around 4,500–5,000 years.
Each weighing around 25 tonnes and standing at almost 23ft (seven metres) tall, how the enormous stones got there has remained unclear.
Now, scientists from the University of York and Curtin University think they’ve cracked it.
Their new analysis suggests the stones were collected and transported from Brimham Rocks, about 11 miles (18km) away.
‘Sites in southern England and Scotland receive considerable attention, but monuments like the Devil’s Arrows have remained comparatively understudied despite their significance,’ said Dr Jim Leary, from the University of York.
‘We have now proved that Neolithic communities moved several 25–tonne stones 18km across Yorkshire, transforming a familiar site into an epic quest to create a sacred landscape.’
The Devil’s Arrows are positioned across 174 metres on the western outskirts of Boroughbridge, and date back to roughly 2500–2000 BC, making them some of the oldest stone structures in the UK
The Devil’s Arrows are positioned across 174 metres on the western outskirts of Boroughbridge, and date back to roughly 2500–2000 BC, making them some of the oldest stone structures in the UK.
Although they’re slightly younger than Stonehenge, the stones are actually even taller, at almost 23ft (seven metres).
While the Devil’s Arrows stand on Triassic Sherwood Sandstone, the stones themselves are made of Pennine Basin Millstone Grit.
This has raised questions about how they got to their location in Boroughbridge.
Some experts have argued they were hauled there by humans, while others are convinced they were transported by ice–age glaciers.
To settle the debate once and for all, the researchers analysed the minerals in the stones.
Dr Anthony Clarke, geochemist at Curtin University in Australia, said: ‘Our research shows these stones weren’t simply taken from the nearest available source – they were deliberately chosen from a challenging landscape 18 kilometres away.
‘Plumpton Rocks, which is closer to the Devil’s Arrows, had previously been identified as the probable source of the stones.
Their new analysis suggests the stones were collected and transported from Brimham Rocks (pictured), about 11 miles (18km) away
Although they’re slightly younger than Stonehenge, the stones are actually even taller, at almost 23ft (seven metres)
‘Our findings instead point to Brimham Rocks, showing that prehistoric builders transported these enormous stones significantly further than thought.
‘Each stone weighs more than 25 tonnes, so moving them would have required incredible planning, coordination and engineering skill.
‘This tells us prehistoric people placed real importance on the landscape itself. It wasn’t just about convenience – the location the stones came from likely held meaning for them.’
While three stones remain today, historical accounts suggest the site once held at least five stones.
In the mid–16th century, Tudor antiquarian John Leland recorded a fourth standing stone, but decades later it was said to be missing.
In 1687, it was recorded that locals had broken up a fallen stone, using part of it to construct Peg Bridge over the River Tutt and taking the top segment to Aldborough manor.
Then, in the 19th century, antiquarian J.R. Walbran proposed that another fallen monolith had been recycled into the Battle Cross – an 18ft (5.5 metre) monument crafted in the 15th century to commemorate the 1322 Battle of Boroughbridge.
In the new study, the researchers were able to confirm Walbran’s theory.
While three stones remain today, historical accounts suggest the site once held at least five stones
Mineral fingerprinting proved that the medieval cross – which stands in Aldborough today – is a carved segment of a long–lost Devil’s Arrow.
Justin Scully, General Manager for Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal and Brimham Rocks, said: ‘The Devil’s Arrows have inspired stories and sparked curiosity for generations.
‘Local legend tells of the Devil standing on How Hill and hurling giant stone arrows towards Boroughbridge, only for them to fall short and land where they stand today.
‘While the folklore remains a much–loved part of their story, it’s wonderful to discover that the real journey of these stones is every bit as extraordinary.
‘This fascinating research reveals a direct link between Brimham Rocks and the Devil’s Arrows, connecting two remarkable Yorkshire landscapes in our care.
‘We’re incredibly grateful to the researchers for helping us uncover this new chapter in the stones’ story and deepen our understanding of the people who shaped this landscape thousands of years ago.’
