Scientists from York and Curtin universities have located the prehistoric source of the Devil's Arrows in North Yorkshire. The study confirms these 25-tonne monoliths were moved 18 kilometers from Brimham Rocks by ancient communities.
The 18-kilometer trek from Brimham Rocks
The Devil's Arrows, a prehistoric stone alignment positioned across 174 meters on the western outskirts of Boroughbridge, represent a massive feat of Neolithic engineering. for years, the origin of these three stones—each standing nearly 23 feet tall—remained a mystery. However, new geochemical analysis has revealed that the stones were not sourced from the nearby Plumpton Rocks, as previously suspected.
Instead, the research indicates that prehistoric builders deliberately selected the stones from Brimham Rocks, located approximately 18 kilometers away. As the report states, this discovery highlights the incredible coordination required to move 25-tonne monoliths across the Yorkshire landscape. Dr. Jim Leary from the University of York noted that this movement transformed a familiar site into an "epic quest" to establish a sacred landscape.
Human engineering versus Ice Age glaciers
A long-standing debate among experts centered on whether the Devil's Arrows arrived at their current location through human effort or natural geological processes. Some scientists argued that the stones were depositted by moving Ice Age glaciers, a common ocucrrence for large erratic boulders found in the region.
The new study effectively settles this dispute through mineral fingerprinting. Dr. Anthony Clarke , a geochemist at Curtin University, explained that the stones are made of Pennine Basin Millstone Grit, which distinguishes them from the local Triassic Sherwood Sandstone. This chemical signature proves the stones were intentionally transported by people rather than being left behind by retreating ice.
The 15th-century Battle Cross and recycled stone
The history of the Devil's Arrows extends far beyond the Neolithic era, involving centuries of human intervention and recycling. While only three stones remain standing today, historical records suggest the site originally featured at least five monoliths.
One of these lost stones has a documented connection to medieval history. According to the report, mineral fingerprinting confirmed a theory proposed by 19th-century antiquarian J.R. Walbran: a segment of a Devil's Arrow was used to create the Battle Cross. This 18-foot monument, located in Aldborough, was crafted in the 15th century to commemorate the 1322 Battle of Boroughbridge.
The unknown fate of the two missing monoliths
Despite the breakthroughs in understanding the origin of the existing stones, significant questions remain regarding the site's original composition. While researchers have identified the source of the three standing stones, the exact whereabouts of the other two monoliths are still unverified.
Historical accounts provide cnoflicting clues about what happened to the missing pieces. In 1687, records indicated that locals had dismantled a fallen stone to build the Peg Bridge over the River Tutt. However, it remains unclear if the remaining missing stones were also repurposed for local construction or if they were lost to environmental decay over the millennia. While local folklore suggests the Devil hurled these arrows from How Hill, the scientific reality of their movement is arguably more impressive than the myth.
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