Discoveries

July 18, 2022

The King’s Stone

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British archaeologists recently began excavating a prehistoric burial site that has long been associated with the legendary King Arthur, CNN reported.

This is the first time researchers have excavated “Arthur’s Stone,” a 5,000-year-old Neolithic chambered tomb located in the West Midlands of England, near the Welsh border.

The ancient monument consists of a large capstone held up by a number of upright stones and is considered an important part of Britain’s history, according to project lead Julian Thomas.

He said it was used as a burial place for human corpses, which were left to decompose in the chamber and later rearranged when only bones were left. He added, however, that the chamber was empty, which suggests it might have been disturbed in early modern times.

Still, Thomas said the ruins are shrouded in mystery and he hopes the excavations can shed more light on Britain’s early inhabitants.

He explained that the site was built during a critical time in Britain’s history when people from continental Europe began arriving on the island. It was also the time inhabitants began domesticating plants and animals, as well as creating pottery and stone tools.

But aside from its historical significance, the site continues to be linked to the mythical king and his exploits, despite a lack of historical evidence.

For example, in one legend, Arthur slew a giant who fell backward onto the capstone of the tomb, breaking it in two.

This story originally appeared in the July 18, 2022 newsletter, Mirror Image.