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Excavations in Derbyshire have revealed that an apparently solitary standing stone in Farley Wood is in fact part of a larger ceremonial complex dating to the early Bronze Age.
Standing 2m (6.6ft) tall, the upright was long believed to be a singular entity – but a recent partnership between Time Team and Forestry England (whose care of the woodland area has helped to preserve the feature prior to excavation) revealed the presence of a further five stones. Archaeologists working on the site suggest that these, too, although now fallen over, would once have stood upright, forming part of a stone circle or oval measuring around 25m by 23m (82ft by 75.5ft) – and they may not have been its only components. ‘It is likely that there are other stones that have been lost or moved, so it is hard to comment on how many stones are represented; this will be one for future investigations,’ explained Dr Lawrence Shaw, Lead Historic Environment Advisor at Forestry England and leader of the investigation. Targeted excavation of one of the larger of the five recumbent stones also revealed evidence of what appeared to be the original stone socket that it once stood in.
The Farley Wood monument represents a large new addition to more than 25 other stone circles that are known within the Peak District area, and it is believed to be the oldest of this group, with an estimated date of between 2,120-1,902 calBC. The team also discovered what has been interpreted as an early Bronze Age platform, pre-dating the circle’s construction, with a main stone intentionally placed through the platform and over a natural spring head. As this site is located at the head of a water-catchment feeding into the local Bentley Brook (which ultimately leads to the River Derwent), the team suggest that it is probable water played an important role in the site’s use. ‘The water source was likely significant to the Bronze Age community for practical, religious, or ritual purposes. Placing a stone above the spring may have created the effect of water bubbling up during periods of high water tables,’ Lawrence explained, adding that the platform may have been used to access the water, for practical or ceremonial purposes.
The team plan to return next summer, focusing on the newly discovered stones and aiming to establish details of the circle’s construction and extent. In the meantime, you can learn more about the excavations in a recent Time Team episode, first aired on 22 March, which is available for anyone to view on their official YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/@TimeTeamOfficial).
Text: Rebecca Preedy
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