Researchers from Curtin University and the University of York have identified the origin of the Devil’s Arrows, a group of three sandstone boulders standing on the outskirts of Boroughbridge in Yorkshire for nearly 4,000 years, resolving a longstanding archaeological debate.
Devil’s Arrows, three gravelly boulders towering over the western suburbs of Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, England. Image credit: Curtin University.
Investigator Anthony Clarke and his team from Curtin University stated: “Devil’s Arrows consists of three irregularly spaced standing stones on the western edge of Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire.”
“Despite not forming a perfectly straight line, they are widely spread in a north-northwest to south-southeast direction across a span of 174 meters.”
“These Arrows represent the tallest standing stone row in Britain, with the southern stone being the second tallest megalith after the Rudstone Monolith, and the central stone as the third tallest.”
“This structure is unique and stands out as it is located in low-lying areas.”
“Experts believe they were erected during the Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age period (around 2000 BC), although the exact date remains uncertain due to the absence of recent excavations.”
The team conducted an analysis of zircon and apatite crystals within the boulders using minimally invasive methods.
By comparing the chemical signatures of these grains, which date back to the Paleozoic to Archean eras, the researchers linked them to Brimham Rocks, a striking outcrop of wind-carved millstone grit approximately 18 km west of the site.
This discovery favors Brimham Rocks over Plumpton Rocks, previously thought to be the source from a closer outcrop that is also listed on England’s official heritage register.
Researchers also noted that regional ice flow patterns moved south instead of east from the Pennine Highlands, discrediting the theory of glacial transport for these stones.
They further propose that at least one missing boulder from the original arrangement (historical records suggest there was once a fourth stone) was dismantled and repurposed.
The team argues that this finding aligns with a common theme seen at Neolithic sites like Stonehenge. Builders often bypassed nearby stone sources in favor of symbolically significant landscapes, implying that the selection of the quarry was as crucial as the monument itself.
“Our research demonstrates that these stones were carefully chosen and transported from challenging terrain 18 kilometers away,” Dr. Clarke remarked.
“Plumpton Rocks, near the Devil’s Arrows, had been previously identified as a potential source.”
“Our results point to Brimham Rock instead, highlighting that ancient builders moved these massive stones much farther than previously believed.”
“Each stone weighs over 25 tonnes, necessitating meticulous planning, coordination, and engineering prowess.
“This indicates that ancient people attached importance to the landscape itself. It was not merely a matter of convenience; the origin of the stone may have held significant meaning to them.”
The findings of the study were published today in Proceedings of the Royal Society A.
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Anthony Clarke et al.. 2026. The deliberate prehistoric sourcing of the Devil’s Arrows, Britain’s tallest stone row. Proc. R. Soc. A 482 (2345): 20260504; doi: 10.1098/rspa.2026.0504
Source: www.sci.news
