Archaeologists Uncover 3,700-Year-Old Ceremonial Stone Circle in England

In Farley Wood forest near Matlock in Derbyshire, England, archaeologists have unearthed a mysterious ceremonial stone circle dating back 3,700 years to the Bronze Age. What was initially thought to be a solitary standing stone, the Farley Moor standing stone, has been discovered to be part of a much larger ceremonial site.  

Excavations conducted by Forestry England in collaboration with Time Team revealed the presence of five more stones, which once stood upright and formed a circular structure, alongside the 2-meter-high standing stone. This discovery offers significant clues about the region’s prehistoric ritual life. The excavations determined that the stone platform predates the standing stone and that the area was used for ritual purposes for hundreds of years.  

Archaeologists believe that the significance of water to Bronze Age communities is strongly linked to this ceremonial site. The persistent research of George Bird, a local archaeology enthusiast, who suggested that the stone might be part of a larger monument, sparked this important discovery.  

Dr. Lawrence Shaw, the principal historic environment advisor for Forestry England, emphasized that the discovery is “extremely significant” and has altered their understanding of the site. Dr. Derek Pitman of Bournemouth University remarked, “Working on such a significant prehistoric monument is like a dream come true,” highlighting how the discovery sheds light on the impact of Bronze Age ritual life.  

Forestry England announced that they will protect the area and manage the entire circular structure as a monument. The archaeology team plans to return to the site next summer to examine the newly discovered stones in more detail. They also aim to uncover when the site was first established and determine the extent of the ritual complex.

Cover Photo: Archaeologists from the Time Team series with the ceremonial stone circle. Image Credit: Time Team