Arbor Low

Stone Circle

England

region: Derbyshire
Grid Ref: SK160636, Latitude: 53.168986, Longitude: -1.760628
This site is on the map OS Outdoor Leisure sheet 24, The Peak District (White Peak area) which you can buy from Amazon.co.uk

One of the limestone stones of Arbor Low

All the stones lie tragically prone in this 40m diameter circle-henge, nearly hidden on its approach until you get close, then appearing in all its majesty. The 42 stones themselves are of limestone, weathered into fantastic shapes by the passing millennia.

Normally Neolithic builders used more hard-wearing stone, but limestone does wear into the most amazing gnarled shapes with the passing of the ages. The Rollright Stones near Oxford are made of a similar kind of stone, also weathered into marvellous shapes.

The English Heritage board by the site has an artist's impression of what it originally looked like. This and the text (as of 1996) is shown below -

Welcome to Arbor Low, one of the most important prehistoric monuments of Britain

This has been a special place for local people for over 4500 years, but because of the time which has elapsed since it was built, we can only guess at the many kinds of activities which took place in and around its stones and earthworks.

The monument was started in the Neolithic period, probably between 3,000 and 2,500 BC. The main illustration (below) shows whatwhat the henge monument and stone circle might have looked like around 2,000 BC, when all the features visible today had been completed. Arbor Low was a place of great significance to the local population. Its building was a considerable feat of organisational and engineering skill, carried out over many years.

We know that only the simplest of tools, such as antler picks and animal shoulder-blade shovels were used in its construction.

Eh board at site

The stone circle and central setting of locally quarried limestone were originally set upright. They would not have been visible from outside the enclosing henge bank, adding an air of mystery to the rituals and ceremonies that took place inside, which only those taking part could witness. It may have been used for for meetings of tribespeople at impotant seasons of the year, or for special events.

While they were encamped round the monument for these celebrations, other activities could have included the trading of goods or crops, as well as the exchange fo information.

Superimposed on the south east bank of the henge is a later Bronze Age burial mound whinc, when excavated in the 19th centruy revealed a burial with two crudely made urns and a bone pin.

About 250 yards to the south west of Arbor Low is Gib Hill, another Bronze Age burial mound and one of the most imposing in the Peak [District of England]. It is built above one end of an earlier Neolithic long barrow which was probably constructed several hundred years before Arbor Low as the original ritual focus of this ridgetop.

Other sites nearby -

Nine Stone Close, Stone Circle, 6.6km, SK225625
Nine Stones Close , Stone Circle, 6.7km, SK226626
Doll Tor, Stone Circle, 7.8km, SK238628
Nine Ladies, Stone Circle, 8.7km
Stanton Moor IV , Stone Circle, 8.7km, SK247629
Stanton Moor III , Stone Circle, 8.8km, SK248633
Stanton Moor I , Stone Circle, 8.9km, SK249637
Park Gate , Stone Circle, 13.1km, SK281685
Gibbet Moor , Stone Circle, 13.8km, SK281703
Gibbet Moor N, Stone Circle, 14.2km, SK282708
Stoke Flat, Stone Circle, 15.9km
Wet Withens, Stone Circle, 16.6km, SK225789
Eyam Moor III , Stone Circle, 16.8km, SK232788
Bullring , Stone Circle, 16.8km, SK078783
Barbrook I , Stone Circle, 16.9km, SK279756

M E g A L i T h i A
Text and photographs © Richard Mudhar 1996,1997,1998,1999,2000 unless otherwise credited
Last updated 17 Oct 2000