Ancient stones found in Devon

Archaeologists revealed today what they believe is a "spectacular" monument hundreds of years older than Stonehenge on one of the most remote peaks on Dartmoor in Devon.

The nine stones that make up the monument, which are up to 2.6 metres high but just 20cm wide, are lying flat but it is thought they originally stood in a long, thin line.

They were discovered at Cut Hill six years ago but experts have only just carbon-dated the stones to about 3,500BC. They appear to be aligned to mark the rising of the midsummer sun, which suggests they could have symbolic and astronomical purposes.

Tom Greeves, who made the discovery, said: "It consists of large slabs of granite lying flat in the same orientation. They are so regular in line and proportion that they give the impression of railway sleepers. They are carefully chosen slab-like stones, which, if upright, would have their thinnest profile visible when looking along the row. The discovery will hopefully give a new impetus to prehistoric studies. The implications for what else might be buried beneath Dartmoor are massive."

Mike Pitts, of British Archaeology magazine, said: "This is a spectacular find and its alignment on the solstice sun gives us fresh insights into the knowledge of stone age people. The row is unusually large and straight. The high location is exceptional.

"At Stonehenge, we're now thinking that the sun was symbolising or marking the occasion rather than the ritual focus itself. At Cut Hill all we have are the stones, so there is nothing to guide us as to what was going on, but perhaps it had something to do with death and burial."

Source: The Guardian