Prehistoric builders transport very large stones to create the Devil’s Arrows in Yorkshire, according to new research. The stones each weigh about 25 tonnes and stand roughly seven metres (almost 23 feet) tall. The study says the builders moved these rocks a substantial distance to assemble Britain’s tallest surviving prehistoric stone row.
The research reports that the stones are carried at least 18 km (11 miles) from their source area. This finding clarifies a long-standing question about how such heavy materials reached the site around 5,000 years ago. While accounts emphasize different details—such as the exact phrasing of the distance or the scale of the stones—the overall message across outlets is consistent: deliberate, long-distance transport is required to explain the monument’s construction.
