Arthur's Stone is located between the villages of Dorstone and Bredwardine, and more generally between Hereford to the east and Hay-on-Wye to the west, at Ordnance Survey grid referenceSO318430. The tomb commands an elevated view to the south of the Golden Valley and the Brecon Beacons in the distance,[2] and is bounded to the north by a small road (Arthur's Stone Lane) which dissects what would originally have been the site of the tomb's elongated mound.
Descriptionedit
The tomb is topped by a large capstone,[3] estimated to weigh more than 25 tonnes.[4] The capstone rests on nine uprights and there is a curved, 4.6 m (15 ft) long entrance passageway.
To the north, there was once a cup-marked stone called the Quoit Stone. This can no longer be clearly seen, and now a stone to the south of the monument has become known as the Quoit Stone.
The stones would originally have been buried within a mound, aligned north-south and of approximately 25 metres in length with an east-facing entrance and a south-facing false portal. The mound is now, however, almost completely eroded and the capstone is broken with a large section fallen from its underside.
The site is defined and protected by a wooden fence.[5]
The site is seen as a northerly outlier of the well known Severn-Cotswold tomb Group of chambered tombs and one of five Neolithic tombs in the local area.[6] The site appears to be oriented towards Ysgyryd Fawr mountain in Wales.[1]
Etymologyedit
The tomb is one of many prehistoric monuments in western England and Wales to be linked with the legend of King Arthur. Some tales suggest the tomb was built to mark the location of one of King Arthur's battles, while others tell that the stones were already present when Arthur slew a giant on the spot, who fell onto the stones and left indentations in one of them, which remain to this day.[7] Others suggest the indentations on the Quoit Stone were left by Arthur's knees or elbows as he knelt there to pray.[8]
Historyedit
In 2023 the first excavations of the site were conducted. [9]
^ abMorris, Steven (22 July 2022). "'Weird, wonderful': rare dig at Arthur's Stone writes new story of neolithic site". the Guardian. from the original on 22 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
^"Google Maps". Google Maps. from the original on 22 July 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
^"Archaeologists reveal origins of famous Stone Age monument". phys.org. from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
^"What's On". English Heritage. from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
^"Arthur's Stone – Mysterious Britain & Ireland". from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
^New archaeological discoveries set to transform understanding of Arthur’s Stone (manchester.ac.uk)
Further readingedit
Children, G; Nash, G (1994) Prehistoric Sites of Herefordshire Logaston Press ISBN1-873827-09-1
Sant, J (2000) Stone Spotting in Herefordshire Moondial ISBN0-9524990-1-0
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arthur's Stone, Herefordshire.
Arthur's Stone, English Heritage
April 12, 2024
arthur, stone, herefordshire, other, uses, arthur, stone, arthur, stone, neolithic, chambered, tomb, dolmen, herefordshire, england, situated, ridge, line, hill, overlooking, both, golden, valley, herefordshire, valley, tomb, dates, from, arthur, stonearthur, . For other uses see Arthur s Stone Arthur s Stone is a Neolithic chambered tomb or dolmen in Herefordshire England It is situated on the ridge line of a hill overlooking both the Golden Valley Herefordshire and the Wye Valley 1 The tomb dates from 3 700 BC 2 700 BC Arthur s StoneArthur s StoneLocationHerefordshire England UKCoordinates52 04 56 3 N 02 59 43 3 W 52 082306 N 2 995361 W 52 082306 2 995361OS grid referenceSO318430Location in Herefordshire Contents 1 Location 2 Description 3 Etymology 4 History 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksLocation editArthur s Stone is located between the villages of Dorstone and Bredwardine and more generally between Hereford to the east and Hay on Wye to the west at Ordnance Survey grid reference SO318430 The tomb commands an elevated view to the south of the Golden Valley and the Brecon Beacons in the distance 2 and is bounded to the north by a small road Arthur s Stone Lane which dissects what would originally have been the site of the tomb s elongated mound Description editThe tomb is topped by a large capstone 3 estimated to weigh more than 25 tonnes 4 The capstone rests on nine uprights and there is a curved 4 6 m 15 ft long entrance passageway To the north there was once a cup marked stone called the Quoit Stone This can no longer be clearly seen and now a stone to the south of the monument has become known as the Quoit Stone The stones would originally have been buried within a mound aligned north south and of approximately 25 metres in length with an east facing entrance and a south facing false portal The mound is now however almost completely eroded and the capstone is broken with a large section fallen from its underside The site is defined and protected by a wooden fence 5 The site is seen as a northerly outlier of the well known Severn Cotswold tomb Group of chambered tombs and one of five Neolithic tombs in the local area 6 The site appears to be oriented towards Ysgyryd Fawr mountain in Wales 1 Etymology editThe tomb is one of many prehistoric monuments in western England and Wales to be linked with the legend of King Arthur Some tales suggest the tomb was built to mark the location of one of King Arthur s battles while others tell that the stones were already present when Arthur slew a giant on the spot who fell onto the stones and left indentations in one of them which remain to this day 7 Others suggest the indentations on the Quoit Stone were left by Arthur s knees or elbows as he knelt there to pray 8 History editIn 2023 the first excavations of the site were conducted 9 See also editKing Arthur s Round TableReferences edit a b Morris Steven 22 July 2022 Weird wonderful rare dig at Arthur s Stone writes new story of neolithic site the Guardian Archived from the original on 22 July 2022 Retrieved 22 July 2022 Google Maps Google Maps Archived from the original on 22 July 2022 Retrieved 19 August 2022 Geograph Arthur s Stone c Philip Halling cc by sa 2 0 www geograph org uk Archived from the original on 8 September 2017 Retrieved 7 December 2017 Photograph of visitor information plaque at the site Archived from the original on 23 June 2011 Retrieved 18 July 2011 Geograph Arthur s Stone c Darrin Antrobus cc by sa 2 0 www geograph org uk Archived from the original on 6 December 2018 Retrieved 7 December 2017 Archaeologists reveal origins of famous Stone Age monument phys org Archived from the original on 29 November 2021 Retrieved 11 August 2021 What s On English Heritage Archived from the original on 7 August 2012 Retrieved 19 August 2022 Arthur s Stone Mysterious Britain amp Ireland Archived from the original on 1 September 2021 Retrieved 19 August 2022 New archaeological discoveries set to transform understanding of Arthur s Stone manchester ac uk Further reading editChildren G Nash G 1994 Prehistoric Sites of Herefordshire Logaston Press ISBN 1 873827 09 1 Sant J 2000 Stone Spotting in Herefordshire Moondial ISBN 0 9524990 1 0External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arthur s Stone Herefordshire Arthur s Stone English Heritage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arthur 27s Stone Herefordshire amp oldid 1194537379, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
