Devils Arrows Source Identified Human Transport Confirmed

Researchers have pinpointed the geological origin of the Devils Arrows, a prehistoric stone row in North Yorkshire, confirming that ancient builders transported the massive stones from a distant source and ruling out glacial movement. The findings, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society A, identify Brimham Rocks, approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles) away, as the quarry for the three surviving megaliths. For centuries, the exact source of the Devils Arrows, located near Boroughbridge, remained a mystery, with theories ranging from local outcrops to ice-age glaciers. New analysis by a team from Curtin University and the University of York utilized mineral fingerprinting, examining zircon and apatite crystals within the stones. This detailed geological tracing linked the Devils Arrows to Brimham Rocks, a distinctive millstone grit outcrop, rather than closer potential sources like Plumpton Rocks. Each of the Devils Arrows weighs over 25 tonnes, and the three surviving stones form Britain's tallest prehistoric stone row, with the tallest reaching nearly seven meters. The study's lead author, Dr.