Arbor Low Stone Circle
Arbor Low Henge
Late Neolithic·Late Neolithic Peak District·🇬🇧 Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom
About
About Arbor Low Stone Circle
Late Neolithic henge with stone circle on limestone plateau in Peak District — Britain's most intact upland henge. 90 m diameter bank and 2 m deep ditch with two causewayed entrances, enclosing 43 limestone orthostats all now recumbent (possibly pulled down). Central cove of large stones. Views to Gib Hill barrow 300 m south connected by earthwork bank (avenue).
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why all stones now flat — deliberate deposition?
Theories
- 01Recumbent due to iconoclastic decommissioning
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 2500 BCE
- Period
- Late Neolithic
- Culture
- Late Neolithic Peak District
- Purpose
- Henge ceremonial enclosure with circle
- Abandoned
- c.2000 BCE
- Rediscovered
- Described 1712; excavated 1901-02 Bateman
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 2500 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1157 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
53.1686° N · 1.7589° W · 380 m · 2 mapped features
Henge and Circle
henge43 recumbent limestone stones inside 90 m henge
53.1686° N · 1.7589° WGib Hill
barrowOval barrow 300 m south joined by bank avenue
53.1665° N · 1.7595° W
Gallery